Festival Aéreo de Motril

We were outside on Friday morning, when  7 planes in formation went past, shattering the peace and quiet.  John is the plane person - he knows where to look to find out what they are and where they're going.....it turns out there is an airshow in Motril every year and we didn't know about it.   Actually it is over the beach as the nearest airports are Malaga and Almeria although we think they came in and out of Malaga yesterday.

So down to the beach yesterday,  not very busy at 11am.

The flying takes place over Playa Poniente, at the centre of which is Chiringuito Sumo,  a beachside bar and restaurant.

Flying started at midday,  and at 1pm all eyes were looking up following  a French Military aerobatic display when a Guardia Civil helicopter came in to land on the beach!!  A dusty dry beach....

You can see people beginning to turn away from the dust.

One of the  stars of the show which got the biggest build up from the commentator was SoloTurk,  an F16 from Turkey which came in from the mountains behind us and roared low overhead and out to sea,  climbing as he went.  Sends shivers down your spine.

But the biggest stars were Patrulla Aguila  Eagle Patrol,  who are the Spanish equivalent of the Red Arrows.

 

A last drink while we wait for the crowds and cars to go..

My new sunshade, I don't like hats but this is brilliant.

And all this,  except for the drinks of course,  was free.  No car parking charges, no entry fee,  nothing.

The restaurants were all too busy afterwards so we stopped on the way home at a place we've been to before,  it's on the old road from Motril to Granada.  Menu del dia,  €15 each (£10 at todays rate)  for  starters, salad,  main course, dessert and a drink.

Salmorejo, a rich thick version of gazpacho topped with chopped egg and jamón

Sopa de marisco (shellfish soup) and our salad

beef in almond sauce

pollo a la brasa - chicken cooked over hot coals

Of course bread,  and a beer each,  then triple choc cornettos for dessert.  Plus what I couldn't eat in a doggy bag for P and M.

The road the restaurant is on follows the river and winds through a rocky gorge.  The restaurant is built almost under huge crags...