The anticipation of the journey, wondering what lies just round the bend.

Paths, or rather, walks, are like life itself: you have expectations about the unknown, about what lies beyond a bend in the path, behind some trees, especially on new paths you’re exploring.

What I like most about the city is that, as I always say, it seems as though there’s always more to walk, explore and discover, and I love that, it fills me with enthusiasm. Setting off on an unknown path in the heart of a natural setting, such as a nature reserve, is something I’m passionate about, and as the landscape is so different from anything I’ve visited before, it’s even more exciting.

The best places to explore are far from the city or at quite a high altitude, so that the city seems a long way off; you can’t hear the cars or the hustle and bustle. Natural surroundings are the best for walks and, as in this case, for a reflective stroll.

I think that whenever I walk, especially on my own, that’s when my mind thinks, weighing up things that are happening in life and those yet to come. That’s why I say a walk brings peace of mind. If it’s in the midst of nature, so much the better, because you recharge your batteries and let go of negative or heavy thoughts; you might even find a solution to whatever is worrying you.

The Guadalhorce River Nature Reserve is situated to the west of the city, where there are hardly any neighbourhoods left; although there are some very beautiful settlements on either side of the river’s mouth, the reserve itself remains untouched. To reach the lagoons within the reserve, you first have to cross one of the two branches of the river that separate the reserve from the city via a bridge.

But the most astonishing thing of all is coming across information boards along the way explaining various topics, and I’m not just referring to the formation of the reserve itself, but also to the history of the place.

In this case, I learnt that 3,000 years ago, people from what is now Lebanon travelled through this Mediterranean region and even established settlements for trade, particularly the exchange of metals for manufactured goods.

Back when the Phoenicians settled there, the river looked very different at its mouth: there were small islands within it, and it was navigated by small vessels. I also learnt that in the area where the airport is situated, which is very close to the nature reserve; in fact, one of the photos shows a very small aeroplane, the Phoenicians had built a sanctuary now known as ‘La Rebanadilla’. It served as a meeting point towards the end of the Bronze Age.

As this had proved successful, the Phoenicians established a settlement one kilometre from the previous one, covering an area of 9 hectares. Little research has been carried out on this, but we know that it was organised into blocks of buildings and streets, and that there were craft areas and potters’ workshops.

This is one of the things I like most about these walks: what I learn about the city. My friend always tells me I’d make an excellent tour guide, and the truth is that I love learning more and more, not just the usual tour highlights, but the hidden wonders of the city that nobody else shows you.

On this visit, I reached one of the lagoons, but not the observatory; in other words, I walked around the back of it and could only catch a few glimpses of the lagoon, very few, in fact, though I did manage to snap a few photos of the birds by zooming in with my phone.

At the time, I thought how great it would be to get closer to them, but I realise it’s a protected area and the birds are the priority.

I also came across another sign from which I learnt quite a lot, and which referred to this protected area. It explained that when you think of a place like this, you assume it’s so far from the city that it’s not easily accessible, but this place disproves that belief. And that’s despite the fact that the reserve is surrounded by the city; yet there’s a respect for nature here that I’ve rarely seen, and I love that.

The Malvasía duck breeds in this lagoon at La Casilla, whilst chameleons live here and, in winter, the osprey can be seen. These species are under threat, but here they enjoy peace and tranquillity and find refuge, as well as the food they need.

On this island teeming with life, over 300 species of birds have been spotted, many of them in a single day during the migration season.

I’m really looking forward to returning in winter to see more species and experience the change in the landscape; I’m sure nature will surprise me, as it always does.

Thank you very much for joining me on this Wednesday walk; warm regards to you all. See you soon.
Amonet.

All photographs are my own.