Typical Murcian village
Trip Start
Oct 01, 2008
1
72
Trip End
Ongoing
Mula, Murcia, Spain
Friday, August 20, 2010
So 5 days later, and i am back. This time the sky is that shade of blue that reminds you why youre grateful to be able to stare at it. And the drive through the hills as i carve between the canyons is simply stunning! As i meander off the main motorway i pass a gorgeous old viaduct leading to a pastel blue Mosque. It's surronded by olive trees and has the picture perfect castle high in it's background. An inviting view leading me into this valley if there ever was one. I can't even become annoyed with myself that i have forgotten my large camera, and only have my small one as a rescue. It is better than nothing!
I park in one of the small streets which seem to line a main route through the town, and search for 'el informatica turismo' in the church's plaza. it is firmly closed, perhaps due to the work being done on it. not to worry, i wander up through the small gardens to find 'el museo cigarralejo' (the museum of Iberian Art) which is situated opposite the old hospital 'sienda mayor de la concepcion'. the old hospital has a lovely little plaza, where old men sit with their coffees catching up with each other, and young women sit with their girlfriends or with their children. it's quite enchanting.
the museum is situated in a very pretty palace! and the art found inside have been donated after 40 years of excavations of about 500+ graves , found about 4km outside of Mula. all the information is unfortunately in spanish, and my very broken spanish doesnt allow me to understand the detailed descriptions dotted around, or the guide that would have been provided for free. i am given a very small English guidebook though, and i can interpret the basics as i wander round this quaint building.
as you move through each of the 10 rooms, the material and findings are laid out in glass cases. to be honest though i am more interested in the knowledge that i am walking through the kitchens, halls, church, dance hall and grand bedroom of this baroque style building. it was a great little museum, showing me that this area has history which dates back as far as the 4th to 1st centuries BC!
this little village is small and as i turn the corner i see the extensively decorated 'Fundación Casa Pintada' (the painted house). all the surronding houses have beautiful art work on the walls, but this one stands out from the rest, with it's white walls and red 'graffiti' work outlining the roof and windows. in these modern times it houses an art museum! which to my utter dismay is closed for the next week due to the manager being on holiday! i can only laugh. this place is so pretty though, i know i will be returning with my mum and dad one day to show them, so i can explore this building another day.
as i saunter uptowards the castle, high on the hill (closed to visiters), my head is permanently held looking high at the paintings and decoration on the buildings. i stumble across 'el nino chapel' which opens onto a small plaza, with a small fountain a top and various small cafes sorrounding its parimeter. i sit and breath in the early morning air, watching the locals come and go in their daily routines, excited that i will return with family one day to explore more, or just do what this little Murcian village appears to do very well...... sit and wait patiently.
