Igualeja
Written by Geoff Forster
Igualeja: There are seven pueblos in the Alta Genal Valley. Alpandeire, Faraján, Júzcar we had already visited (see menu on right), The remaining four Cartajima, Parauta, Igualeja and Pujerra were higher up the valley. Igualeja we had been told was very beautiful and close to the source of the Genal river ( Rio Genal ).
So one hot and sunny morning in early August we left Benarrabá and headed along the A369 to Ronda. Just before town we took the infamous (but now improved) A376 San Pedro de Alcántara road for a few kilometres before turning onto the MA526 to Igualeja and Pujerra. 
The MA526 was very narrow in places and as we got near Igualeja became very twisting. The surface was reasonable and taking it steady we had no problems. Reaching the pueblo the first thing we noticed was a grass playing field. The first piece of flat grass we had seen since leaving England. We parked the car near the playing field not knowing what the streets of Igualeja were like.
The second thing we noticed was a goat bleating very loudly at the top of a rocky outcrop. It had got on the wrong side of the fence and couldn't find its way back to its friends. It was very loud and distressing. 
Leaving the goat to find its way back through the fence we walked into Igualeja. On the left was the towns magnificent municipal swimming pool. 
On the other side of the road was a stream with a series of weirs. There were stone walls and it was shaded by some beautiful trees. There was also a lush grassy area. 
We were very impressed with this beautiful stream.
The next shot is looking downstream through a tunnel under the road. 
The next photograph shows a cave entrance where the river magically appears to flow from. 
This shot is looking downstream from near the cave entrance. 
We went exploring around the back of the cave to see if we could find the river on the other side. There was no water anywhere. I found a goat track up onto the top of the outcrop containing the cave. I could here the lost goat bleating as I found the fence separating it from its friends. From my vantage point I couldn't see any water in the valley behind but I got this shot of the River Genal downstream similar to the one above but from an elevated position.
We spent a few minutes walking on the moist spongy grass, this was the first time we had walked on grass for months.
We reluctantly left the shady grass and the coolness of the river and went to explore Igualeja.
The MA526 runs through the middle of Igualeja, the main street is quite wide at this point and there are plenty of parking spaces.
The road narrows further into Igualeja, this is the small church.
Most of the pueblos have a three storey limit. Igualeja seems to be the exception some of the houses are four or five storey's. The huge buildings along the river which runs through the town make it feel a little like the Manchester ship canal (not pretty).
These houses with flowers on their balconies improve this street.
A balcony full of flowers always makes the streets of a pueblo look more appealing.
We turned off the main street to explore the upper part of town. We climbed up and up through the narrow streets and we we took this series of photographs. 
The streets of upper Igualeja are steep!
Check out this next photo.
By the time we got to the top of this street my thigh muscles were burning. 
Reaching the top we took these photographs looking down over Igualeja. 
The hills around Igualeja are covered in Sweet Chestnut trees which are a major part of Igualeja's economy.
The streets of Igualeja were full of cats. There are often a lot of cats around Spanish pueblos but Igualeja had an exceptional amount. All seemed to be in reasonable condition for street cats.
We found this fountain a the top of Igualeja. The tile plaque is a picture of Christian zealots whipping themselves?!
We headed back down, on the way we met this lady sitting outside her house. We were admiring her bougainvillea when we noticed the baby chickens around the base of the plant.
Her kitten was gorgeous. 
We finally made it down. The streets must be incredibly dangerous during and after heavy rainfall. We crossed the MA526 and explored the lower part of Igualeja. This is a small fenced plaza. 
There were 5 large birds flying high above Igualeja all the time we were in the pueblo. I thought they were large eagles. Jane thought they were vultures. Guess who was right ... I'm going to have to wear my glasses more. This is a Griffon Vulture flying over Igualeja.
More bird pics in Birds Photo Gallery 
This Policeman ( Guardia Civil ) posed for us outside his station. 
The next three photographs were taken in the plaza area.
The first is of Jane by a lovely little fountain.
The second is of a strange building housing religious statues, candles and beautifully painted ceiling. Unfortunately it has a locked wrought iron gate making photography of inside impossible.
The third is the Ayuntamiento of Igualeja (Town Hall) 
We went into a bar for tostada's. The prices were low and the people of Igualeja that we met were friendly.
There was a small statue and another of these religious niches with roofs.
Neither were exceptional unlike this ginger cat with a moustache, which is definitely worth photographing. 
We found this pretty fountain near the river. The tiled wall plaque is about sweet Chestnut production in the Genal Valley.
Jane found this pretty bougainvillea .... 
This next photograph is looking up from the road near the disco to the upper part of Igualeja. 
We enjoyed our visit to Igualeja. The area near the weirs and the shaded grassy areas were the highlight.
The upper town was typically Spanish, steep twisting narrow streets with pretty houses, flowers, fountains and cats.
The area around the plaza was lovely.
The town was let down by the area and houses around the main road and the river side.
If you are fit enough to climb to the upper parts of Igualeja it is well worth the muscle burn.
If you are touring Andalucía in a car Igualeja is definitely worth a twenty minute detour from the A376 Ronda - San Pedro de Alcántara road . We headed back to the car.
We could hear the water splashing over the weirs and children were playing in the municipal swimming pool.
The goat must have found a way back to its friends as there was silence from the crags above the town.
The vultures were still circling .. but goat was off the menu.