Spain/Andalusia: Tabernas
The mountains rise quite quickly past the beaches of the Mediterranean coastline is southern Spain; they also serve as a barrier for incoming clouds. Behind the ridge lies Spain’s (and Europe’s for that matter) only desert around the town of Tabernas – known as the Tabernas Desert. The scenery is dramatic – sandy and clay badlands and hills, desert shrub, and bizarre rock formations and colorful dry soils. In fact – this area is also knows as Texas Hollywood and Fort Bravo and a number of “spaghetti western” movies were shot here in the 70s (European versions of Cowboys vs Indians, with Indians played by local Spanish gypsies). Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was also shot here. Besides the wackiness of America-like movie sets that want 20€ to enter (no thanks!), the hill above the town of Tabernas holds the ruins of an Arab fortress – a steep hike, but worth for the panoramic views.
