the place called Montejque

We drove the short distance past Benjaojan, back up to Montejque, the village higher into the mountain side…we had a few very bad maps from a climbing book they loaned us at the hotel,  and we were looking for the highest crag I could find, called Tajo Alto. We found a dirt round that wound around the village, then turned off onto another dirt and rock road that was very rough, then followed this up the hill until we thought the car might die. We should have called the two truck before we left.  So I hiked up to the mountain, eventually finding the bolts and figuring out where we were on the map. We drove the car up to the top of the pass, it barely made .  

So we hiked over to the mountain, where lots of sheep lived, there was a broad ledge below the climbs with lots of sheep droppings.  The climbs were difficult, 7a+ range,  a difficult and scary challenge.  There were plants and lichens growing on the climbs, a real mountain adventure.  We left a bail biner all of the  climbs.  But it was a beautiful day up in the mountains, We enjoyed hearing the bleating of the sheep and seeing the vultures swooping around making vulture cries.  We could see all the way to Ronda, a rare view.  We drove down to the only place that is ever open in Benjaojan, and tried two new tapas, the  lady there is always nice to us, helping us figure out how to say little shrimp, the two Americans among the bunch village men, all men, having their 4:30 drinks and tapas. 

 This is el cuevo del gato, cave of the cat, a strange and mysterious place where a river runs out of the mountains.

the little village of Montejque, on the way down from the mountain, and the car, which survived the mountains, the 2nd car.