Almeria Indalo globe

Some new flights were published by easyjet for Almeria, a city in Southern Spain (from our local airport) which we have never been to. Managed to get a Sunday to Tuesday trip. We are dependent on where and when the budget airlines fly to and what time, and a weekend early morning flight out is our preferred start

We obtained this rather unusual globe with the old town buildings and nearby Mediteranean sea represented on the ornate base. The globe itself contains a representation of the Indalo god-man who appears every where around the city of Almeria

The globe was obtained from an understated tourist shop in the cathedral square which we noticed whilst having a light lunch there.

The Indalo is a Bronze Age (2500bc) symbol found in 1968, drawn on the walls of a cave called "Los Letreros" ("The Signboards") in the Almeria Sierra de María-Los Vélez Natural Park. Surrounded by horned men and animals, the symbol may depict a man or god holding a rainbow in his arms, over his head. It has become customary to paint the Indalo on the front of houses and buildings to protect them from evil. It is also available as a good luck charm in tourist shops and appears all round Almeria in various guises and forms.

Though looking a bit understocked from a distance it sold all the various knick knacks associated with holiday souveniers

The view from the shop entrance shows the sunny square and cafe which filled a proportion of it. A great place to spend lunch

We didnt spot too many souvenier shops in Almeria but this one had the Idalo symbol outside it.

It had some alternative square based globes in it again with the Idalo symbol

Never leave souvenier collecting until the last minute, especially when wanting something specific. Though many tourist shops are robust and open when other shops are closed beware of Monday and to a certain extent Sunday closures

We noticed ceramic figurines in the shape of hooded Nazarenes or penitents in various windows around town. If we were regular visitors to the area, could imagine us building up a collection of these as well.

Almeria is a great holiday destination, not as crowded or as expensive as other more famous Meditteranean cities. We took the tourist train up to the Alcazaba, an imposing Moorish fortress with great views overlooking the city.

A short walk from there led us to the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, on San Cristobal Hill built in the 1930s with more great views of the port and city.

Almeria has many museums but an unusual one was the Museum of Contemporary Spanish Realism, located in a former hospital building, it contains works of art from 1890 to 2023 all by Spanish artists.

In the city centre the cathedral built in the 16th century is an example of a religious building and fort combined.

Overall a great sunny and warm destination even out of summer and plenty to do with a few snow globes to choose from.