Goats and Other Surprises of Los Genoveses

Sailing up the coast of Spain, we saw some serious weather coming. It was a steady howl of 30 knots that was set to be sustained for a couple of days. So we ducked into this nondescript cove by the Playa de los Genoveses, just south of what the guide book described as some small fishing village called San Jose.

Whatever. Just get me out of this blow.

What an amazing surprise awaited us. This turned out to be a total gem, with broad stands of agave century plants in all stages of bloom. Trails led through these giant asparagus spears, up a large hill on the right with crazy beautiful vistas of waves smashing on rocks.

On around from this was an expansive arc of clothing optional beaches filled with refreshingly uninhibited Spaniards.

On the other side of the beach was a 30-45 minute walk to San Jose. Note to travelers, the guide books are just wrong. San Jose was described as a small fishing village, very ho hum, and out of the way. Nothing could be further from the truth.

But wait.

Before we even got to the super cute town, the walk was interrupted by a goatherd driving droves of goats across our path. It was like a river of them were flowing all in front of us, and we don’t swim in that , so just let this little deluge flow right by.

Trivia quiz: what do you call a group of goats?

A trip. Seriously, they are called a trip of goats. That term somehow makes perfect sense. What a trip … of goats!

Listen to all the bells dinging and donging from around their necks. It’s a trippy chorus. After letting them go off and do whatever goaty things they do with their day, we were back to trekking over to San Jose to get an infusion of cuteness, and maybe a paella and some crisp white wine as well.

We experience San Jose first hand as a super cute town, with charming homes, tons of beach side restaurants, bars, a marina, very friendly people, and an amazing Sunday market filled locals stocking up on their olives, in-season fruits, fresh from the farm veg, cheeses, clothes, nuts, and all the things you’d expect from a perfect Spanish market experience.

Somehow this didn’t make it into the book you paid $29.95 to guide you. In the end, this town and that playa are totally worth the trip (by that I mean voyage, if not the goats as well).