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We earned our lunch today ... we set out early to walk down to the intercambio, about a 20-minute walk. After an hour and a half there, we walked along the seafront to the pharmacy and the print shop, pausing for a brief apero. And then right up to the other end of town to El Chaleco, a restaurant we haven't tried before.

The reason we haven't tried it is because it is renowned as a French restaurant and on several occasions we have looked at the menu and decided it sounds too ordinary. It is in the Michelin guide though, and our friends S and T went there on  Valentine's day and really enjoyed it.

The first surprise was when S tried to book a table for 2:30, a relatively early time for lunch in Spain, and was told the kitchen would be closed by then. When we arrived at 2 pm, the place was pristine, and empty. "Everyone's left," said the waitress; "we operate on a European timetable, not a Spanish one." ?? Luckily two other (Spanish) people turned up, so we weren't entirely alone.

They only do tasting menus; we opted for the short one, of an aperitivo plus three courses, which was basically a no-choice menú del día. The food was fine, but certainly not exceptional, and quite expensive for what it was. They did get top marks for the home made sourdough rolls, but we won't be rushing back.

Then more walking back up the hill to go home. To avoid walking along the N340, we cut across the vega, the big green space in the centre of Almuñecar, mostly given over to chirimoya trees. This is where we came across this odd timber statue, in a very overgrown estate in the middle of the orchards (entrance in extras). I can't tell you who it is, maybe some Moorish hero.

And finally up the steep hill to home, and a well deserved siesta.