Mijas Pueblo

I posted yesterday about the beautiful and tranquil mountain village of Mijas Pueblo, not to be confused with Mijas. Mijas is by the sea, but Mijas Pueblo is nestled in the Andalusian mountains as I explained in part I below.

https://hive.blog/hive-194913/@ablaze/discovering-mijas-pueblo-in-spain-s-andalucia-part-i

The village boasts many beautiful craft shops and many artists call it home.

So many of the homes have beautiful entrances like this one that I photographed my sons outside.

Look at all those pots! This would be right up your street @erikah

As I said yesterday we holiday in Spain every year and there's lots of places we like to go and Mijas Pueblo is one that we happened upon thanks to some Irish friends of ours who were holidaying there last summer.

It's important to time your visit well so you don't get stuck in a horse and cart traffic jam!

Horse and cart tours around the town are very popular and cost €5 per person.

I'm not sure who this statue is commemorating, but he gets the nod from me, as he looks like a sturdy chap who knows about grafting, hard work and rolling up ones sleeves.

We didn't make it up to this little church nestled high above the village, but doesn't it look like an idyllic setting?

We stopped in here for some Tapas while we were there, as I always like to support some local businesses, any time I visit someplace like this.

There were lots of craft shops and also leather shops were very plentiful and below is one we frequented.

This street sums up the feel of the shops in this quaint little town.

The gift shops were great for the most part...

Try explaining these to your 6, 9 and 12 year old sons!

Donkeys of Mijas Pueblo

Mijas Pueblo is a rustic and unspoilt gem. It's still not overly touristy, which is something I love about it. Once a place has been discovered by the masses, it loses some of it's charm in my opinion.

We see this sometimes with music also, litrle known King's of Leon create two cracking first albums, then get "discovered" and get more commercial and lose that secret sauce that got them discovered in the first place.

Mijas Pueblo is well known for its “burro-taxis.”

WTF are Burro taxis I hear you ask...

Let me explain.

Donkeys have become a beloved symbol of the village, offering rides to tourists through the narrow, cobbled streets and scenic viewpoints. Our friends told us that they did it and the kids loved it.

The tradition started back in the 1960s, when locals realised that tourists were fascinated by the donkeys used in everyday work and were willing to pay for a short ride or even just a photo, so now there are many donkeys that cart tourists around the narrow streets.

I was worried about the donkeys welfare, but I was told that today, the burro-taxis are regulated by the local government to ensure the animals' welfare and the preservation of this unique tradition.

The donkeys are equipped with colorful saddles and often wear decorative headgear, adding to their charm. While they continue to attract visitors from around the world, there have been ongoing efforts to balance tourism with responsible animal care, including mandatory rest periods and shaded areas which is good to hear and I saw it adhered to during my visit.

The presence of donkeys is deeply woven into the cultural identity of Mijas Pueblo. They represent a living link to the village’s agricultural past, when donkeys were essential for transporting goods and navigating the mountainous terrain as can be seen from this old photo I found online.

For many residents, they are a point of pride and a reminder of simpler times, even as the town has grown into a popular tourist destination.

More photos around Mijas Pueblo

Thanks as always for stopping by everyone

Peace Out