Posts written by Vernon Grant
Spanish shorts – Sa Riera
May 11th, 2012 by vernon
A friend remarked at how that when i write about the glory of Spain i can get carried away and write too much. Fair point. I do not set out to writer chapter and verse. It is simply that i allow my enthusiasm to get the better of me. There is so much good to be said about the country at a time when the news headlines about Spain are all doom and gloom.
There is much to celebrate about the country and every reason to holiday here. So stand by for some Spanish shorts. Not the type that would show my legs, they are not a good sight in Spain! But, coming up, some Spanish shorts that are worth noting.
Read the entire post » Spanish shorts – Sa Riera
Read the entire post » Spanish shorts – Sa Riera
Trains and boats and planes
May 8th, 2012 by vernon
How do you like to arrive in Spain?
In the traditional fashion, by air? Or by sailing to your destination? Or, perhaps, by train?
First impressions are important and I have been very impressed when arriving at certain distinctive locations.
Read the entire post » Trains and boats and planes
Read the entire post » Trains and boats and planes
All at sea in Spain
May 7th, 2012 by vernon
So the sea is the sea. Is that correct? After all, the sea is blue. You can swim in it, sail on it, fly over the top of it. Ideally the waves arrive on a sandy beach in Spain.
That would be the Mediterranean then, would it? Well, yes. And no. It depends where you are. You may be marvelling at the Med.
Or you may be admiring the Atlantic. But which is it?
Read the entire post » All at sea in Spain
Read the entire post » All at sea in Spain
Eat Spain
May 2nd, 2012 by vernon
Those taking a holiday in Spain can be a little bewildered when it comes to eating out in the country. What should they have for breakfast? When is lunch served? And why, oh why, do they have to wait so late to eat dinner. Or, for some, supper!
The whole what to and when to aspect to life in Spain. It takes some getting used to. Especially if you are in the country for only a short time.
Read the entire post » Eat Spain
Read the entire post » Eat Spain
‘Moor’ the merrier in Spain
April 28th, 2012 by vernon
Are there really religious tourists? That was the question fired at me recently. You better believe it, was my response. I know, I have met them.
And there are many people who want to see more of Spain. And by that i mean they want to learn more about the Moors. The people who once ruled Spain and whose influence is to be seen throughout the country.
Read the entire post » ‘Moor’ the merrier in Spain
Read the entire post » ‘Moor’ the merrier in Spain
Every Picture Tells a Story – Chilling Out
April 25th, 2012 by vernon
The good thing about Spanish summers is that I can have a nap in the afternoon. And not feel guilty. After all, it is too hot to go out. So i place myself in a horizontal position in my dark and cool bodega lounge and have a sleep.
Just like the locals do. In summer they would not dream of letting the light or the heat into their cool houses. Darkness prevails.
But i did come across a man once who could not wait to get home in order to chill out. So he did so under the sun.
Read the entire post » Every Picture Tells a Story – Chilling Out
Read the entire post » Every Picture Tells a Story – Chilling Out
Bus Stop – to Granada
April 19th, 2012 by vernon
I never cease to be amazed at how many people living or holidaying along the coastlines of Spain never hop on a bus to see more of the country. Especially the cities that are easily reachable in a day.
In Spain it is wise to see more than the sea. So leave the car at home and get on one of the comfortable coaches that run daily linking so many coastal towns, with inland villages, and the distinctive cities beyond.
Here is such a journey. I take the bus to gorgeous Granada.
Read the entire post » Bus Stop – to Granada
Read the entire post » Bus Stop – to Granada
Every Picture Tells a Story – Men on Stilts
April 14th, 2012 by vernon
Having travelled throughout much of Spain i have, predictably, taken way too many photographs. As is the way with the digital world, i get too little time to look back at them. Now i am going to change all that.
With many a photo there is a story of Spain. Of its people, of a city, town or village. Or of a holiday destination visited at the height of the season, or when the place is almost empty. Photos of fun, fiestas and fabulous food.
So come sit down with me. And I will show you my photo album of Spain. I want to tell you a story!
Read the entire post » Every Picture Tells a Story – Men on Stilts
Read the entire post » Every Picture Tells a Story – Men on Stilts
Bus Stop – to the beach
April 10th, 2012 by vernon
When Spanish families go to the beach they tend to take the entire contents of their house with them. Everything except the kitchen sink.
That is because they go there in the comfort of their air conditioned car. But what if you want to see Spain by bus? As i sometimes do.
Well you can take plenty of stuff with you on a Spanish bus. Though taking a fold out dining table for twelve people may be stretching your luck.
Here are the coastlines I have seen by bus.
Read the entire post » Bus Stop – to the beach
Read the entire post » Bus Stop – to the beach
Bus stop – La Alpujarra
April 8th, 2012 by vernon
The public transport service in Spain is excellent. So much of the attention is always on the high speed train service that now covers so much of the country and allows you to travel between the major cities at high speed.
But what if you want to see the country outside your window? Some trains go so fast it is difficult to take in the scenery.
I catch the bus. I think the superb coach network is a great way to see Spain.
Read the entire post » Bus stop – La Alpujarra
Read the entire post » Bus stop – La Alpujarra
Spain on Film – the final cut
April 6th, 2012 by vernon
The hard hitting economic budget announced by the new Spanish government in the Spring of 2012 has received much publicity worldwide.
But one of the many financial cuts announced in the budget did not attract much attention. The one that stated that the Spanish government would reduce their funding of making movies in Spain by a whopping thirty five per cent.
That sent many a Spanish film director reeling. It may mean an end to some of the biggest films produced being shot on location in Spain. Which would be a pity. For so many destinations in Spain are famous thanks to the wonderful world of cinema.
Read the entire post » Spain on Film – the final cut
Read the entire post » Spain on Film – the final cut
Why go to?… the Costa Tropical
April 5th, 2012 by vernon
A perennial question asked of me is: “why should i go to… what for… what’s there?”
If i had a Euro for every time i have been asked such a question, well, i wouldn’t be writing this now. I would be on the beach. And, more likely than not, somewhere along the Costa Tropical. The most appropriately named stretch of coastline in all of Spain.
Read the entire post » Why go to?… the Costa Tropical
Read the entire post » Why go to?… the Costa Tropical
My unmissable Spain
April 3rd, 2012 by vernon
So what events, places or celebrations would I miss about Spain were the aliens to land tomorrow and beam me up to a planet where fiestas are unheard of, where a siesta comes in the form of a device like something from the Woody Allen film ‘Sleeper’ and where paella is considered to be a food only suitable for creatures who require plenty of salt to survive.
A friend asked me the following question recently. What are my unmissable bits of Spain? Those i would go back to see for a repeat performance.
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Read the entire post » My unmissable Spain
Cafe culture in Spain – take it outside!
April 2nd, 2012 by vernon
I had my doubts that the chain smoking Spanish would be prepared to stand outside bars and cafes when the smoking ban was implemented two years ago. But i was wrong. In Spain, as in so many countries today, you can see customers stood outside in all weathers keeping up to their cigarette smoking habit.
And, as a result, cafe culture on the streets has taken off. There are now more and more outside seating areas. The irony, of course, is that those who used to sit outside to avoid the smoke may now opt to go inside in order to… avoid the smoke!
But is there a better way to soak up Spanish life than sitting outside a cafe or bar and watching the world go by?
No.
Read the entire post » Cafe culture in Spain – take it outside!
Read the entire post » Cafe culture in Spain – take it outside!
Going Inland – Caravaca de la Cruz
April 1st, 2012 by vernon
You may have gathered by now that i love inland Spain. I cannot recall when i last sat on a beach, but i do remember being bored within ten minutes. Or was it five?
Each to their own and all that, but I would much rather be motoring around Spain, or using the excellent public transport available in the country, in order to discover new destinations that are ideal for a holiday or simply a day out.
Read the entire post » Going Inland – Caravaca de la Cruz
Read the entire post » Going Inland – Caravaca de la Cruz
Going Inland – Lecrín Valley
March 31st, 2012 by vernon
You can holiday in a place in Spain. You can live there full time. But you don’t get to know a place until you get to know its people.
On the coast, people come and go. Inevitably so. But inland many a Spanish town or village is made up chiefly of those who have lived there all their lives.
The Lecrín Valley is comprised of a collection of white washed villages where many a resident has not strayed further than this place where oranges and lemons grow aplenty and where life is sweet, not sour.
Read the entire post » Going Inland – Lecrín Valley
Read the entire post » Going Inland – Lecrín Valley
Seeing Spain – religiously!
March 30th, 2012 by vernon
People tour Spain for all manner of reasons. Some for the scenery. Some for the variety of food on offer. Others to go walking or to watch Spanish football. All manner of people come to Spain for all manner of reasons.
I’m not a religious person but you don’t have to be in order to appreciate some of the finest locations and most impressive architecture on show across Spain. Churches, monasteries and convents are plentiful in Spain. And there are so very many religious monuments to see en route.
In part one of my biblical proportion tour across Spain, i begin with some small churches and big cathedrals.
Read the entire post » Seeing Spain – religiously!
Read the entire post » Seeing Spain – religiously!
Going inland. Velez de Benaudalla, a winning town.
March 21st, 2012 by vernon
I live 20 minutes inland from the coast. An ideal compromise i find. Equidistant between a superb city and a coastline that boats warm winter temperatures. When it gets cold inland I simply drive down to the Costa Tropical to warm up and spectate people wearing little more than shorts and sandals. A sight that never fails to amaze me.
It’s a whole other world. You do not have to travel far to soon realise that living inland is a world away from being by the sea.
Heavens! There are folk who have been watching the waves for many years who have never journeyed inland. Never, i tell you. Even in Spain it seems, there’s nowt so queer as folk!
What are they missing? Well a great deal, actually. And I am going to be writing about some inland destinations that can be reached within a half hour drive of the beach.
Read the entire post » Going inland. Velez de Benaudalla, a winning town.
Read the entire post » Going inland. Velez de Benaudalla, a winning town.
What’s in a name? – in Spain
March 19th, 2012 by vernon
In Spain those displaying an ‘L’ plate for learner, or ‘P’ plate to prove that they recently passed their driving test, also show the place from where they are from.
Each time i see a driver displaying a sign in the back of their car that shouts proudly – ‘L’ MORON i have to laugh. The quality of the driving on Spanish roads is such that i think almost every driver should have a sign in their car that says MORON!
But, in this case, it refers to the place called Morón de la Frontera.
So what’s in a name?
Read the entire post » What’s in a name? – in Spain
Read the entire post » What’s in a name? – in Spain
Spain on film – take 2
February 27th, 2012 by vernon
It has been a long few weeks of thespians patting each other on the back and handing out awards.
The BAFTAS, the OSCARS and the GOYAS. And films shot in Spain have been nominated for prizes at all three ceremonies. Especially, of course, the latter.
Which is when the great and the good of the Spanish film world get together to praise the work of those who do such a great job. Not just of making movies but, crucially, of promoting the glorious country of Spain via the big screen.
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Read the entire post » Spain on film – take 2
