By George – it must be Catalonia!
April 23rd, 2012
Last month in March, St Patrick was celebrated, nowhere better than my own Emerald Isle, unless you got to take part in one of the huge parades that New York puts on every year…But what about St George, the patron saint of England? Are the best parties UK based? No…..actually, today the 23rd April the dragon slayer himself will be celebrated in style right here in Spain…La Día de Sant Jordi…let´s cut to Catalonia!
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Read the entire post » By George – it must be Catalonia!
Bus Stop – to Granada
April 19th, 2012
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.
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Read the entire post » Bus Stop – to Granada
A little sea and a sleeve? It must be Murcia!
April 16th, 2012
The Costa Calida – or the warm coast – is just what you need for a few days away under the rays of the Spanish sunshine – a sheltered coast and warm waters of the blue sea splashing about in the Mar Menor - literally the little sea. Shallow and sheltered means a lagoon always like a warm bath, separated from the cooler Mediterranean by a narrow strip of coastline known as La Manga – the sleeve! Come and discover the many attractions of this part of Murcia…
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Read the entire post » A little sea and a sleeve? It must be Murcia!
Every Picture Tells a Story – Men on Stilts
April 14th, 2012
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!
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Read the entire post » Every Picture Tells a Story – Men on Stilts
Guernica – war and peace in Spain
April 12th, 2012
When you hear the name Guernica what do you think of?
Personally, I think of a visit many years ago to the Museo Reina Sofia in Madrid, where my then very young daughter stood in front of one of the most famous paintings in the world and wished aloud that she had brought her crayons to colour it in!
Pablo Picasso paid tribute to that ancient Basque place, destroyed one busy market day in 1937 when he accepted the commission to paint the horrors of war. You too can visit the Reina Sofía and see the painted mural for yourself, or you can visit the town now rebuilt since that day in April ´37 when 1,645 people lost their lives.
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Read the entire post » Guernica – war and peace in Spain
Gardening for green fingers in Valencia
April 11th, 2012
You´ll just have to face facts…! Your Summer gardening will consist of either a hosepipe ban, or a wash out, depending on the British and Irish weather – and as for an outdoor party or barbeque – ha! - forget it!
If you are of the common garden variety then come to Spain instead 
… and explore some sumptuous gardens open to the public – let´s try out the beautiful region of Valencia – it´s not all just Orange trees you know…!
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… and explore some sumptuous gardens open to the public – let´s try out the beautiful region of Valencia – it´s not all just Orange trees you know…! Read the entire post » Gardening for green fingers in Valencia
Swallows, Swifts and early Summer in Las Alpujarras
April 10th, 2012
Does one Swallow make for a Summer?
Well, if so then great…. it has arrived! While the UK saw a freak few days of sunshine before Easter, we had a mix of Spring temperatures, a little snow and a little rain...but panic not, the weather this week has done what it does every year – like simply throwing a switch, the heat is palpable and the breeze warm…which is why we love it here in Southern Spain!
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Read the entire post » Swallows, Swifts and early Summer in Las Alpujarras
Bus Stop – to the beach
April 10th, 2012
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.
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Read the entire post » Bus Stop – to the beach
Bus stop – La Alpujarra
April 8th, 2012
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
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.
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Read the entire post » Spain on Film – the final cut
Why go to?… the Costa Tropical
April 5th, 2012
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.
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Read the entire post » Why go to?… the Costa Tropical
Go take a bath…! Finding Mecca in Córdoba!
April 4th, 2012
Aching muscles? Tired limbs? You need a holiday! Soothe away the stresses and strains of life with a long bath…come to Córdoba and experience the secrets of the Hammam – the only way to bathe in Spain!
A weekend away on a city break with a difference – supplement the sightseeing and shopping with a trip to the baths - the Arabic Hamman – and be pummeled and polished with style…a holiday to relax, revive and rejuvenate…
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Read the entire post » Go take a bath…! Finding Mecca in Córdoba!
My unmissable Spain
April 3rd, 2012
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
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.
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Read the entire post » Cafe culture in Spain – take it outside!
Going Inland – Caravaca de la Cruz
April 1st, 2012
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.
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Read the entire post » Going Inland – Caravaca de la Cruz
Going Inland – Lecrín Valley
March 31st, 2012
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.
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Read the entire post » Going Inland – Lecrín Valley
Spring walking – go to El Montgó
March 31st, 2012
Spring has sprung in Spain. The sun is growing stronger each day, and the countryside is erupting and unfurling with riotous colour, and heady scent.
What better start to the season than a walking holiday in clean fresh air, under the Spanish sun? If you happen to choose the towns of Dénia or Javea as a base to hang your boots then you may be tempted by the view of El Montgó from your superb rented holiday home…
Rising loftily to 753ft, what does this climb hold in store for you? Let’s find out…!
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Read the entire post » Spring walking – go to El Montgó
Seeing Spain – religiously!
March 30th, 2012
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.
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Read the entire post » Seeing Spain – religiously!
Water mill towers? Torremolinos!
March 28th, 2012
The Costa del Sol is synonymous with Sun, Sand, Sea and…..Sangria of course! Marbella with it´s yachts, shops and jet set, Malaga for far more than flying from, Mijas for magical family holidays and then of course there´s Torremolinos. Look beyond the all day full English breakfast boards – there´s far more to discover here, what do you know about Torremolinos?
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Read the entire post » Water mill towers? Torremolinos!
Adra – not just any port in a storm!
March 28th, 2012
In fact, a storm is just about the last thing you might encounter here in the town of Adra – in Almería, the driest and sunniest part of Andalucía. Fly into the airport at Almería, or motor along from Málaga and enjoy the dramatic change in scenery as you move from the Costa Tropical to the Costa Almería and the desert – like setting of the spaghetti western scene of our destination.
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Read the entire post » Adra – not just any port in a storm!
