Tuesday, March 29, 2011

In Summary

Well, we are coming to the end of our second stay in Nerja. It has been eventful, sometimes a bit scary, but we will look back on this period of our lives with fondness. On Friday 8th April we will land in the UK and life will pick up again. Here are some of the good things and bad things about Spanish living;

Good:
1) Weather. South of Spain generally has a dry, hot climate and the winter has been very good to us.
2) Food. Love Spanish food. The fruit and vegetable produce is generally fresh and delicious, unlike the UK which most of the time has to import from further afield.
3) Fiestas. Spain loves to party and their celebrations are fabulously excessive. They work hard and party hard.
4) Community. We have felt part of a community here - something we haven't necessarily felt in the UK. Maybe that comes from us living in the south of England - I have detected more of a community feel up north.
5) Attitude. The Spanish have a fabulous attitude towards life - it can irritate some but the relaxed nature works for me.
6) Religion. I love the way the fear of the Catholic church seems to pray on the minds of the Spanish people. Religion stills seems to be part of many peoples lives here - even if they are not all regular church-goers.
7) Doctor's waiting rooms. Everyone says 'hello' when you walk in. Very friendly.

Bad:
1) Dog crap. Dog crap in the streets does seem to be much worse than at home. People just seem to tolerate it as part of life.
2) Recycling. Recycling food waste is well supported here. There are even bins for waste food products which I have not seen before (sure Spain is not the country that does this). The only trouble with this is that most people seem to put whatever they feel like in them - items such as furniture, dog crap, boxes etc etc. Not great.
3) Cost of living. Shopping costs pretty much the same as the UK. Not helped by the weak pound.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Nerja: Beth and Nat plotting something in the park.
Nerja: Beth, post ice-cream and desperately needing a hair cut.
Nerja: Picture from the carnival earlier in March. Two revellers dressed in police outfits. And a clown.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Nerja: The weather is going to be twenty-something next week. What better a way to celebrate this but to build an ancient Britain fertility mound in the sand for my lady wife. What woman wouldn't appreciate such a gift.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Almuñécar: Afternoon at the aquarium with the sharks and a dark seahorse.

Saturday, March 05, 2011

Carnival

One of the floats at Nerja carnival today, only just misses the dangling electric cables.

Jerez de Los Caballeros: We visited Jerez de Los Caballeros in Extremadura. Lovely place, quite interesting. It was here in the thirteenth century that 13 knights of the Templar variety were beheaded for doing something naughty. It takes a very brave man to kneel and place his head on the block facing imminent death...

Jerez de Los Caballeros: ...it takes an even braver man to eat fried tench. I remember my Dad and I catching these from lakes and gravel pits when I was young - they were always very slimy.

Thursday, March 03, 2011

Morcilla

This tapas is morcilla con cebolla which basically translates as mushy black pudding with caramelised onion on toasted bread. Three words come to mind. 1- heaven, 2- heart and 3- attack.

Tapas at the hotel

We have sampled for the second night in a row, the most amazing tapas. Washed down with local wine, which has surprised us as it is very very nice. As you can see....

Wednesday, March 02, 2011

Pignuts

The family is current holidaying in Zafra in the Spanish province of Extremadura. It is a wonderfully understated place, very charming and with fabulous cooking and wines to keep out the early springtime chills. We are staying in the Hotel Los Balcones de Zafra which is gorgeous and very friendly. Our chief aim of the trip was to sample the best jamón in the land and I think we have managed to accomplish this feat. Pics will be posted.