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.

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....

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.

On arrival in Zafra

Local wine to wash down some local food.

Nerja: Zumo! The choice of drink for the discerning 3 year old.

Nerja: Hottest day of the year so far - 21 degrees centigrade. We spent the morning at the donkey sanctuary and the afternoon at the beach (rude not to).

Nerja: Seven weeks today we return home to the UK. However, coming to Nerja this weekend are hundreds of tourists as it is school half term across Europe. They'll be able to enjoy the blue skies...

Nerja: ...and blue sea.

Nerja: Parkes models her new sunglasses. Weather has been very windy over the last few days but the nice weatherman has said it will be 21/22 degrees centigrade this weekend. Thong time!

Nerja: You can't beat a good menú del dia. We tried the lentejas (lentils), sopa de pescado (fish soup), and panga (battered fried fish). All were delicious. You can find this fare at the Hostal Ermita.



Jus tickles a berry ice cream.



Weird-looking orange flowery thing.



Nerja: Weather was comfortably shirt-sleeves today and Beth, Parkes and Jus enjoyed ice creams.



 

Nerja: New sunglasses, eating a biscuit.

Nerja: Parkes after too many mushrooms.

Nerja: Fabulous afternoon on the beach. It was about 18 degrees centigrade and, with no wind, felt really warm. Parkes built a pyramid in the sand and Beth decorated it with shells and other flotsam and jetsam.

Warming up

Lovely sunny day in Nerja, beaches are still empty though.