Monday, July 23rd, 2012
[caption id="attachment_4652" align="aligncenter" width="578" caption="Which is your favourite beach in southern Spain? Many people like to kick back on the white sands of Bolonia (number 2)."][/caption]
A (freebie) Spanish newspaper website started a "ranking" of Andalucia's beaches a few weeks ago.
The ranking works on a points system - you score each ...
Posted in Beaches, family, Travel Andalucia | No Comments »
Monday, July 16th, 2012
I was astonished to read recently that the Spanish government is going to oblige shops in some cities to stay open for longer hours, and double the number of Sundays and public holidays - including Malaga, Cordoba, Granada and Sevilla.
When I first arrived here in Spain almost nine years ago, ...
Posted in Economy, Shopping | Comments Off
Thursday, April 5th, 2012
[caption id="attachment_5849" align="aligncenter" width="347" caption="A barefoot penitente from the Los Estudiantes (the students) hermandad passes the door of the Fabrica de Tabacos - now the University - in Seville."][/caption]
This year, Semana Santa all across Andalucia has, yet again, been adversely affected by the weather. Rain stopped pasos from coming out ...
Posted in Culture and Customs, Events, Religion, Travel Andalucia, Weather | 1 Comment »
Monday, February 27th, 2012
[caption id="attachment_5279" align="aligncenter" width="578" caption="One of Andalucia's most famous buildings, and witness to its strong Moorish heritage: the Mezquita in Cordoba."][/caption]
[caption id="attachment_5277" align="aligncenter" width="578" caption="El Rocio, pilgrimage destination for millions every May."][/caption]
[caption id="attachment_5280" align="aligncenter" width="433" caption="Barrels in Bodegas Gonzalez Byass in Jerez - home of sherry."][/caption]
Andalucians are prouder of their ...
Posted in Events, Flamenco, Food, gastronomy, Geography, History, Music, Nature, Tourism, Travel Andalucia | No Comments »
Monday, February 20th, 2012
I was very interested to see a list of the top four tourist attractions on a blog about Spain recently. The list quoted was as follows:
1 City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia 3.7 million visitors
2) Sagrada Familia, Barcelona 3.2 million visitors
3) Prado, Madrid 2.9 million visitors
4) Alhambra, Granada 2.3 ...
Posted in architecture, History, Tourism, Travel Andalucia | 1 Comment »
Monday, January 16th, 2012
One of the most famous parts of the Alhambra, the Patio de los Leones, has finally got its central feature back in full working order after ten years.
The 14th-century sculpture in its centre, of 12 white marble lions holding a duodecagonal (12-sided) basin, was returned to its rightful spot last ...
Posted in architecture, art, History, Travel Andalucia | No Comments »
Thursday, December 1st, 2011
I haven't done a photo post on this blog for some time now. So here's an interactive post for you: seven photos, one from each of all the provinces in Andalucia except Jaen, which I'm ashamed to admit I've never visited in my eight years of living here. See if ...
Posted in architecture, Culture and Customs, Geography, History, Holidays, Nature, Tourism, Travel Andalucia | 2 Comments »
Monday, February 7th, 2011
If you've ever been in Sevilla for Semana Santa , you'll know that it's a pretty extraordinary experience: life-size Mary and Jesus statues being carried slowly, wobblingly slightly as they go, along packed streets, preceded by hooded, robed figures, accompanied by mournful music, and watched adoringly by hordes of the ...
Posted in Current affairs, Religion, Social affairs, Women | 2 Comments »
Monday, July 19th, 2010
It's that time of year again when you pile bags and bags of stuff into the car boot: swimming costumes, towels, sunhats and suncream (and sunsuits if your kids are blanquitos like mine), buckets and spades, beach parasol, folding deckchair, cold box replete with water, soft drink, snacks, sandwiches (if ...
Posted in Current affairs, Driving | No Comments »
