Monday, December 17th, 2012
One of the most delightful features of Christmas in Andalucia are the belenes vivientes, or live Nativity Scenes, where many of the townsfolk dress up to take part, using the town's streets, houses and plazas as their stage set.
The one in the pretty pueblo blanco (white hilltown) of Arcos de ...
Posted in Culture and Customs, Events, family, Fiestas | No Comments »
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 »
Thursday, March 1st, 2012
[caption id="attachment_5299" align="aligncenter" width="254" caption="The English barrio of Rio Tinto in Huelva province, which dates from Victorian times."][/caption]
Many visitors to, and residents of, the western-most part of Andalucia are not aware of the strong English legacy that exists in Huelva.
In the town of Minas de Riotinto, there is a whole ...
Posted in History | 2 Comments »
Thursday, January 12th, 2012
If you live here in Spain, you'll be used to seeing Chinese shops in every town. They are stacked high with ridiculously cheap goods, from clothes to toys to garden furniture and household crockery. Much of it is poor quality - I call it "CCC" - cheap crap from China. ...
Posted in Business, Food, gastronomy | 2 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, July 18th, 2011
[caption id="attachment_3509" align="aligncenter" width="578" caption="The wetlands of Doñana Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site."][/caption]
A key natural attraction of Andalucia, and one of the most important natural areas in Spain - indeed, it is said to be the most important wetland in the whole of Europe - is Doñana Park, a ...
Posted in Geography, Nature, Our Environment | 2 Comments »
Thursday, June 9th, 2011
[caption id="attachment_3284" align="aligncenter" width="578" caption="Two rocieras and a rociero at the start of their pilgrimage from Triana to El Rocio"][/caption]
Andalucia isn't short of ferias (each town's annual party) and fiestas (others celebrations) - there are plenty every month throughout the year. Many of these have religious roots - Semana Santa, saint's days, ...
Posted in Culture and Customs, Religion | No 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 »
Thursday, June 10th, 2010
What I know about football could be written on the back of a postage stamp, and what I like about the sport could just about fit into the price on its front, but as it's World Cup time, I can't escape the topic. Especially as Spain is the current favourite ...
Posted in Sport | No Comments »
