Blogs from Andalusia, Spain, Europe

April 15 We arrived in Spain this morning to a clear sunny day with a brisk breeze. My plans today are self indulgent, first a long shower , than lunch followed by sunning by the pool, a full body massage and then dinner in the Pinnacle. The poker gods have been looking after me, sort of. Two days ago I missed the tournament. I overslept. That night I got to the table to late. It was full so I made myself comfortable and watched the Masters golf tournament. Yesterday we only had three show up for the tournament so it was a no go. Last night no one showed up for the cash game. So I headed to the Gallery to watch the Masters. I had the couch to myself right in front of the TV. ... read more

On our return visit to Ronda, we took a tour of the bull fighting ring, one of only a few operating in Spain. Bull fighting is still legal in many regions although its popularity has been diminishing. In the early days, bull fighting was forbidden by the church as it was a sin to put your life (soul) in danger. Originally bull fighting was done on horses but transitioned to the matador on foot which is today’s practice. Debra refused to attend a performance and I’m less enthusiastic about a sport where the winner is pre-determined! The tour of the Ronda bull ring was interesting as it’s one of the oldest in Spain (built in 1785) and still in operation holding appx 5000 people. There is also an information/museum section that provides a good background on ... read more

Our friends and neighbours Laura and Doug are visiting with us in Estepona and after a couple of cloudy and rainy days, the weather cleared and we were able to enjoy some nice, warm sunshiny days while touring the immediate area before heading out to Cordoba which is a 2 1/2 hour drive from Estepona. The area around Cordoba is one of the largest olive growing regions in Spain and unlike Granada, which sits besides the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Cordoba is nestled in a valley surrounded by acres of olive and almond groves. During the Moor occupation of Andalusia, the city was once its capital before falling to the Conquistador’s. The Mezquita (Mosque in Spanish) is an astonishing structure that was started in the 8th century AD soon after the Muslim conquest of the area. ... read more

A short drive inland from the coast, there are a series of small towns called “White Towns” which are historical communities going back to the Moors (Muslim occupiers). The Moors had some unique architecture in the area with narrow streets etc and they used a lime based plaster that made the buildings white. On a practical side, the buildings were cooler in the extreme heat and the lime reduced the amount of bacteria thereby making the town more hygienic. Or as an alternative explanation, my brother Daryl might hypothesis, ”maybe they got a deal on white paint”! After an hours drive along a winding road, we arrived in Ronda one of the larger of the “White Towns” with a population of 35,000. It was captured by the Moors around 712 AD. Running through the middle is ... read more

We have arrived in Estepona which is about an hours drive from Malaga on the “Costa de Sol” (Sunshine Coast). Our Villa is only a few steps from the beach with easy access to a long, well maintained stone walkway that hugs the coast for miles. So far the weather has been comfortable with daytime highs around 18-22 C and the abundance of sunshine makes outdoor activity very pleasant. The Villa is somewhat compact, particularly in the kitchen, however, with 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, it provides adequate space and is complimented with large back and front patios that includes a hot tub, barbecue and numerous pieces of outdoor furniture. Within a few minutes drive, there are a good selection of grocery stores, golf courses and restaurants etc. Of course, as with many places now, the ... read more