Frigiliana - Andalucia

Frigiliana has several times been voted the prettiest village in Andalucia. Lying 56kms from Malaga its fast becoming a very popular excursion for people wanting a change from the usual sun & beach holiday. The maze of cobbled streets are very narrow and steep so if you pay a visit be sure to wear a good pair of comfortable shoes and be prepared for some very steep hills!

 To cater for the tourists a few of the tiny shops are selling souvenirs, but not the cheap Chinese made things usually found in Spanish souvenir shops. You can buy some very nice home made pottery, lace and knitwear !

Below is a view of the surrouding countryside.

Andalucia, Ronda - Living on the Edge !

Here is a short slideshow showing how some of the residents in the town of Ronda live...actually on the edge of the El Tajo gorge, where the Guadalevin River flows through almost 200 mts below them!

Lloret de Mar Nightlife

The bright lights of the very busy disco area in Lloret de Mar.

Malaga

One of the largest cities in Andalucia is Malaga with a population of nearly 600,000. Its residents can enjoy a very mild climate during the winter months owing the surrounding mountains and coastal position. This historical city is the birthplace of Picasso and home to the Picasso museum.
Malaga is also the birthplace of the Spanish actor Antonio Banderas husband of American actress Melanie Griffiths.

In the city centre here you will find an abundance of smart designer shops, cafes and restaurants alongside the very well preserved historical buildings. One of the best shopping centres is the Larios centre which is only a short walk from Malaga train station. As you come out of the main front entrance turn left and its only a few minutes walk. One familiar department store here is the Dunns store, always a favorite of mine back in the UK !

Lloret de Mar

Not the usual beach scenes associated with Lloret, but in stead an example of the grand buildings and monuments to be seen just 2-3 kilometers in land. The former monastery of St Pere del Bosc is now a restaurant. On the sandy road leading up to the monastery you will pass the Angel, a relatively new monument only dating back to 1904, and the Boundary Cross below being on this site since 1898.

 

Barcelona

One of the lions which form part of the base of the Christopher Columbus column at the bottom of the Ramblas in Barcelona. The column is 60 meters high and from the top you have fantastic views all over Barcelona.

Barcelona Port - Independence of the Sea's

On the 5th June the largest cruise liner in the world was docked in at Barcelona for the day. The ship is able to carry 3,634 passengers, is 1,112 ft long and at the widest point is 184 ft.

Benalmadena - Shopping

Along the sea front in Benalmadena is a very good selection of shops selling a wide range of goods where you can always find a bargain. This flat pedestrianised area covers almost the full length of the resort so is very easy for the infirm to enjoy. Also along this stretch are a number of bars and cafes with very reasonable prices. A spanish menu of the day can be found for 8€ or less...but most of the cafes do typical English fish and chips or Sunday roasts any day of the week!

La Rambla - Barcelona

Three views from the Ramblas in Barcelona. Above is one of the colourful flower stalls, here you can buy fresh flowers for any occasion. The second photo is one of the entertainers always seen down the Ramblas. The only thing here is they dont entertain you until you put a few cents in their collection! but you could easily spend an afternoon just watching them...they all have their own unique act!

White Storks in Spain

Down in southern Spain is a place called Almoraima which is a cotton growing area. Situated roughly North East of Gibraltar it is also home to a large colony of white storks which build their nests on top of the electricity pylons at the side of the railway lines.
Some of the pylons have actually had special man made platforms built up above the lines to save the storks from getting electrocuted as they fly in and out of their nests.