Despite spending 20 days in Spain, I’ve not yet had any churro (those long delicious donut-type things eaten with hot chocolate). On our last trip to Malaga, Ross, not one for exaggeration, famously said “there’s hundreds of churro cafes here”. But of course, when I wanted one, there wasn't a single churro to be found. … Continue reading The search for Churros
Month: January 2017
Shopping and the search for Churros
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out that the day following Three Kings Day (the traditional day for giving gifts, 6 January), is the equivalent of the Boxing Day sales in Australia. Shopping in Spain, as a tourist, is a beautiful thing for 3 reasons: 1) At Alice’s (where you can get anything … Continue reading Shopping and the search for Churros
Mr Grumpy
There’s a waiter who works in San Pedro called Mr Grumpy. Actually, his real name is Diego. Yesterday, in the middle of the lunchtime rush, he picked up a chair and threw it about 4 metres at some pigeons across the laneway, to the collective gasp of those nearby. An Americano lady had the audacity … Continue reading Mr Grumpy
Three Princesses of the Alhambra
There’s little point in telling you about the grandeur and the beauty of the Alhambra. The photos and my description will never do justice to the 10 hectare site, steeped in history, romance and ornate splendor. You’ll just have to go there. The Alhambra has a 2000m long wall, amazing architecture, fascinating gardens, 100s of … Continue reading Three Princesses of the Alhambra
Sobremesa and Life in the Streets
Much of Spanish life is lived in the streets and the atmosphere is vibrant - especially on Sundays. Last Sunday, being turistas (tourists), we made a grave error – we went to a restaurant wearing our “walking” clothes, and we were decidedly under-dressed and unprepared. So we’ve been waiting, anticipating, all week to make amends … Continue reading Sobremesa and Life in the Streets
Sun Gods and Fishermen
Last night, we went for a nightcap at the Palace bar. But there was no Limoncello left, so we asked Tiago, the barman, to gave us a “traditional” Portuguese nightcap. Holy moly - after the first sip, I can only guess that it’s a Portuguese tradition to A) poison all the tourists or B) drink liquid … Continue reading Sun Gods and Fishermen
The village of Monte Gordo
Our little adventure in Portugal continues with a day trip to Monte Gordo. But before we get to that, I must tell you about last night's “nightcap” at the Palace bar. The bar had run out of Limoncello, so Tiago the barman, gave us what he called a traditional Portuguese nightcap. Holy moly - I … Continue reading The village of Monte Gordo
Portugal, Passports and a Palace
As the booker of accommodation, there’s always a moment of panic when you arrive and it looks, well…. below your expectations. Like the time I booked an apartment in Hong Kong – which on arrival looked like a slum, the tiny elevator was one where you had to pull the cage door across, and the … Continue reading Portugal, Passports and a Palace
Palácio de Estoi – my Portuguese Palace
As the booker of accommodation, there’s always a moment of panic when you arrive and it looks, well…. below your expectations. Like the time I booked an apartment in Hong Kong – which on arrival looked like it was about to collapse, with a tiny caged elevator that only took 2 people, and a hallway … Continue reading Palácio de Estoi – my Portuguese Palace
The Barber of Estepona
The sky was silver today - not blue, not grey, but silver. The Mediterranean was a shimmering haze, so it was hard to tell where the horizon actually was. The cool winds of the last few days were gone, and the marina was a mosaic of picture-perfect mirror reflections. Dressed only in t-shirts and jeans, … Continue reading The Barber of Estepona
The Tepid Travellers 