It’s 7.30am and Seville is already starting to feel busy. Pedestrians, buses, bikes, scooters, cars and trams are all on the move. Lights appear dotted over apartment blocks as people prepare to start the day. San Bernardo train station is full of early morning commuters and today I am one of them. I step out of the station into the cool air of the December morning and ask a lady for directions. She points me vaguely in the direction of…
La Fabrica de Hojalata Yesterday, December 6th was bank holiday and it couldn’t have rained harder. Today, we are en route to visit La Fábrica de Hojalata, a winery in the Valle del Genal near Ronda. The sky is grey and the rain comes and goes. We turn off the main road from Ronda and start to wind our way around the mountain. We pass Júzcar, a town famous for its Smurfs, and see the sign to the Fábrica Real…
The small sign flashed at me as I manoeuvred the bend; Wine shop 3/4 mile. Rain had given way to a clear sky and a glimpse of the sea over the fields. Intrigued and wondering how a wine shop ended up in a narrow Devon lane, I drove on towards Stoke Fleming, making a mental note to find out more. Halfway down the hill from Stoke Fleming to Blackpool Sands, where the road joins the pavement, I stopped to admire…
It’s hard not to eat out well in the province of Cádiz and Prado del Rey is no exception. This small town has an amazing range of gastronomic delights, local wines, an ecological farm and its own salt mine dating from Roman times. The busy high street is packed with bars and excellent restaurants and there’s a wonderful ambiente (atmosphere), especially on Friday evenings and weekends. In this post, I am going to tell you about Venta Rosario, a roadside…
So, for me a healthy approach is an important part of good writing and good, home-cooked food forms a part of that approach. When we take our retreat guests out for dinner, we look for places that use local products, cater for dietary requirements and provide good service. Benaocaz is home to two of my favourite restaurants. Nestled in the mountains on the road from Ubrique to Grazalema, Benaocaz has a long tradition of producing cheese, cured meats and leather…
A working holiday is a great way to get to know a place, have fun, earn money and travel at the same time. Unlike a whistle stop tour of a place or a couple of days overnight in a destination, a working holiday gives you a different perspective of the place you are staying in. As well as getting to live like a local and experiencing the area in an authentic way, rather than rushing around trying to cram in…
Do you love reading books that take you places? Read on to find five fabulous book choices that will transport you to different countries, eras and cultures. Books that take you places The Wind from the East – Almudena Grandes Set in Andalusia in the South West of Spain this book takes you on a journey into the lives of two strangers who are both escaping their past. It’s a fascinating insight into the lives of the characters Juan Olmedo…
As a writer, new stationery is always welcome. As much as possible, I like to buy sustainable stationery, dairies and notebooks that either support charities, local artisans or are eco-friendly and Fairtrade. Surprisingly, this is often inexpensive and can be much better value than buying mainstream. Living vibrantly calendar This year, I decided to kick-start the year with a beautifully painted calendar by Bristol-based artist, Fleur Barnfather. Each month comes with a stunning copy of one of Fleur’s paintings, an…
A weekend at an eco-camping retreat This summer I went to Tiverton for a weekend of eco-camping in Devon at Coombe Farm. Never having visited an eco-camping retreat in the UK before, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Narrow country lanes led us to the entrance of Combe Farm and a spectacular view across the countryside. From there, a steep hill took us down to a parking area where we were able to park and forget about the car for…
Los Caños de Meca Picture a Mediterranean pine forest, a clear blue sky and a long, sandy beach. A laid-back type of place where you don’t have to worry much about anything. Welcome to Los Caños de Meca, one of the hidden gems on the Costa de La Luz. Wild coastline Called ‘Los Caños’ for short, this small coastal village is a not far from Tarifa. Off the beaten track, it’s a one road hamlet with a wild unspoilt coastline…