spanishjay

2009-09-11T20:18:00.011+02:00

2009 Trip

Brian brought the motor home to the house the day before we were leaving, my dear friend Tina helped pack it with me.After a lot of hard work we decided on a cup of tea, as I went to the house for milk I got back to the motor home just in time to see Tina going to pour a bottle of Gin into the kettle instead of water, as neither of us drink can you imagine the state we would have been in, dancing on the top of the motor home I shouldn’t wonder. Any way I thank Tina for her help.Up next morning and getting the last bits in and away we go.We drove to a place called Aguilas for the night, we found an Aires by a small cove.We were parked next to the beach, it was beautiful, there were about ten motor homes there, and some looked as if they were there for a while but most only use the Aires for over night stops. The beach was very small and being in a cove the sea very calm, perfect for the children there.

Off we go next morning sorry to leave this spot and travel to Granada I have been before but it was Brian’s first time. We visited the Alhambra Palace which dates to the times of the Moors. Around all the rooms is a tiled border with Arabic writing on it which reads Ali be praised. The gardens are beautiful with ponds, fountains and walnut trees.In Granada we visited a church where the tombs of Queen Isabel and Fernando lie (these were the parents of Katherine of Aragon who was the first wife of Henry V111). Queen Isabel drove the moors out of Spain then started the Spanish Inquisition.This is one of the most beautiful cities in Spain. The Aires we stayed on was in the Sierra Nevada where there was still a lot of snow on the tops of the mountains

Next on to a place called Calbra again this was on an Aires and very beautiful, it is in the olive region. This Aires was very quiet and peaceful; we were parked with six other motor homes beside the Auditorium, where out door concerts are held. The native bird here is the Stork, their nests were so big and on chimneys, electric pylons and on tall poles that were put up to encourage them, They were feeding young so were in and out of the nests.

Another new place, we arrived at Caceres after lunch.Caceres is an old Moor’s town with many old castles still there. We enjoyed this town as we love historical places and spent hours walking around all the old buildings some dating from the fourteen hundreds. We moved onto a place called Palencia another place with the WOW factor. The Aires lies beside the river with a beautiful park on the other side of us. This is a roman town with a Roman fort still in existence; the bridge that the Romans built is still used as a foot bridge across the river. We liked this place so much we stayed two days to explore it, only the modern shops bring you into the present and on the out skirts of the town where new building has occurred.

We are now in a very small village called Legazpi , the drive here was stunning with such different views, up mountains and through woods. Each house we passed on the mountain road had a sign post with it’s name on and the distance to the house, some times you could not see a house for the trees although they were no more than a hundred metres some only twenty metres from the road. All though this is just a small mountain village it still provides an Eires for motor homes with all the facilities

This is our last night in Spain tomorrow it is into France, We have seen many different aspects of Spain from the orange and Lemon groves of our area, the plastic greenhouses stretching for mile after mile, the olive groves, grape vines, agriculture land with field after field of grain and wheat then onto land for cattle and finally the forests where they were doing logging. This is indeed a very big country and very a beautiful one.On our journey through Spain we travel 1150 miles before we crossed the border into France.

Portugal Trip

2009-04-17T17:11:00.009+02:00

We decided to go on a trip to Portugal with friends who also have a motor home.

Our first stop was for two days in Gibralta,I had read a lot of the history of Gibralta and was looking forward to seeing it for myself, I was not disappointed. For miles we could see THE ROCK in the distance as it got nearer my excitement grew

WE parked the van in a motor home eires on the Spanish side and walked into Gibraltar. We use these aires a lot as they are specially for motor homes to stay on over night free of charge.

We went round the shops first, all duty free and had a meal. The next day we took the official sightseeing trip round the Island wow it was great. We were taken up the rock to go into some caves they were very much like the Blue John Caves in Derbyshire

From there we went father up the rock to see the Barbary Apes they were wonderful to watch and so funny.Brian beside one of the Apes, I hope you can tell which is which?

This one would not let the taxi pass it just sat there untill the drive got out and chased it away

As you can see they get plenty of food.

This family was so cute they were on the wall at the top of a drop down to the see a long way down.

We asked the driver if they had to keep the number of Apes down and he told us they Kept them down to 200 but none were killed they sent the older ones to Zoo’s around the world.
After pulling ourselves away from them we went father up the rock to the tunnels.
These have been used in the First World War British soldiers had cut them out, they

went a long way into the Rock and the troops live in them while protecting the Gibraltar Straights.

On the island is the Hundred Ton Gun this points out to sea but has never been fired in battle.

This is the shell for the gun.

This is the view from the rock down to the sea.

This is the motor home aires on the Spanish side from a window in the tunnel (no glass in the windows just holes cut5 out of the rock).

Well it was time to leave Gibraltar and head for Portugal.

We will be paying another visit to Gibbraltar again it was so interesting.

Bessie part four

2008-09-25T00:01:00.016+02:00

All I could think to say over and over was what are we going to do? when a man from one of the cars at the other side of the tunnel came over to us, he was French but spoke good English, how high are you, I'm thinking too high, Brians saying three point two. Have you a tape measure and we will measure it? well our big tape is in the tool draw at the side of the van which we could not open for the mountain at the side of us, so I come out of the van with the only tape I can find one a metre long.

The man climbed the ladder on the back of the van and lay on the top, "I will hold the tape at the top you measure it down"

So up goes Brian to catch this metre tape and try to measure the van (we know it is three point two as you have to put the hight on the booking form for the boat). while he is balacing on the ladder holding the tape bottom with one hand and trying not to fall of the ladder and get the right mark to put the tape to measure the next metre, what happens next? the button decided to come off his shorts and down they slip to his ankles, having ho spare hand to stop them.

All I could think was how could you do this to me , when I could hear clapping and cheering coming from the car behind us, there was a woman in the car really enjoying this. The man then asked if anyone had a propper tape measure and all the cars had one so we ended up with about five. After getting all the tape measures the man say oh come on we will go for it, we will get you through, more panic from me how on earth are they going to do that.

The man went in front of the van other side of the tunnel and one was behind the van or so I thought and Brian got into the driving seat, I could only think well if it knocks anything off the van it will only be the top box that hits the top of the tunnel let it go into the gorge I don't care just don't let the van be damaged. It was like something off the golden shot, left a bit, right a bit, slow, over to the left while inching our way through, it will only be the box won't it that will be damaged? I kept saying to Brian, well afer what seemed ages we came out the other side to the sound of everyone cheering, they reckoned the hight three metres being at the outside of the tunnel and going slightly higher in the middle we were able to get the box to the middle bit by keeping to the left we only had six inches on each side of us in the tunnel we had to fold the mirrors into the van to do it, so we were counting on the men telling us if we were ok as we could not see down the van, when we were through I heard a sound on top of the van and went to see what it was, the man who I thought was walking behind the van had been lying on top of the van beside the box and was telling the man in front where to go.

I nearly had a fit when I found this out, here's me saying we can only lose the box and we could of lost someones head, all sorts of thoughts were going through my mind. There are some kind people in this world and we me met two of them that day, when they left us the one who had come the way we were going said "you will be alright now the road gets narrower but the tunnels are higher" in all it took about half an hour to get to the other side of the tunnel and the sat nav lived to take us wrong another day.

When we could stop and go on top to look at the van the straps round the box were all frayed where they had dragged along the top of the tunnel, that is how much room we had to get through.

At last we were on our way downwards again although the roads were very narrow in parts.

Some of the mountain villages were like medi evil buildings left over from annother age.

We stayed in this village for the night, it was bastile day so there were many celabrations, fireworks, bands and dancing in the streets.

The next day it was off to Monaco and down to sea level again. Monaco is a beautiful place but boy is it expensive. this is the first view you get as you approch Monaco from coming down the mountains.

This is the famous Monte Carlo cassino, we had a drink at the Cafe de Paris belonging to the cassino one small beer and one orange juice cost fifteen euros (about twelve pounds fifty).the photos that follow are the palace and marina and different parts of Monaco.

This is the changing of the guards, at the Monaco Palace a bit different to Buckingham Palace.

After Monaco we went to Nice for four days, on one of the days we took the train into Cannes, in Cannes we saw where they hold the film festival and the famous red carpet that the stars walk up when they are possing for the cameras.

When we were in the camp site at Nice in the next caravan to us was a French couple and their dog, we thought Tina and Dave had come to visit us when we seen their dog.

One of these two bedroom appartments was for sale at the going price of seven point five million euros.Well at last we were on our way home, as we had spent more time than we ment to in the South of France we decided to get home as soon as posible, we set off early the next morning and managed to get into Spain where we stopped for the night. Brian went up to the reception while I made a drink and he came back with our neighbours here in Spain Ursula and Steve, I was very suprised as we had drove as far as we could before picking one of the many camps to stay in, they had done the same on their way back. from the UK.

The next day we were home after enjoying a wonderful trip seeing new places and meeting my dear friend Tina's sister Leeta.

We will be going places here in Spain in the van but are looking forward to planning next years big trip.

Jeanette Spain

Bessie Part Three

2008-08-09T19:15:00.013+02:00

Well we are leaving cold wet England for home, onto Sea France then start our journey through France home calling at Nice and Monaco.

The sea was very rough as the rain was lashing down and the wind blowing quite strong, boats are not my thing at the best of times but this one was not good, you could not walk in a straight line on it, thank goodness it was only one hour over. We satyed in Calais for the night still raining, and set of in the morning heading towards the alps, this is painted on the wall of where you park up for the night.

WE traveled a good way the first day and stayed over night at Montmiral, nothing special just mile after mile of farm land with sun flowers and grain fields, it all gets to look the same after a full day of it.

Traveling the next day we start to see the lower alps in the distance, at last the land scape was changing. we stayed over night in the lower Alps, then went on the next day and finally the wow factor was there, what a sight as we climbed, we found a camp in the mid Alps and decided to stay for two days it was so beautiful. there was snow on the top of the mountains and very warm weather where we were. the place was Vissily, the castle there is where the French Revelution started, so as well as being beautiful it had a lot of history to enjoy.

Our camp site was on the banks of the lakes. We woke the next morning to the sound of bells, not church bells these were too quiet for that, just like a ting a ling type of bell, we could not think where they were coming from, then we discovered what they were all the cows in the field across the road had alpine bells round there necks so every time they move we had the sound of the bells

This area was so beautiful the lakes went on and on and the mountains in the back ground were fantastic, but if we wanted to have a stay in Monaco we had to start moving on.

Put Monaco in the sat nav says Brian, well that was the start of the scariest experience yet the most wonderful experience I have ever had. We started off in the morning and by the time we turned the first bent we were climing and I mean climbingup the mountains, but boy was the sights so breath taking, wow look at that I would say to Brian in sheer wonderment the just as quickly say no keep your eyes on the road. As we climbed the road got narrower and more with more and more twists and turnsin it the scenery got more spectacular, there I am camera in hand trying not to sway about as we rounded another bend.

By now we are high in the alps 20 kilometres from the Italian boarder and there is snow on the side of the road as well as the mountains. Every so many kilometres there was a road sign telling you how high you were above sea level.This photo is a bit blurred as I had to zoom it as far as my camera would to get it.

The 2295 is how high above sea level we were, and the road was by now not much wider than the van.

We could not understand why the sat nav had brought us this way, beautiful as it was it was getting very scary, we had traveled about 25 Ks. and not seen an other car, the gorges were such a deep drop down and the mountains were very high at the side of us, this is a photo of the road we had just come along taken out the back window of the van, so as it is a right hand drive I had the gorge was on my side.

Then as we rounded another bend I went into panic mode, ahead of us was a tunnel cut out of the mountain stating that the tunnel was three metres high, we are three point two metres high, point two higher than the tunnel.

There was a bit of the road to pull into so oncoming traffic could come through the tunnel, but not enough with us parked in it to allow anything to pass us. As I said we had traveled 25 Ks. without seeing anything then in the middle of my panic three cars come up behind us and two coming through the tunnel towards us and us causing a traffic jam. We can't turn not enough room and the gorge was bottomless I am sure I could not see the bottom anyway.

While Brian is out of the van trying to puzzle out what to do I am sat in my seat getting ready to throw the sat nav into the gorge, when a knock came to the window on my side, the stupid frenchman must have thought I was the driver not realizing that we were a right hand drive.

As we have spanish number plates on he tried to talk to me in Spanish, if I had of been Spanish I don't think I would of understood what he was saying so I imformed him English. "Ah" he says " you will have to turn round and go back you cannot get through there" well I do not swear but have you ever wished you did, I gave him a I'm disgusted look and said and just how or where would you like me to turn this motor home round.

Jeanette Spain

Bessie Part two

2008-08-02T11:28:00.013+02:00

Well we left Whitby making for what I think of as home excitment growng in me wondering what changes I would find after all the years way (left this area in 1964). First place we came to was Redcar shall we stop says Brian, inpatient me says no there is nothing of intrest there keep going.

I remembered there was a camp site at a place called Crimdon Dene a few miles from where I lived and a lot of my childhood was spent there, I was hoping it would still be open.

As we came back on to the coast road I let out a yell we are at Seaton Crew (you may recognise the name from the story in the news of the man who went missing then came back from the dead). Not far now through Hartlepool then Crimdon.

As we got nearer I could see caravans Fingers crossed we drove in and asked the question any room here YES there was, I did control the urge to hug her.

After geting setting up the motorhome I full of pride for my home teritory set off to show Brian the sites and places of my childhood, I have seen all Brian's childhood haunts in Lincolnshire now it was my turn.

I walked him down the cliff to the beach then we walked along to Blackhall rocks, As a child I never got as far as going into the tunnels in the rocks as I was a coward and as soon as it got dark I legged it out of them, my cousin William used to tell me the smuglers still haunted the tunnels looking for their loot, that was enough for me.

Walking a long here brought back so many memories when I used to climb over these rocks with my friends, as we walked home after spending our bus fares, it was easier to walk along the shore than on the road.

The next day we set off for Durham City, we visited Durham Cathederal, which I had visited so many times with school.

The cathederal is the resting place of St. Bede and St Cuthbert who brought Christianity to the north east of England.

St, bede and st. Cuthbert both have conections with Holy Island in Northumberland. (more on this later).

The cathederal has a sanctuary knocker on the main door, I think brian was hoping for sanctuary from all the site seeing.

Next of to Marsdon and South Shields my dads birth place.

As a child I loved Marsdon Groto, I spent many happy days with my parents and sister here, no shops only a bar restaurant wich I never got into as I was not old enough, so at last I had a meal in there and got to see inside it for the first time. There is only a small stoney bay which is called the Groto, and a large rock you can only get to when the tide is out.

The bar is built into the rocks and I was very impressed with it, well I had waited a long time to see inside.

Into Northumberland next wow was I enjoying visiting all my old places, I was a bit worried that Brian might be a bit bored after all these were my memories, but no he said he thought I was very lucky as a child to grow in in such a place, he has since said if he ever bought a place in the Uk this is where it would be.

We visited the Anwick Garden that belong to the duchess of Northumberland, theywould take some beating for colour, water features, well judge for your selves I can't say much that would do them justice.

We stopped of at Holy Island(Lindisfarne) you can only get on and off the tide is out.

In 676, Cuthbert lived and prayed on island of Lindisfarne the st. Cuthbert cross is still on the island but the monestry was ramsacked by Henry 8 when he was distroying many of the cathedrals.

We ended our tour of the Noth East coast at Berwick on Tweed, then went along Hadrian's wall to the lake district on the way crossing the border into Scotland before ending up at Blackpool to visit my sister.

We left Black pool to call on our dear friend Tina's sister Leeta in Sheffield. I was rather nervous but had no need to worry, We were given a warm welcome and a much need cup of tea. Arthur was going to the hospital the next day his birthday. brian enjoyed talking to Arthur, I was sorry I could not of met Sandy and Babs as well but if you are like Tina and Leeta well I know we would of got on well together. Thank you Leeta for making a nervous couple feel so welcome, hope we can meet up again sometime.

The next week visits to Family and the Lincoln Music festival where Hermans Hermits were playing. It was so cold and wet most of the time.

Off back home again now through France.

Jeanette Spain

"2008 Trip in Bessie

2008-07-30T21:51:00.008+02:00

We set off in Bessie (our motorhome) on May 29th. for our trip to the UK and France, it was warm (29degs.) as we set of heading north. The trip to the ferry was drive as far as we could before having to stop, for some reason Brian likes to get there as quick as he can , but take three weeks to drive home again.

The ferry was booked for the 2nd of June leaving four days to get to calais. Nothing very interesting on the way to Calais, excepted for the day before we reach the ferry, we stayed on the Somme where a lot of the first world war was fought.

Just short walk from the camp there was a British cemetry, it was kept beautiful with flowers of all kinds and colours, it's so nice to know the villagers keep the cemetry in such good condition.

Out of the many graves there most of them were "here lies a soldier" no name to say who they were, so sad and moving.

We arrived ib the Uk and started our trip at York as we wanted to drive up the north east coast.We spent three days in york it was very interesting and we enjoyed all the site. I have been many times to York but it was Brian'sfirst time so it was fun showing him all the sites. We woke one morning to a strange sound and saw a hot air baloon coming down on the other side of the hedge.

From there we went to Scarbourgh, again Brian has not done any of this coast so anouther first. We went via Filey andof course it was raining, so this was a quick walk round and back to Bessie, we arrived in Scarbough in the rain but the next morning it was warm and sunny so off we go for the day. This day was our first wedding anneversary so Brian took me for a meal in the Grand hotel.This was special for me as this is where my Dad was head chef (in the days when it was the grandest hotel in the area) when I was a child and it was the first time I had been in that I can remember.

From here we payed a visit to Robin hood Bay a small coastal village, you had to be good at walking up hills here no wonder there was cafes half way up the hills you needed them.

Onwards we go, now stopping at Whitby with it's abby and everthing based on Dracula.

Nice fishing port but so pleased it was only a short visit.

Now we come to the highlight of my Uk visit Brian enjoyed it as well, the coast of Durham where all my life was spent till I got married.
Jeanette Spain

The May Fair

2008-05-04T21:07:00.011+02:00

Today we went to the annual May Andalusian Fiesta held in Torrevieja. There were the horses with the riders in traditional Andalusian costumes, and dancing. Andalusia is a region in the Costa Almerria about two hours drive from us.The fiesta has been on since Wednesday and concludes today (Sunday). The atmosphere was a happy one with everyone out to enjoy the sun, food and entertainmen.

All the dresses were very colourful and worn with pride from the children to the old women, the men were dressed in the typical Andalusian dress and looked very elegant. Families were enjoying the day together

In the bull ring they put on a show which lasted two hours and it cost 3 euros (£2) to watch it, there was horse riding skills and dancing. It was very enjoyable and you could see how much work and patience that was put into the training of the horses, I am please to say they looked well looked after and in very good condition which is not always the case with animals here.

We were very worried about going into the bull ring in case it was a bull fight which is held on Sundays but were assured that this was not the case, we would of had to walk out if it had of been, but the only bull fight were saw was pretend and no bull was hurt.(Video of this)

Here are a couple of videos of the show as it went on for two hours there was to much to video.

After the show every one made for the marquees where there was eating drinking and dancing going on. Apart from the three euros to see the show (which you did not have to go into) it was all free, they were giving drink and paella away.

As were don't eat paella and I don't drink and Brian was driving we went to the bar on the prom. and had a meal while being serenaded by Spanish entertainers.

What a day.

Jeanette Spain

The Gym

2008-03-10T19:20:00.014+01:00

What with sorting out pensions, visitors and selling Brian's place we have not been many places of interest this last few weeks. The only place we have really been to is the gym, which we go to 3 times a week, we enjoy it a lot and I can see a difference in how fit we are.

We went today when it was siesta there would not be many people in as I did not think it right to take photos of others doing a workout.

When we got there, there was only two persons in so that suited us fine.

This is the gym you can see how quiet it was,we usually go about 10am and there is a good few people there at that time.

We use most of these benches and weights, but in a way that you are not building up mussels just to tone up.

Most of the photos are of Brian using the equipment as I was taking the photos, but we use the same ones only Brian has more weights on than me(not surprising is it).

We start a warm up on the cycles for half an hour, then move onto the benches, on my time on the cycle I do between 8 and 10 mile depending on how fast I my legs can go.

This contraption is for the legs and lower back, your knees start up at you chest and you have to push on the metal plate till you are stretched out, I started at 10 kg . and thought it was hard to push it, now the trainer has me up to 40kg.that is hard work, but who ever was on the machine before me had 85 kg. on, it must have been a man.

Each weight is 10 kg. 40kg. is 85 lbs. so I feel I am getting better at it.

This one is great, it is for your circulation, you feel like a jelly on a plate wobbling all over, you stand different ways for where you want the vibration to reach, Brian is leaning forward so that it will do the back only, if you stand straight it does every part of the body, bend knees only the bottom half of the body gets done and if you cross your legs only your bottom gets done.

Now comes the hard work, these are like steppers and you have to keep them going while moving your arms as well, I can only manage 10 Min's. on this but as it was only 3 Min's. when I first tried it there is hope for me yet. We go on the tread mill to finish that is half an hour at 5 miles per hour for me it's a pretty fast walk, There is an old lady of 82 goes to the gym, she is crippled with arthritis and is blind, she only goes on the tread mill at 1 mile per hour for 8 Min's then rests then does another 8 Min's. she does this three times so she has done24 Min's. on it.
She says the slow walking helps with the pain and keeps her from stiffening up, you have to admire her.
Well after all that it's time for the steam room and then a shower.

I must say you feel good when you come out of the gym and I am not tired any moor when I finish, I can now talk while on the tread mill without getting out of breath, so it must be doing some good.

Jeanette Spain

The Three Kings

2008-02-03T13:03:00.000+01:00

We decided with friends that we we going off in the motor homes to see the Three Kings at Benidorm. We had not seen them at Benidorm before only at Torrevieja WOW! what a difference, it was like comparing Barnsley football ground to the Nue Camp football ground at Bacelona.

We arrived in Benidorm in the afternoon and parked the vans up, where we parked you can stay for four days free of charge before you have to move, so it is a nice spot for to stay Friday to Monday.

The weather was with us it was warm and sunny so as the parade was not till 6 pm we had a walk along the prom and then went for a meal.

We went up to the old town where the parade was to be and took our seats (well we pensioners after all) and next to us was a Spanish family with young children. WE got talking to them as they spoke better English than we spoke Spanish and they told us the tradition of the three kings.

It starts on our Christmas eve when the children choose one of the Kings to write their letters to ( as ours would to Santa) as the father put it in the hope they get all they asked for in their letter where ever you are nothing changes with children.

On January the 5th. the kings arrive by boat so the children believe they have made the journey from the Holy lands and have the parade through the streets.

We did not get photos of them arriving as we were futher in the town maybe next year.

As we waited for the parade to pass our way the children were getting more and more excited, I can tell you it brought a smile to the face just watching them, the poor mother and father could do nothing to calm them down.

Then in the distance we could hear the drums of the first band well the children all arround us could not contain themselves.

Then the first float came and the rain of sweets we colected the ones thrown at us and put them in the childrens bag.

The smaller photos were taken with my phone as the battery ran out on the camera.

The funniest part of the parade was when the animals came along, there was llamas donkeys camels an d geese, everybody was in stiches at the geese, The donkeys came first being stubbing as they are, then the proud camels looking as if to say we are to good for this, the llamas jst walked along when told to but the geese well can you imagine a load of geese walking through the streets.They were well behaved till there was a halt in the parade and it came to a stand still, the geese thought they would take a look at when the croud had and started to wards them all going in different directions, but when the parade started again the keeper clapped his hands and they all ran back in line and waddled off down the road agai.

When the parade passed we madeour way to the square where the three kings were going to meet the children.

In the square they had put an old fashioned carrasel and an ice rink, the kings took to the stage as the fire works were going off all arround us and the children all went up for their presents (free of charge).

The families then go home for a special meal that lasts till midnight, then it's time to open the presents. A long day for the children I would think.

A very happy Christmas day

2007-12-29T11:53:00.000+01:00

We had a wonderful time at Benidorm for Christmas, the hotel we had was very good and the food was too good you were spoilt for choice so had to sample lots.

Benidorm is known as the concrete jungle as it is all high rise buildings, nice to visit but would not like to live there.

The tall building is the Hotel Bali and is the highest Hotel in all of Spain, it stands at 186 mtrs. high. It is a five star hotel and quite expensive to stay in.Our hotel was very nice although only a four star.Here are a couple of photos of ours.

Benidorm is surrounded by mountain and this is what gives it the all year round weather (except when we arrive the rain was bouncing down but the rest of the stay was beautiful). the main mountain is called Sleeping Indian Mountain as when you drive along side it it looks like an Indian with his headdress of feathers lying down the side of the mountain and his mouth is open while asleep.

As you can see there is a gap which is quite large and the story goes:- A giant fell in love with a fair maiden from the fishing village of Benidorm as it once was, and her father forbid his daughter to marry the giant, in his anger the giant tore a chunk of the mountain out and throw it out to see hence we have the Isla De Benidorm.

This island is a bird sanctuary today with only a restaurant and bar on it, there are boat trips to it they run every hour just like a ferry so you can stay as long as you want to.This is the beach and one of the sand sculptures, there was one with the whole nativity scene but with the rain he had covered it over and had not removed the cover while we were there.

We had some presents with us to open on Christmas morning, but my main one I had to help Brian choose it as he was a loss What he wanted.

I got an iphone it is great, I can get my emails away from the computer which will be great when we are out in the van, and all my music on it and it has Microsoft words on. I connected it to my computer and all my documents downloaded to it. there is lots I have to learn what to do with it.When Brian was asked what computer I had (meaning Apple or Windows) he told them it was Packard Bell,I had do see the person myself and give details. The only thing is I had to change my number as my sim was Vodaphone and with this I had to have Movistar. As it's a Movistar (which 02 in the UK, ) it belongs to telifonica (BT in the UK as telifonica owns BT, they are the same company) so have had to learn a new number.

I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas's and you have a good year next year

A very happy new year to each and every one of you from Spain

Jeanette Spain

Happy Christmas

2007-12-22T17:55:00.000+01:00

Hi all, this is just a short mini blog to wish you all a very happy Christmas, Feliz Navidad.
I hope you all have a great time and don't over eat well not to much.
I would like to say a very happy Christmas to my dearest friends Tina and Dave, I wish them and you all everything you wish yourselves, good health and good family and friends.
Not to many sausage rolls Sindie save some and send them here to Spain they looked delicious, and Babs go easy on Mo's wonderful cooking. Leeta and Sandie have a very happy Christmas.

Feliz Navidad from Jeanette Spain

A Spanish Christmas

2007-12-13T18:22:00.000+01:00

A Spanish Christmas is celebrated very different to the British Christmas.

In the Plaza ( the town square) you will see a model of Belen ( Bethlehem) and other parts of the Holy Land. This is put up in the plaza every year and is opened on the 8th. December at the fiesta of the immaculate conception.

The statue of the Immaculate Conception ( a statue of the virgin Mary ) is carried through the streets to the church, where it stays all year till the next year.

The nativity is a wonder to see with moving parts, fires in the houses, washing blowing on the lines and children singing Spanish Christmas songs.

The Spanish always have this little man warming himself at the fire in their nativities to show that man was not made perfect, we all have our faults, it has become a game each year looking for the bare bottom, it is somewhere different each time.

On Christmas Eve Spanish families their Christmas meal, this begins at 10-30 p.m. and it consists of at least nine course, The meal goes on till after midnight when Christmas day arrives. They do not give presents on Christmas day this comes later on the three kings day. No food is cooked Christmas day they eat the left overs from their banquet.

January 5th. is the Three Kings day, there is a parade through the streets to the Plaza where they give out gifts to the children, it is very similar to our children going to see Father Christmas, but Spanish parents don't have to pay for the children to receive the gifts it is all free. After the Three Kings parade the family has a celebration meal and the children all go to bed to wait for Papa Noel to come if they have been good and go straight to sleep. Sounds familiar doesn't it, when the awake all their Christmas presents have been delivered.These photos are from last January's parade

On new years eve everybody gathers in the plaza in front of the church and wait for the church bells to strike the new year in.

It is a Spanish good luck tradition that on each strike of the bell you pop a seedless grape into your mouth, if you don't eat them very quick you have twelve grapes in your mouth.

We did it last year I could not eat them fast enough and had a mouth full of grapes, but I could not manage the twelve. The supper markets run out of seedless grapes at this time of year, imagine having to do it with grapes with seeds in.

Well all there is left to say is I hope you all have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year

Feliz Navid y Anos Nueve.

Jeanette Spain

Money from the drunk man

2007-11-27T18:42:00.000+01:00

The incident Tina is on about in her comments about picking up the money happened one day when my sister Alicia and I were walking through Doncaster, It was a cold winter afternoon about 4 pm and the road was very quiet, only us and this man who had just come out of the pup we were passing. Well we thought he was a little drunk the clue being he was bouncing of the wall at one side of him to the road on the other side and back again.

As we followed behind him we noticed that he was loosing money from the leg of his trousers, as he walked more and more was hitting the ground. We followed him picking up all these pound coins that were leaving a trail behind him, ( we think he must of won them on the one arm bandit as there was only pound coins).
A little further on his packet of cigarettes came down the leg and landed on the ground, Wow this is some hole he has in his pocket we thought. At last he stopped at a taxi rank,so we approach him with the money and cigarettes and told him he was loosing it out of his pocket, he gave us a look and said finders keepers keep it, your cigarettes we said, not allowed them keep them and got into a taxi and left us standing there looking after him then looking at our hand full of pound coins, we then looked at each other in disbelieve.
As we were working teachers and I was on my own with the children and paying a mortgage and bills it looked like a fortune to us.
What shall we do after some thought we decided to go to BHS and have a drink and a big cream cake.
We counted the coins and they totaled over £30 wow all our birthdays at once.
When we got into the Bhs we remembered the cigarette packet and thought we would have a look and see how many there was before we through them away.
I opened the pack and just sat staring at it speechless my sister starting to panic saying what is it all thoughts going through her head, all but the right one for there sitting in the packet was a roll of notes with an elastic band round them, our cake never got eaten, I showed her the packet and watch her face a mixture of shock, surprise all mixed together, I am going to the toilets I whispered afraid someone would know what we had found, we crept away feeling guilt and fear mixed with all other thoughts and feelings.
As we counted with the money with shaking hands we discovered there was over £300.
What could we do we did not know the person or where he was from, would the police believe us if we told them, then we thought it's not as if we had not told the person and just kept it, SO we went to Blackpool for the week-end and said thank you to a very drunk man who ever he was.

Jeanette Spain

Fiesta time

2007-11-22T12:09:00.000+01:00

We were off on our travels once again in Bessie, we were not looking forward to the trip as much as usual as this was to go to the AGM of the Spanish motor caravan club, any AGM I had been to in the past have been a bit heavy going and boring, how wrong was I this time, we had the best meet ever since being in the club (and we have had some great times with them).

We left on the Wednesday and met up with an other member who was on their way to the meet, they informed us they were stopping in Benidorm for the night as it was there fiesta, having been to the Benidorm Fiesta many years ago we agreed to go with them.

The parade started at six pm and went on for two and a half hours there was over a hundred floats and about fifty bands, we were bombarded with confetti and sweets being thrown from the floats. By the end of the parade we had a carry bag full of sweets this was nothing to what the older people had they were diving all over to pick them up, we could not help laughing at them

The float were beautiful and the work that went into them must of took ages. The nice thing about it was that the whole family was involved from babes in arms (dressed up) to the grans and granddads,

This float was beauty and the beast, there were to many floats to photograph and we were picking up sweets as each float passed.

How is this for being brave I could not work out if it was a man or a woman,when he/she was dancing some were saying male then female. As you can see the old man was enjoying it which ever sex it was.

Here are a couple of short videos to show the sort of thing there was.

After the parade finished there was a massive firework display,it was on the beach and went on for one hour, after the ones on the beach were set of they came out from under the sea, with the sprays of water coloured by the light of the fireworks it was a great sight. For the finally a yacht came out of the harbour with fireworks coming from it's deck, then the loudest bangs I have ever heard sounded the end of the display. All this for free we will be back next year to see this again

We set of the next day for Moraira where we were staying for the meet.On the Saturday night we had a social gathering one of our members is a professional musician ( he was with Brian Poole and the Tremolos) and he could still play that guitar and sing, another member played the sax with a band so it was a great night with music from the sixties and plenty jiving. The man with the tambourine was celebrating his 80th. birthday so they let him join in with the band, he played it all night with out a stop. the lady in the blue dress is his wife, she has been blind since birth she danced all night despite being 76 years old. They had driven their motor home from the UK to join us.

All was fine till it came to the draw for the raffle, at the last meeting out Brian and I won three of the four bingo games, then won three of the raffle prizes, embarrassing. We sat waiting for the raffle to be drawn oh no we won first prize, I went up hanging my head to get it with shouts of you again all in fun I hope, second ticket you go this time Brian as we won again with a different colour ticket, third prize not ours thank goodness, fourth you guest it ours, by now I want to slide under the table so sent Brian to choose it, a few more were drawn not us I said to Brian then once again out came ours. Put it back and draw again please I said. This was the first prize we got there was a bottle of champers, white rum, red wine, and white wine, dates, box of chocolates, six bars of chocolate and Christmas tree chocolates all in a basket.

Next morning they marked the quiz we always have, and to our embarrassment we won that as well another bottle of wine, so we have plenty drink in for christmas.

We had a great time and look forward to the next rally but I am buying no more raffle tickets in case we get barred lol.

Jeanette Spain

Brian playing the Pan pipes

2007-11-07T21:06:00.000+01:00

Here is Brian trying to play the pan pipes, I told him he is not quite ready to join the Inca's just yet A little bit more practice is needed.

Well I did warn you it would be torture.

Jeanette Spain

Our favorite eating place

2007-11-03T18:31:00.000+01:00

We took a trip into Torrevieja but in the daytime today. It is just as beautiful as at the sunset

We Had lunch and just people watched, there were the ones strolling in the warm November sun, a few brave ones in the sea, and ones watching the street entertainment from the Inca's.

This seat is the fisherman's wife looking out to sea for her husband to return home, he never did as there was a storm out at sea and the fishing boats were lost with all lives, this was in the seventies when Torrevieja was just a fishing village. today they have made this area for swimming, there are steps into the water.

After our meal we watched the Inca's and listened to there music fantastic sound, Of course Brian bought another of their CD's the sound of the pan pipes are beautiful(it is playing as I write this).

Brian loves the music of the Inca's and would love to be able to play the pan pipes so he had to buy someone large one and some smaller ones, I have told him he can practice them when I go round to Tina's.

After lunch we walked the few hundred metres to the promenade street market, this is a craft market with a good few lookie lookie men, While we were having lunch one came round selling sunglasses and watches, he was going from table to table when we saw the other lookie lookie men gather up their goods in the blankets they put on the ground to show there goods off and run down the prom, the one at the tables gathered his goods up and ran, it was so funny he was trying to hold ever thing in his arms while doing a hasty retreat, as you can guess the police were coming down the prom. As soon as the police disappeared back came the lookie lookie men and carried on where they had left off. Here is the one going round the tables.

love going round the prom market it is so colourful and as well as Spanish goods there is a lot from Africa most hand carved I

This market is on everyday of the week and is open till around 10 p.m. This is nice in the hot summer to stroll through the market then have a meal and drink ( only soft drinks though as I don't drink and Brian is driving) but we enjoy it all the same.

On the way back to the car Brian spotted a ship going into the loading pier to load up with salt to take to the U K for the roads, most of the salt from Torrevieja is exported to Europe for the roads this ship was a UK one. This is the salt piles near the salt lakes.

What a way to spend a November Saturday morning.

After we arrived home Brian decided he would try his pan pipes out.

I wonder if I can find a good hiding place where he cannot find them, I won't torture you with a video of the noise, I can't say tune if there was one I missed it.

Jeanette Spain

Tabernas Spain

2007-10-23T12:30:00.000+02:00

We went out in Bessy for a week to a place called Tabernas, this is in the Nevarda Sierra range of mountains in Andalucia.Tabernas is better know as Mini Hollywood as this was where the spaghetti westerns were filmed with Clint Eastwood,so a visit to the western set was a must.

First though we had the spectacular drive down there ( it is about a four hour drive from us).

As we were getting higher into the mountains it was getting breath taking and our four hour drive turned into five hours as we kept stopping to take in the views.We wondered what the camp site would be like as we went with the Spanish motor home club and had not been that way before, well we were not disappointed, which ever way you looked the view was great

This is the camp site with the BBQ area and the pool.

On the Saturday, the chairman of the motor home club organized a trip to Mini Hollywood, where we were to spend the day,there was the western town where the movies were shot, and behind the town was a large zoo.

There was a staged bank robbery with the usual shoot out and the last baddie standing was hung. The stunts were amazing, how they can fall from a two story high window onto the ground and not hurt themselves is very good.

This is him falling of the roof when he was shot.

After the western show was finished they put on a lunch at the saloon, what a lunch, 13 euros (£8) all you could eat of the three courses buffet style, they put on a show of hill billy singers, then the can can girls, they were good and made it a two hour lunch break.
When the show was finished they picked Brian and another member of our group to have their photo taken with them, they enjoyed that.
After lunch we went animals and there were many of them, here are a few of them.
round the zoo, it is set in the mountains so was a natural area for the

You can see in this last photo the area the zoo was in it was up hills and in valleys fortunately there was a train that you could jump on and off to get to the different areas of the zoo.

After looking round the zoo we made our way back to the western town,, we had our photos taken Brian as a bandit and me a saloon lady felt very silly we were then persuaded well they had to persuade me big time to go for a ride. (I bet you can still here my knees knocking)

All in all we had a wonderful day it was well worth a visit.Our day ended back at the camp site with a social evening and sing song.

The rest of the stay we had BBq's and walks in the mountains and just having a great time.

Jeanette Spain

Round and about us

2007-10-05T16:16:00.000+02:00

We went for a meal today to a place 10 min. drive from home. It is a place called Villa Martin Plaza, most people who have visitors over here take them to the Plaza, no doubt Tina and Dave have been when there visitors are here, it is where the wild parakeets nest all the year round, and has loads of eating places from the very reasonable to the very expensive.

The Plaza is surrounded by studio apartments on four sides, you come though a passageway into it, this is in the centre of it.

The parakeets live in the palm trees, they are green and red and seem to be busy all the time in and out and the noise of them is some times very loud.

It is very enjoyable to sit and watch the antics of them, there are two very high palm trees in the Plaza and both are home to these lovable if rather noisy birds, on a sunny day like today what better place to have a meal and have this free entertainment thrown in.

We have tried most of the places in the plaza today we ate here,it was a nice lunch with a freshly squeezed orange juice.

How anybody lives in the studios I don't know, for the birds are awake with the dawn and are in and out till dusk, but I must say not many people live there they are mostly used by golfers as holiday homes the golf course being just behind the plaza.

This is the parakeets on a quieter moment, you can imagine what it's like when they are all in the trees together.

Jeanette Spain

Walk at Torrevieja

2007-09-29T10:54:00.000+02:00

We took a drive into Torrevieja last night to have a meal. The place we like is on the front about 20 metres from the sea.

The sea was calm and made you feel good just watching it.As you can see there are feral cats that live on the rocks, you see people putting food down for them, you feel sorry for them as they are so thin and scratch themselves like mad so are probably full of flees. You can't take them home as they are wild and don't settle in doors. We had a cat daft neighbour (Tina can tell you about her) she took one in, she kept in in the house two weeks and did not let it out hoping it would get used to home life, but the first time she let it out it never came back, such a shame it would of had a good home.

It was starting to get dark by the time our meal came and the sea was taking on a new spectacular look.

As the sun set it got more beautiful and the colour was changing all the time.

Till this was the sun setting till we started another great day and this wonderful sight start again.

Can you blame us for thinking this is our favourite place to eat and have this wonderful show for free.

Jeanette Spain

Our trip to Salou

2007-09-25T22:07:00.000+02:00

Hi all well I am back after a bad few weeks, with Bessy being broken into then the computer going, but hopefully all well again.

We went to Salou an eight hour drive from us to meet up with my sister Alicia and her hubby who are on holiday there.

We had a fantastic time, they are staying at Portaventura a place very much like Disney in America.Wow the rides were great even if they did turn your tummy over more than once.

We first of all spent a day in Barcelona, what a city beautiful is the only way to describe it.

We have been before but in the van so don't see so much but we went on a coach tour this time so we got to see all the sites.

The first place we went to was the Nou Camp the football stadium, Brian loved that, the players were there so that made it all the more perfect for him ( he is a bacca fan and has been to one match there).

They then took us to the church of the family ( in English). It is a funny looking place you love or hate, it was started in 1882 by a man called Goudi who was a famous architect of Barcelona and it will be finished in about 15 years time.

You can see where they are building still, I hope they can make it all the same colour as it look out of place next to the old.

After some free time for shopping and sightseeing we were taken to the magic waters this was the dancing fountains to music, the show did not start till ten pm so it was dark and they looked spectacular

The next day we went into Poraventura, we had a super time, the first ride we went on we had rain capes on to keep us from getting wet Ha did that work did it heck we were soaking

Down we came then I thought we were drowning ( we are under there somewhere).I thought that was bad enough but there was more, I stood in the queue looking at this ride thinking what have I done But my brother-in-law Mark was not letting me away, he had been waiting for me to come as Alicia would not go on the rides with him, by the way Brian says he will go on next time. I can't describe the feeling as it went off 0 to 134 miles in 4 seconds I could not even scream.I am not one with the arms in the air, I am the one with the white knuckles from holding on.I thought well that must be the worse over with wrong again, next came another dipper with so many loops I lost count of them.

Up we go so slow not bad I thought then:- round we go

Then down to another loop I did not know which way up I was.

After I got off I thought I enjoyed that it was a laugh.Now you have to try this one I was told

What does it do I asked, then I watch, then I ran away.It took you to the top 380 feet high then drop ed you down, no way.

I am a coward really that one scared me.but we went on many more rides and enjoyed them, I say we I went on Brian took photos.

I told him no rides then I was selling him I sat him there but had no bids for him so there was only one thing to do

But I gave him a reprieve when he said he would treat us all to dinner. This where he took us it was a good meal and desert even better, he's not bad really.

The day ended at midnight wit ha parade and more dancing waters but with fireworks it was better than Barcelona.

We have had a great time and I spent some quality time with my sister which was nice.

It was nice to be out in Bessy again and to feel it was ours again, we just have to replace the things that have gone but they could not take the pleasure we get out of it that is still ours.

Jeanette Spain

Tina and Daves day out

2007-08-26T19:26:00.000+02:00

Tina has asked me to send this slide show for you all .
She can't send one on dial-up.
We had a great day out, the weather was perfect and Dave enjoyed it a lot( I think he is just an adventurer at heart). We had a nice meal and loads of laughs, when poor toff is well again we will go off again, we are going to the Alcoy Valley next time that is beautiful.

Jeanette Spain

2007-08-26T19:20:00.000+02:00

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

Toffees Doogles

2007-08-21T17:36:00.000+02:00

Can anyone please tell me what 'Doogles' means, as Tina was going I heard her say to Dave that Toffees doogles was itching. What ever did she mean. It has been bugging me and she is not in to ask! It souinds like something out of the magic roundabout.

My Wedding photos

2007-08-21T17:15:00.002+02:00

Hi Tina here from Jeanettes

We thought you may like to see Jay's Wedding photos.

2007-08-21T17:15:00.001+02:00

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

2007-08-19T20:00:00.000+02:00

Just trying this one out as I could not get the other slide show to come on, Don't know if it is right there should be 12 photos of my best friend Tina on it.
Jeanette Spain

2007-08-19T19:56:00.001+02:00

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

2007-08-14T19:11:00.000+02:00

Tina and Dave came to do some washing, so while the washing was on the go, we sent the men to the motor home to get all the dishes to put in the dish washer (only an excuse to get them out of the way).

We then went onto the computor and had a laugh at the star profile and tried to get it onto the blog, no sucsess yet with that. We were getting very hot and sticky so the perfect excuse for an ice cream. naughty but very nice

Jeanette Spain

2007-08-14T18:43:00.000+02:00

Hi all
What do you think of this then, nine weeks after getting married.

We were going to Murcia to pick up a ring Brian had ordered for me, so Brian went to the car to turn on the air con before I got in.
That’s when he did it to me. The window of the car was open as he was shouting for me to get something from the table in the garden, when I picked up what he wanted I noticed some Pringles on the table from lunch, so picked them up to take with us.
I passed them to him through the open window just as he pressed the button to close the window with my arm still in there the window was coming up, I could not get my arm out so it was jammed in tight, with me yelling and Brian trying to get the window down as quick as he could, I could imagine the car starting off with me running along side it.
Although my arm was sore I could see the funny side of it.
We made it to Murcia and got the ring, so all ended well.
This morning I was sorting out some bedding from under the bed that we no longer wanted and told him my head is under here don’t jam my head in the bed now, as tempting as it may be.

OR ELSE

Jeanette Spain

2007-08-10T21:56:00.000+02:00

At 4-30 am we were dead to the world in the land of dreams when I thought I heard the door bell. When Tiny started to bark we knew something was wrong, as we were getting out of bed the doorbell went on and on with out a stop. Thinking it was Tina and something was very wrong we pulled dressing gowns on and opened the door.
To our surprise the young girl from next door was standing at our gate with her five year old son, finger on the bell so it was ringing continuous.
We could not get out of her what was wrong so got hr inside and calmed her down enough to get the story out of her what was wrong.
With it being so hot she had locked her grill door, but left the front door open. She had put her keys on the coffee table (about three metres away from the door) ready to lock up for the night.
She them fell asleep while watching t v, she woke up at 4-25 am to find two men in the house robbing it. When she screamed they ran out of the house taking her jewellery. Money, mobile, phones and as yet she is still missing things.
They got into the house by using a fishing rod through the open grill and hooking up her keys from the table and then proceeded to open the grill door and walk in.
They must have seen the door open and thought it a perfect opportunity to see what they could steel.
You should have seen the state she was in, she could not hold the cup of tea for shaking.
As they had taken her keys she was terrified to go back to her place in case they came back (which I can’t blame her for I would have been the same), Brian went to her place and brought every thing that could be carried into our house so I have TV’s DVD player music centre toys all in my spare room.
Her mother lives about 10 minuets walk from us, so we asked if she would like to stay at us or go to her mums, she wanted to go to her mums, but as it was still dark was to scared to walk round in case they recognised her personally I think they would be well gone but can understand her fear.
We told her there was no way we would let her walk there, that Brian would drive her to her mums.
I hope she is ok as it must have been a great shock to her, but we told her yes she has lost many things but the main thing is she and Layton her son were ok and unharmed it could have been a lot worse we could have been going to tell her mum instead of taking her to her mums. Phones and the other things can be replaced they can not be.

Jeanette Spain

blue lagoon

2007-08-09T10:05:00.000+02:00

We had a wonderful day out at the lake or blue lagoon as Tina called it.
The water was just indescribable, so we took loads of photos.
I will not say much as we are doing it on Tina's blog, but I must say we had a good time, good laugh and most of all good company.
Brian and Dave get on so well and I don't have to say anything about Tina and myself. Its good to have such good and very dear friends.
Here's to the next day out Tina.
Jeanette Spain

A day in the life of a tube of glue

2007-08-07T19:11:00.000+02:00

Hi everyone.
As Brian was golfing today I decided After doing the tasks I had set myself I would go to Tina's so we could have lunch together. I no sooner started the Ironing when the Phone went, all I could here was a panic stricken voice yelling HELP. it was Tina, I could not get out of her what was wrong.
I went armed with bread and strawberry cheese cake for lunch and got round as quick as my little legs would take me. What a state I found her in as the following pictures will show. The other day I loaned her (huh that’s a joke) a tube of glue to stick her innersole of her slipper back. First mistake.

This is how I found her, (Both hands together mind) How did you manage to phone in that state Tina. With great difficulty was the answer.

(Photo of the glue and another of the show firmly stuck to her hand).

What a mess, there was Tina with both hands stuck fast and no Dave, I wondered why it took so long for her to open the door! We tried everything, in the end we had to cut her hand out of the shoe... (Photo in front of curtain)

The tube of glue was a very different story, it kept springing leeks every where and I kid you not; it shot straight out on her tummy like a balloon full of water springing a leak. You will possible notice that Tina had to take a shower with glue still stuck to her and change her clothes due to them being stuck to her belly! He he
After the shower (which we had hoped would do the trick) it did not, we tried soaking the glue of in acetone but as you can see her hand could not go in the widest cup we could find!

Photo of cup after shower

We eventually managed to get it off her by dipping a stick in acetone and forcing her fingers apart!! The air was blue with screams of OUCH.

Well only Tina could put a sticky messy tube onto her shelve. You have guessed it, stuck again! Photo of Tina on shelve. Once we removed Tina the glue was stuck fast
(Photo of tube)

Dave returned home and came to our rescue…well sort of, as you can see once the glue was off the shelve it was firmly on him!!! Photo of Dave stuck! Once we removed the offending tube from Dave, poor Dave was left to chip the glue off!! Photo of glue being chipped.

Then you guessed it, once again it struck, it was not giving up with out a fight.

So Brian home from golf, and all I said I was going to do did not get done, I will clean out the jacuzzi while you are out I told him, still waiting to be done. Thanks Tina I not only did'nt get the work done, I was sore from laughing.

Bienvenodo a mi dia en Espana

2007-08-03T22:53:00.000+02:00

Welcome to my day in Spain

We have another good day out in and around our little part of Spain.

We left our casa at 9 am. and set out to pick up the van which is store a short drive from home,
The sun was shining and the temperature already 30 degs.

The car was nice and cool with the air con on, makes you forget how hot it is outside till you open the door and step out of it, then wham it hits you like a wall

The first thing Tiny does when we get to the van is to lie as near to Brian as she can get, and stays there till we are getting out again. We have to stop till she has a drink as she never moves from her spot till we stop, she is so good traveling.

THE LAKES AT

Our first stop was at another lake Bigger than the last one and so beautiful and peaceful

Just look at that colour, if you had to describe it to anyone it would be very hard to do it justice.

Spain has some very beautiful country side, and many interesting places to see.

You have to admire them,we have yet to find out what the building was used for, the lake is fresh water, and they go fishing in it, this building goes down to the water, there is an other one about 20 metres from it.In days gone by they must of had a purpose, any ideas anyone.We were sorry to move on from here, but run was though the orange groves and almond groves(hard to get away from them round here

This is oranges, they will not be ready till December/ January.

The farmers get 6 cents a kilo(4p) we buy them for 5 kilos for 3 euros in the market. At that price you wonder how the farmers survive.

The almond trees are the most beautiful tree I have seen out here, in February the blossom is out, and for mile after mile the landscape is pink and white.The white blossom trees have almonds that are ground up for marzipan and baking, the pink are the better quality and are sold as nuts at Christmas time, so when you get your nuts at Christmas they most likely came from here and from the gorgeous pink blossom. The smell from the almond and orange blossom which is also out in February is out of this world.

Well on to the coast can't stop here to crowded so pictures have been taken on the move, from van window.

This is the lookey lookey man he will sell you anything, they come round the cafes and beaches, if you say no they usually go and don't pester you too much.

These are the quieter beaches, we could not get near the more popular ones as they don't have traffic near them.

From here we made our way home, after a visit to Tina, we finished the day off on the solarium in the hot tub (not so hot this weather though

A perfect end to a perfect day

Buenos noches all

motor home

2007-08-03T22:20:00.000+02:00

Hi Sindie,

this is our motor home, we enjoy a lot of time in it.

This is the upper bed, we use it for storage.

The sitting area, also a bed

A view of the kitchen area, bathroom at the back

Fridge freezer and food storage cupboard

The tv, DVD and freeview are in the small grey cupboard

This is the drinks cabinet, I don't drink but Brian will have a red wine if we have stopped for the night.

The bathroom is at the back of the van, with plenty of room and storage.

The shower is roomy and you can have a good shower in it.

Every place we visit in the van we get a postcard of the place, we put them in a photo album, and it's a nice reminder of where you have been.

We have them from uk, France and Spain.Hope fully we will get some from other countries we intend to visit next year.

We have been to some beautiful places in France and one very sad place there.

Take some photos of your van, I would love to see them, and here where you have been in your van.

Our day out

2007-08-01T17:00:00.000+02:00

We thought we would have a day out in our

motor home “Bessy” (it is a bessicar make)

Well first we thought we would go to the shopping centre about an hour from home in Murcia.
The ride down there is through some beautiful country, Mountains and lakes, orange and lemon groves.

I thought it funny that Brian wanted to go shopping in a meadow hall type place, but was making a mental note of what we needed, some tops out of Primark or C&A, some sheets out of Eroskis

But I might of known he had an ulterior motive. The Real Murcia football stadium is outside of the Nueve Condomina shopping.Well they are now in La Liga and will be playing teams like Barcelona and Madrid I was told.So in we go to the shopping arcade,( they are still landscaping the gardens round it as it is not a year old yet).

Well down to shopping now I thought, but no off we go to the Real Murcia football shop,I just want to find out how much a season ticket is.

Now can I go shopping this place is much like Meadow hall, but as you can see not as crowded as Meadow hall has been when I have been there. always something in the hyper market to buy.

All I got were some bedding, and fresh bread, ham cheese and tomato's for our lunch.

We decided we would have lunch by the lake, This is a view as you approach it, beautiful or what.

As you can see Brian is having afters that we found in the fridge on the van, and Tiny waiting hopefully for him to drop a chocolate...... phew no chance of that Tiny.

We then took Tiny a walk down to the lake it was so hot we had to go back to the van.

We ended our trip by going along the coast and stopping in Torrevieja for a cooling Ice cream. Torrevieja is a very pleasant small resort, with a beautiful church square And many fountains.

We had such a good day we are going to do it again, even getting away for the day was fun, we have decided we will do this more often, all the places we visited this time are within an hours drive of home so you don't have to go far for a good day out.

This is the end of Brain's trip, while I am walking Tiny Brian is getting comfortable............

Come on lazy home please.

Jeanette Spain

2007-07-27T17:10:00.000+02:00

I have been round to Tina's and she was writing a new story about the vet but it would not post, don't know what is wrong with her blog.
I changed it to english for her so she could understand the writing on the top, so she may now be able to post one lets hope so.
Jeanette Spain

2007-07-27T16:46:00.000+02:00

We had a new washer delivered yesterday, it was fitted in by two spanish delivery men.

Then the problems started, while I was signing the paper work with one of them, Brian was being shown how to work the machine BIG MISTAKE in my broken spanish I explained he won't remember what to do he never does the washing.

They thought this a big joke but did not show me what to do just went out laughing.

The washer was delivered at 7 pm at 8 pm we are still trying to do a wash.What did they show you to do I ask, just press the button was the reply. there are 6 buttons Brian which one, that one I think was the reply. Go get the book and read it please Brian. Well as you might know it is all in spanish.

We translated the best we could and finally got a wash done at 8-50 pm.

we have to set the machine for the drying conditions, a picture of a cloud means more spin, a sun less spin because it is sunny outside and does not need as much, a leaf means it is windy outside so less spin again, and what the fourth picture is we have to work out yet.

No wonder Brian could not take it all in, but I do think he could of remembered how to switch it on right, we must of looked right nanas pushing a button then waching for it to start, then nothing. If we haveto call them out to explain how to get it going I am going to Tina's and you can see to it.

Jeanette Spain

spanishjay

2007-07-24T16:41:00.000+02:00

This is the cricket that has been living on our garden wall here in Spain .He has been with us a few days now, always arround the same area, we have called him Jose.

I love to hear the crickets when we take our dog Tiny out for her walk at night, they are so loud but when you get near to the garden they are in they go silent, but walk a few paces away from then and away they go again calling to each other.

One once jumped on to me and frightened me to death, I did'nt love that one, to near for comfort.