Tabernas Spain

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

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

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

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

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

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Toffees Doogles

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.