Yes, here we are in the south of Spain where winter temperatures average in the mid 20's... Unfortunately, while the weather is milder than at home, we are stuck with torrential rain. Yikes! Thankfully we are prepared for most eventualities so are getting through it ok. We rolled out the awning on the side of the van which keeps the ground dry outside and so less cleaning of floors is required. It also means that we can keep the door open which makes the place feel a lot bigger. Pretty essential when you are stuck inside.
So, we had an uneventful drive from Oliva down to Torrevieja on the coast. Had an overnighter, then moved on past Cartagena across the hills to Almeria. This place is a sight to behold. The entire landscape is covered in plastic. Without exaggeration, every place that has earth has been cocooned in swathes of white plastic. Even the hillsides have been terraced to allow the construction of these monstrous greenhouses. The price of having year-round salads I guess. Not pretty...will post a pic to let you see.
We moved on again towards Malaga. My lovely friend June offered us the use of her apartment for Christmas, unfortunately it was on a pretty steep hill and we couldn't drag the 5 tonne beast up there without the possibility of blowing up the engine or gearbox! Not to worry...ever onwards, this time to Marbella. Thankfully quiet compared to what it is probably like in high summer! The campsite is lovely, very peaceful, close to a small beach and with the most terrific showers! It is amazing what becomes important to you when you motorhome.
We have found Spain to be a real mix. Can't say that it has been the most enjoyable part of the trip, although to be fair we haven't had many opportunities to explore, as we have been moving south to get the best weather. It is very set up for tourists. There are extremes like Benidorm, which we drove past, where there are the most enormous skyscrapers, and there is still building work going on. There are the smaller places on the south coast that have a mix of tourism and farming, but they feel quite run down. Maybe because it is off-season. There are stray dogs everywhere, mostly pretty malnourished, and yet the pet shops have windows full of puppies. Not quite sure what to make of the place to be honest.
Anyway, we have Euan's birthday tomorrow and then Christmas, so lots to do. Hope you are all making the most of the snow. Typical, first white Christmas for years and we miss it!
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Still in Spain...
Have come a little farther down the coast and are now in a place called Peniscola (raised a few laughs when i told the boys where we were going..that and the garden centre...penis green, yes really, not making that up!) We had a very difficult drive here. We had really bad side winds as we went past the mountains (which were all snow capped) and then when we got to Peniscola we went to the Carrefour supermarket and stocked up on supplies. Once again there was an interesting array of dead things on display. Notably the little piglets (half a dozen or so) sitting on top of one another (literally piggy back!!) I took a pic on my mobile, but Joshua was less than impressed.
We have a new vegetarian in our midst. Joshua has managed to avoid anything meat based since then. Not sure if I will be able to persuade him to try my stuffed aubergine recipe!
We had great fun at camp. They had a collection of very tame parrots which loved to be stroked and talked to and squawked at you when you stopped. We got the tennis rackets out and had a few games of fairly informal ball hitting and running around after them...wimbledon...no, not really. Good fun though. Apparently the weather is unseasonably cold.
Moved on again to Oliva, another 200km down the coast. The camp site signs run out as you get closer which makes finding them pretty difficult. It was cold and raining when we arrived and there was sand all over the coast road.
It turns out that there was a monster wave which removed half the beach and deposited it on the road. The sun came out today...really warm, us all in shorts, fabulous (well the warm rather than the shorts). So, we went scavenging on the beach and found the most amazing shells. Murex (i think) with long points on the shells, cone shells, urchins, starfish, coconuts and even an octopus. There were sea cucumbers and these huge long worms (which may have been the contents of destroyed razor shells). I tried to put as many of the still living shellfish back in the water to give them a chance, but there were too many to make that much difference...the guilt, the guilt! I even have a sponge which I am attempting to clean so that I can use it. If anyone has any suggestions I'd be glad to hear them. I have washed it over and over and removed as much debris and dead prawns as I can...nice...
So, we are heading south again tomorrow towards Almeria, probably around Cabo de Gata, which is where all the lovely beaches are and not too touristy. Hopefully we will have better weather from now on.
Hope you are all still enjoying the blog and hearing our news. Just in case I'm not on the internet again for a while, hope you all have a fabulous Christmas and New Year.
We have a new vegetarian in our midst. Joshua has managed to avoid anything meat based since then. Not sure if I will be able to persuade him to try my stuffed aubergine recipe!
We had great fun at camp. They had a collection of very tame parrots which loved to be stroked and talked to and squawked at you when you stopped. We got the tennis rackets out and had a few games of fairly informal ball hitting and running around after them...wimbledon...no, not really. Good fun though. Apparently the weather is unseasonably cold.
Moved on again to Oliva, another 200km down the coast. The camp site signs run out as you get closer which makes finding them pretty difficult. It was cold and raining when we arrived and there was sand all over the coast road.
It turns out that there was a monster wave which removed half the beach and deposited it on the road. The sun came out today...really warm, us all in shorts, fabulous (well the warm rather than the shorts). So, we went scavenging on the beach and found the most amazing shells. Murex (i think) with long points on the shells, cone shells, urchins, starfish, coconuts and even an octopus. There were sea cucumbers and these huge long worms (which may have been the contents of destroyed razor shells). I tried to put as many of the still living shellfish back in the water to give them a chance, but there were too many to make that much difference...the guilt, the guilt! I even have a sponge which I am attempting to clean so that I can use it. If anyone has any suggestions I'd be glad to hear them. I have washed it over and over and removed as much debris and dead prawns as I can...nice...
So, we are heading south again tomorrow towards Almeria, probably around Cabo de Gata, which is where all the lovely beaches are and not too touristy. Hopefully we will have better weather from now on.
Hope you are all still enjoying the blog and hearing our news. Just in case I'm not on the internet again for a while, hope you all have a fabulous Christmas and New Year.
Monday, 14 December 2009
Spain
Hello again. We did another motoring marathon and are now in Spain. And its raining??!! Can you believe it?!
We drove on the Sunday to avoid the worst of the traffic. Passed Barcelona and on to Villanova i la Geltru on the coast. Had wanted to see Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia, but to be honest, cannot be faffed with the whole mad city nonsense. We met Caroline and Jan in Lucca and they told us about losing all their money and passports in Barcelona. You do want to do the whole tourist thing with the sites, but personally I don't want the stress!
We are at a really big campsite with swimming pools, shop, fitness centre, restaurant, bar & wi-fi...am currently sitting with a blue cap on, the boys have returned from the reception...apparently you have to wear them in the pool. Euan thinks they look like pants! So, going to go swimming now with my head pants on...bye!
We drove on the Sunday to avoid the worst of the traffic. Passed Barcelona and on to Villanova i la Geltru on the coast. Had wanted to see Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia, but to be honest, cannot be faffed with the whole mad city nonsense. We met Caroline and Jan in Lucca and they told us about losing all their money and passports in Barcelona. You do want to do the whole tourist thing with the sites, but personally I don't want the stress!
We are at a really big campsite with swimming pools, shop, fitness centre, restaurant, bar & wi-fi...am currently sitting with a blue cap on, the boys have returned from the reception...apparently you have to wear them in the pool. Euan thinks they look like pants! So, going to go swimming now with my head pants on...bye!
Happy Birthday Joshua
Sigean
We went south of Narbonne to Sigean where there is a rather nice campsite beside the animal park. Joshua had his 12th birthday, some presents and party food (not a pig's head in sight). Lots of cake eating and general jollity.
The sun shone, we got our washing done and the van cleaned...just like being at home...apart from the sunshine!
We met Jonathan Massie, sounds like he's from Aberdeen, but actually from London. He had been cycling around Spain for a few weeks and was heading for home. We spent a rather cheerful evening eating pasta, drinking wine and swapping stories. Hi Jonathan, hope you got back ok!
We went south of Narbonne to Sigean where there is a rather nice campsite beside the animal park. Joshua had his 12th birthday, some presents and party food (not a pig's head in sight). Lots of cake eating and general jollity.
The sun shone, we got our washing done and the van cleaned...just like being at home...apart from the sunshine!
We met Jonathan Massie, sounds like he's from Aberdeen, but actually from London. He had been cycling around Spain for a few weeks and was heading for home. We spent a rather cheerful evening eating pasta, drinking wine and swapping stories. Hi Jonathan, hope you got back ok!
Aigues-Mortes & Narbonne Plage
Another day, another aire...this time in Aigues-mortes (dead waters I believe). What an incredible place. The fortification was built in the 13th century when the water was a lot further inland. It was a way of protecting trade and levying taxes on whatever was shipped. The church in the town was built at the same time, but the houses are much more recent. When you climb to the top of the walls you get the most amazing view of the salt works and the mountains of grey and white in the distance.
When we left we went to the local intermarche to stock up on supplies. It was a bit of an experience for the boys, especially the meat aisle. All the ducks still had their heads and feet on, there were pigs heads and feet, huge boxes of livers (for pate I presume), horsemeat and tripe. All very honest unlike our selling of dead things!
The selection of fish and shellfish is incredible. They have displays about the size of a double bed, the edges of which are iced up to form sides, and the middle is filled with prawns or oysters! The last place had a whole tuna ready and a selection of tails for sale. The other amazing thing is the range of vegetables for sale. There are five or six different types of lettuce. You can buy hazlenuts by the sack full (locally produced, as are the walnuts). And the tomatoes are delicious. I can see why people go on food tours of the different regions.
Getting hungry thinking about all the food on offer...
We headed south towards Narbonne and went over the Mont de Clape ( a rather interesting hill made up of a series of plateau covered in trees and vinyards). We ended up in an aire at Narbonne Plage. the boys loved this one. The beach was just 20yards away and they spent the afternoon getting soaked running through the waves. Had a mishap later when Joshua fell out of a tree flat on his back. Thankfully no injuries other than being winded, so he had a quiet night recovering!
When we left we went to the local intermarche to stock up on supplies. It was a bit of an experience for the boys, especially the meat aisle. All the ducks still had their heads and feet on, there were pigs heads and feet, huge boxes of livers (for pate I presume), horsemeat and tripe. All very honest unlike our selling of dead things!
The selection of fish and shellfish is incredible. They have displays about the size of a double bed, the edges of which are iced up to form sides, and the middle is filled with prawns or oysters! The last place had a whole tuna ready and a selection of tails for sale. The other amazing thing is the range of vegetables for sale. There are five or six different types of lettuce. You can buy hazlenuts by the sack full (locally produced, as are the walnuts). And the tomatoes are delicious. I can see why people go on food tours of the different regions.
Getting hungry thinking about all the food on offer...
We headed south towards Narbonne and went over the Mont de Clape ( a rather interesting hill made up of a series of plateau covered in trees and vinyards). We ended up in an aire at Narbonne Plage. the boys loved this one. The beach was just 20yards away and they spent the afternoon getting soaked running through the waves. Had a mishap later when Joshua fell out of a tree flat on his back. Thankfully no injuries other than being winded, so he had a quiet night recovering!
The Camargue
Moving on...
We had a great couple of days in Diano Marino before we left. There was a long weekend, so all the people of Turin and Milan descended on the site. I am convinced that most italians own motorhomes and all the men have lycra shorts and shiny bikes!
The site came to life and we had stalls selling hot food, local cheeses and other smelly stuff. Bought a big lump of mouldy cheese which is delicious if a little malodorous, fridge not smelling too healthy.
Anyhoo, left on the Sunday and did a long drive to get beyond the tourist traps and Marseille. We ended up in the Camargue at a small place called Saintes-Mairies-de-la-mer. There was an aire as you drove in to the town which charged the princely sum of 8.5euros a night. It was full of vans and quite lively. Went for a wander and there was a market in the square. Decided to have a better explore in the morning. The market had expanded and I bought loads of fruit and veg. We also got pate, chicken and some chinese food from the stalls. Had a wander on the beach and collected some more treasure for the box...lots of wonderful shells, scallops, spiny clams, pelican's foot (my favourite), carpet shells, venus shells...we could be here some time!
On another wander we found a man with a herd of goats and sheep, all with their tinkly little bells on. What a wonderful sound, redolent of earlier times, yet being surrounded by modern things. The real highlight for me were the flocks of flamingoes (not sure if they were lesser or greater...all pretty great to me!) We also saw the horses and bulls that the area is famous for.
We had a great couple of days in Diano Marino before we left. There was a long weekend, so all the people of Turin and Milan descended on the site. I am convinced that most italians own motorhomes and all the men have lycra shorts and shiny bikes!
The site came to life and we had stalls selling hot food, local cheeses and other smelly stuff. Bought a big lump of mouldy cheese which is delicious if a little malodorous, fridge not smelling too healthy.
Anyhoo, left on the Sunday and did a long drive to get beyond the tourist traps and Marseille. We ended up in the Camargue at a small place called Saintes-Mairies-de-la-mer. There was an aire as you drove in to the town which charged the princely sum of 8.5euros a night. It was full of vans and quite lively. Went for a wander and there was a market in the square. Decided to have a better explore in the morning. The market had expanded and I bought loads of fruit and veg. We also got pate, chicken and some chinese food from the stalls. Had a wander on the beach and collected some more treasure for the box...lots of wonderful shells, scallops, spiny clams, pelican's foot (my favourite), carpet shells, venus shells...we could be here some time!
On another wander we found a man with a herd of goats and sheep, all with their tinkly little bells on. What a wonderful sound, redolent of earlier times, yet being surrounded by modern things. The real highlight for me were the flocks of flamingoes (not sure if they were lesser or greater...all pretty great to me!) We also saw the horses and bulls that the area is famous for.
Thursday, 3 December 2009
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Monaco...
Well hello again people. We had a lovely day in Monaco, the sun shone and Bill found his Christmas present, not that I can afford it...
The boys (Joshua & Bill) got very excited about the F1 track, so we went to Rascasse, the Tunnel (see pic), and had a tour around the harbour just to drool over the yachts. Wow!
Euan got mugged by a seagull, obviously well practised in the art of snatch and grab. Thankfully I had split the boat sized baguette in to pieces, so there was enough for us and the gull! We saw the changing of the guard at the palace on top of the hill, which, despite looking faintly ridiculous managed to look threatening enough with the bayonets and loaded guns...
Then on to the Musee Oceanographique to look at fabulous fish and coral reefs. It was great...there was even a turtle (green, I think). See the pics, I don't think I can do it justice.
The boys (Joshua & Bill) got very excited about the F1 track, so we went to Rascasse, the Tunnel (see pic), and had a tour around the harbour just to drool over the yachts. Wow!
Euan got mugged by a seagull, obviously well practised in the art of snatch and grab. Thankfully I had split the boat sized baguette in to pieces, so there was enough for us and the gull! We saw the changing of the guard at the palace on top of the hill, which, despite looking faintly ridiculous managed to look threatening enough with the bayonets and loaded guns...
Then on to the Musee Oceanographique to look at fabulous fish and coral reefs. It was great...there was even a turtle (green, I think). See the pics, I don't think I can do it justice.
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