New Monthly CBBH Challenge: Starts August 1st

Posted on July 27, 2012 by Marianne under Axarquía, CBBH Photo Challenge, Photo challenges

There´s a British superstition which states that a person should say or repeat the word “rabbit” or “rabbits“, or say the phrase “white rabbits“, or some combination of these elements, out loud upon waking on the first day of the month, because doing so will ensure good luck for the duration of that month. (Source: wikipedia)

Well – how about joining together to make our own luck, by sharing a little blog love, each month?

There are some fantastic weekly photo challenges to get your creative juices flowing – Travel Theme, Sunday Post, Weekly Image of Life and, of course, the Weekly Photo Challenge, to name but a few. My new monthly challenge, the CONEJO BLANCO BLOG HOP (conejo blanco means white rabbit, in Spanish) will also introduce the element of sharing.

Here´s how it will work:

On the first day of each month, starting in August, I will provide a theme to inspire you to post your own interpretation. Create your own blog post before the end of the month and entitle it “CBBH Challenge: (subject of the month)”, providing a link to this page so I´ll know your participating, and others can find it, too.

Grab a BLOG HOPPER button, if you like!

The difference between this and other photo challenges is that at the end of your post, you should introduce at least two links to other blogs you have visited and, most importantly, that you have commented on, during the past month. These links might be to someone who you are in regular contact with via your blog, a new blogger in need of some followers, or maybe a person who inspires or motivates you with their writing or photographs.

By choosing to participate, you also agree to read and comment on at least two other blogs taking part in the Conejo Blanco Blog Hop. That way, when we visit each other, we can HOP OVER to your links, connect with others and share a little blog love around!

Don´t forget to follow East of Málaga, so you never miss out on the monthly CBBH Challenge announcement. You can sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar.

BONUS: If you find your blog featured as a link, you will be entitled to grab the CONEJO BLANCO BLOG HOP Featured Me! BUTTON to display in your sidebar.

What do you think? Want to hop on board?

[Image credit: (cc) Mostly Dans]

Travel Theme: Flowers

Posted on July 27, 2012 by Marianne under Axarquía, Photo challenges

Despite being known in Spain as Flor de Pascua (Easter flower), thousands of Poinsettia plants adorn roadways and roundabouts here on the southern coast of Andalucía, around Christmas-time each year.

What you actually see are vivid red leaves (known as bracts) surrounding a cluster of greenish flowers, almost too small to be noticeable. The true flowers are like little vases no larger than a pea, and on its side each has a yellow cup, a gland, brimming with glistening sticky nectar that, if you taste it, is as sweet as honey.

The plant is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, an American diplomat and amateur botanist, who saw it growing in Mexico as a roadside weed and later introduced the first plant into the US in 1825.

This post is my response to the Travel Theme photo challenge – Flowers

Other interpretations:

52 Pick Up – Flowers

Have you ever ….

Flowering snapshot of a January day around the garden

Back to the Future: An Evening at the Medieval Market

Posted on July 24, 2012 by Marianne under Axarquía, Fiestas and Festivals, Laws and Customs, Places, Slice of Life

During the past weekend, a Medieval-themed market took over the main square of the white village of Torrox in the heart of the Axarquía region. Organized by the Ayuntamiento (town hall), there was lots of medieval bunting to transport you back to the 15th century, with suitably dressed character actors to set the mood.

There were various stalls selling crafts, jewellery, cheeses, traditional craftwork in metal and wood, as well as lots of food.

Huge wooden chess tables had been set up for anyone to enjoy a game of chess in the evening sunshine.

The most popular attraction was in one corner of the square where there was a roped-off area with many different birds of prey on display. Their handler gave a demonstration of the birds´ hunting prowess, which thrilled and delighted the crowd, especially the many children. The birds appeared to be well cared for and made an impressive sight sitting on their perches, patiently waiting their turn to swoop over the gathered crowd.

All of the bars and restaurants in Plaza de la Constitución had their outdoor seating areas overflowing with people all eating, drinking and enjoying this year´s Medieval Fiesta!

I have merged my responses to this week´s Photo Challenges: Travel Theme: Tradition as well as the Weekly Image of Life: Colours.

Whilst you´re here, why not have a look at:

All at sea with the Virgen del Carmen

Photographs I love …. and why!

Flowering snapshot of a January day around the garden

Fifty Shades of Grey: What´s going on?

Posted on July 23, 2012 by Marianne under Axarquía, Slice of Life

The rain in Spain may fall mainly on the plains – but today it´s arrived east of Málaga! I can´t remember when it last rained in July.

Anyway, I´m sure it wont rain for long and it´s great for the garden as well as the toad who came out to enjoy the unusually damp weather!

It hardly ever rains here in the summer months. The following posts are more typical of what to expect, east of Málaga:

Summer Breeze – makes me feel fine

Phew – what a scorcher!

East of Málaga: The Weather in Summer

In Plane View: Inside Out

Posted on July 22, 2012 by Marianne under Photo challenges

I´ve mentioned before that I always try to request a window seat whenever I´m flying anywhere, as there are often spectacular views of the world which simply cannot be seen from the ground, or sometimes, of countries that I will never set foot in.

These photos are from a journey very familiar to me – flying from the UK crossing the northern coast of Spain, heading back home to southern Spain.

This post is my response to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside

You might also like to have a look at these articles:

Photos from 35,000 feet: Approaching Málaga

Flights to Málaga: Which airlines fly to the Costa del Sol?

The heart of Cómpeta: El Paseo de las Tradiciones