Wordless Wednesday: Dog
Tag Archives: Andalucía
Cordoba’s Patio Festival 2014
Even though I live in Spain, where it was Mother’s Day last Sunday, I still celebrate the day at the end of March, at the time of Mother’s Day in England, because that’s where I’m from and my family live there.
But, I know that many of you are celebrating Mother’s Day today, so I’ve got a real treat for you.
Last week I visited Cordoba, one of my favourite cities in Spain, for the annual Patio Festival (La Fiesta de Los Patios de Cordoba).
The old part of the city consists of narrow cobble-stone streets with the houses white-washed to keep them cool during the very hot summers. Many of these old houses or apartments are situated around a private, interior courtyard accessible only to residents.
The origin of these courtyards can be traced to Roman times, when the courtyard (known as an atrium) was a place where rainwater was collected.
Later, the Moors who dominated this area of Spain for so long, made the courtyard a much more social space. They planted vines so that their branches could offer shade during the very hot summer months, and pretty water features and pots of flowers were added making the patios a place where neighbours could get together and enjoy the cooler temperatures.
Of course, these courtyards or patios form part of private houses, so are normally closed to the general public. But, for two weeks in May each year, as families compete for the most beautiful patio in Cordoba, they are thrown open so that members of the public can visit each of these patios.
A few have plaques on the wall outside, announcing their previous successes in the Patio Festival, but all of the competing patios are identified by two little conifer trees in red pots outside the gate.
All, but one or two of the Patios are FREE to visit, though a small donation is appreciated (but not obligatory) as you leave.
Bear in mind that Los Patios de Cordoba is a very popular (and famous) Festival in Spain, with hoards of tourists – both international and local – descending on the city every day. Weekends are especially busy, and a free ticketing system has now been established, to enable some semblance of order and safety when visiting the often tiny patios. (See link below to get your free tickets).
You can collect a map from the Tourist Office, on which six colour-coded routes to visit are identified, each with between 8-12 patios to visit. (See link below to download a map).
The competing patios are open from 11am – 2pm and 6pm – 10pm each day from 5th – 18th May 2014.
How would you fancy watering all these pots?
Further information:
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Following the tapas route around Torre del Mar
From 1st May until 1st June, Torre del Mar is hosting the third “La Ruta de la Tapa” (Tapas route) around the town. With 24 establishments taking part, and a drink plus tapa for only 2 euros, it’s a great way of trying out some new places to eat.
Here’s how to join in the fun!
- Choose one of the bars and restaurants taking part, and when you go in mention that you are taking part in La Ruta de la Tapa. You will be served with a specially prepared, gourmet tapa and offered a choice of drink.
- Ask for a Tapas Route Passport and have them stamp it.
- Each establishment is numbered and shown on the map on the back of the Passport. Follow the route around Torre del Mar.
- Make sure to get a stamp in your Tapas passport for each new place you visit and eat one of the special tapa.
- When you’ve visited all 24 establishments, hand in your completed and stamped passport for a chance to win 300 euros!
Here are some of the tasty (and not so tasty) tapas I’ve enjoyed so far this month:
This is “Bacalao en tres textures con muselina de alioli” which is a cod-fish tapa from Vintash, Avda. Andalucia esquina con C/Bateria (and one of my favourites, so far!)
Next is “Volován con morcilla de Burgos, queso de cabra y piruleta de chocolate blanco con chorizo”, a black pudding dish with a white chocolate lollipop from Las Yucas, Avda. Andalucia 64, dup. (Yes, another favourite).
Café Bar Centro, Calle del Mar 25, offered delicious Spanish ham with “Coca de pan de cristal con Ibérico”.
The tapa at Brujas, Paseo Maritimo, Ed. California IV bajos, is “Redondo de verdura, queso y salsa de arandanos” – delicious vegetables, goat cheese and cranberries (and yet another of my personal favourites!)
“Delicias de primavera” is Spring-time on a plate at 20 de Tapas at Avda. Toré Toré.
“Mini brochetas de polo braseado con salsa Tikka Masala y patatas artisanas” is a delicious chicken curry dish from Mi Mundo, Avda. Toré Toré 16.
“Roll relleno de pollo y setas silvestres, con reducción de vino de Málaga y virutas de foie” is another tasty chicken dish from A Lareira, Calle Pasillo Batería, 7.
“Brocheta marinera con verduras en tempura y mahonesa de marisco” , is a delicious fish-skewered tapa from Casa Andrés, Paseo de Larios 36.
And last and, in my opinion, very much the least, is “Bacalao Rincón de Paco” offered by El Rincón de Paco (Number 11 on the tapas route) on Paseo Maritimo. On paper it should have been OK (cod), but it was drizzled in loads of unidentifiable sweet stuff, and what the bright pink and green things were, I don’t know! I left my glass of red wine (vino tinto) which tasted like vinegar – so all in all they will be getting 0/5 **Shudder**
So, these are the bars and restaurants I have visited so far on La Ruta de la Tapa in Torre del Mar, but I’ve lots more places to visit before June 1st. Wish me luck!
Which of these tapas would you like to try? Or, if you are in La Axarquía and joining in – which is YOUR favourite tapa?
FYI … there is a similar Ruta de la Tapa going on in Nerja during May, too. Click HERE for information 🙂
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Gratitude and saying it with flowers!
Last week, I went on a photo-shoot around the pretty, white village of Frigiliana. Can you see the little grey and white pebbles making up patterns on the steps? And the plaque on the wall at the top of the steps? Well, I’ll be telling you more about them soon, but for now I have a favour to ask.
I’m delighted to tell you that my blog, East of Málaga, has been not only nominated, but shortlisted for a Brilliance in Blogging (BiB) Award 2014 in the PHOTO category – BUT I NEED YOUR VOTES TO GET THROUGH TO THE FINAL!
CAN YOU HELP ME?
If you click through to the Voting Form HERE and then scroll down to the PHOTO section – check the little bubble next to East of Malaga, and then scroll down to the bottom of the page and submit your vote.
Last year more than 200,000 nominations and votes were cast – making it one of the UK’s most popular blogger awards. So, you can imagine how excited and honoured I am to have been shortlisted into the last 16 blogs in the PHOTO category.
Thanks everyone!
Tomorrow I’m heading to one of my favourite cities in Spain – Córdoba. Not only will I be re-visiting the amazing Mezquita, but the main reason for this visit is for the famous Patio Festival.
Nothing says it’s Spring each year more than the many private courtyards within the city with are opened to the general public, to view the beautiful displays of flowers. It’s a few years since I last visited the Patios, so it will be quite a treat.
I’ll no doubt be telling you all about that soon, too!
**If you don’t already follow my FACEBOOK page, then you are missing out on lots of information and photos that I never post here on the blog. Come on over and say HOLA!
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CBBH Photo Challenge: Looking forward, looking back.
White rabbits! Conejos blancos! Yes, it’s that time of the month again ….. soon comes round, doesn’t it?
I got lots of comments about my snow photographs in the CBBH Photo Challenge for April: FULL CIRCLE – but there was the grand total of one entry, apart from mine. Thanks Le Drake Noir – even though something did get lost in translation!
What was it you didn’t like, I wonder? Did the challenge involve taking too many photos – or couldn’t you find the right place to spin around?
Well …. I had fun, anyway – in fact, I enjoyed it so much, I have a similar challenge for this month, except that this time only two photos are involved.
This month’s CBBH Photo Challenge is LOOKING FORWARD, LOOKING BACK. All you have to do is take a photograph and then turn round and take another of what is behind you.
Not too difficult, is it?
This is the gorgeous natural beach area of Playa de Los Lances, near to the town of Tarifa on the Costa de la Luz. At exactly 36 degrees latitude, this is the southernmost point of the European continent, situated even further south than both of the African capital cities of Tunis and Algiers.
If you look carefully at the first photo, you can see the mountains of Africa on the horizon – while the photo below shows the much closer Spanish mountains.
I love these kind of walkways – especially with the shadows of the rails forming such a distinct pattern.
So, now it’s YOUR turn.
Don’t forget that the CBBH Photo Challenge is a little different from some other challenges, in two ways. First, it’s only once a month – giving you lots of time to consider your entry before the end of the calendar month. Second, and most important, this is a BLOG HOP (after all, it is the CBBH – Conejo Blanco Blog Hop, conejo blanco means white rabbit in Spanish), so DON’T FORGET that in your post you need to add links to two blogs that you have visited and commented on during the past month.
That way, when we visit each other, we can HOP OVER to your links, connect with others and share a little blog love around!
My Featured Blog Links for this month:
*** Have you ever thought about walking the Camino de Santiago? Maggie, the Trepidatious Traveller, only lives a hop, skip and a jump from me in La Axarquía, and yesterday she flew to Lisbon in Portugal to begin the Camino Portuguese. Last year, Maggie walked the 950 kms of Camino Frances from St Jean Pied de Port to Finisterre with her daughter over five week period, so at least she knows what she’s letting herself in for. You can follow Maggie’s daily posts (she sets off from Lisbon on May 2nd) or donate to the two charities she is raising money for (Cudeca, which is the Spanish cancer charity or Action for Animals). Buen camino Maggie!
*** Writer, Patricia Sands, says that everyone has a story and her’s involves Antibes in the south of France. Through her blog you can join The Bridge Club – Patricia’s acclaimed debut novel, or simply become immersed in her love of writing and escape to her beloved France. If you love writing, you’ll find lots of information about writing here, as well as having the chance of winning prizes that are regularly offered.
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Please HOP over and say HELLO to both of my featured links, and tell them Marianne sent you!
So that´s the CBBH Photo Challenge for May, everyone.
Remember, all you have to do is post your entry by the end of the month, tag your entry ‘CBBH Photo Challenge’, link back to this blog and, most importantly, don´t forget to add links to any two blogs that you´ve commented on during the past month, so that we can all HOP OVER and have a look.
Make sure you FOLLOW THIS BLOG so you don´t miss next month’s exciting challenge!
For more information on how the CBBH Photo Challenge works click here.
I hope everyone taking part enjoys the exposure the CBBH Photo Challenge offers to featured blogs and, who knows, you may end up finding a new favourite!
I´m looking forward to seeing your interpretations.
[CBBH logo Image credit: (cc) Mostly Dans]
East of Málaga 