La Noche de San Juan: Families, fires and football!

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

Last night, we joined the beach party at Torre del Mar to celebrate the summer solstice, but first, there was the small matter of a football match – Spain were playing France in the quarter finals of Euro 2012!

A huge TV screen had been erected on the stage where the live music would be performed later in the evening, and everyone was vying for the best position to see the match. I´m sure you can imagine the atmosphere when the goals were scored and Spain won their place in the semi-finals!

In the meantime, there was much work to be done. Long lines of wood were being set alight in preparation for the hundreds of kilos of sardines that were to be barbecued and given out free, later. A team of guys were sharpening bamboo skewers and threading them with sardines ready to be cooked.

La noche de San Juan is the only time of the year when bonfires and camping are allowed on the beach, so many people take advantage, bringing their own BBQs and tents to spend the whole night partying, dancing and drinking with their friends. It´s a lovely atmosphere with people of all ages joining in the fun, including groups of old ladies and children. As with all celebrations here in Spain, whole families enjoy the festivities together, without any threat of drunken yobbos spoiling the fun.

La noche de San Juan, in honour of St John the Baptist, is not a religious gathering. It is about change – night into day, fire and water, with many cleansing rituals associated with it. According to tradition, if you jump over a bonfire on this night, and rush into the sea at midnight, your body and soul will will be cleansed and purified. What it´s really all about is families and friends getting together and eating, drinking and just having a great time!

Think Isle of White festival without the mud! La Noche de San Juan is a Midsummer Night´s Dream – Spanish style!

Whilst you´re here, you might also like to have a look at:

La Noche de San Juan: Beaches and Bonfires

La Fiesta de Los Reyes: Celebrating Three Kings Day

A Celebration of Fried Breadcrumbs: The 30th Annual Migas Festival

Photographs I love …. and why! [Part 11]

Posted on June 2, 2012 by Marianne under Photographs I love, Places

This is just one of a series of photos I have taken, and will share with you over time, capturing the essence of living east of Málaga. Each one, in it’s own unique way, reminds me of why I love living in southern Spain, and in particular the Axarquía.

This is a view of La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (Church of Our Lady of the Assumption) in the central village square of Cómpeta, taken from between two of the nearby white-washed houses. Built in 1505, the church´s golden dome can be seen for miles around, dominating the village.

To the right of the magnificent tower, is El Paseo de las Tradiciones (The Walk of the Traditions), completed in 2009 on the site of the old municipal market.

You can also see two of the many white umbrellas offering a shady place to eat or drink at one of the cafes in Plaza Almijara, whilst being overseen by some of the old men of the village from their seated position overlooking the square.

You might also enjoy:

Other photographs I love … and why!

A flowering snapshot of a January day

Féliz Navidad

The Alhambra Palace, Granada

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Marianne under Places

Within Andalucía, our neighbouring province is Granada, meaning that we only live about a 90 minute drive from Granada, one of Spain’s most beautiful cities. Granada offers great architecture, wonderful views of the Sierra Nevada mountains and a lively cosmopolitan atmosphere. The city is well worth of a few days of anyone´s time.

What I want to tell you about in this post, is the amazing Alhambra Palace, constructed during the mid 14th century by the Moorish rulers of the Emirate of Granada in al-Andalus, and occupying the top of the hill of the Assabica, on the south-eastern border of the city of Granada.

After being allowed to fall into disrepair for centuries, the Alhambra was “re-discovered” in the 19th century by European scholars and travellers, when restorations commenced. It is now one of Spain’s major tourist attractions, exhibiting the country’s most significant and well known Islamic architecture, together with 16th-century and later Christian building and garden interventions. As you might expect, the Alhambra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

During our visit last summer, we opted for early morning entry into the Alhambra, to escape the fierce heat of the coming day, so it made sense to start off outside in the beautiful Generalife Gardens (the name is pronounced heneraliffi, and definitely not general life!)

The decorations within the palaces typify the remains of Moorish dominion within Spain, which ushered in the last great period of Andalusian art in Granada. Take a look at the stunning Islamic arches in the photos.

The Alhambra resembles many medieval Christian strongholds in its threefold arrangement as a castle, a palace and a residential annex for subordinates, with the alcazaba being its oldest part. Only the massive outer walls, towers and ramparts are left. We climbed the watchtower of the Alcazaba, the Torre de la Vela, 25 m (85 ft) high, for magnificent views over the city, including the old fortified walls of the city of Granada.

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

Venturing further afield: A long weekend in Zaragoza

The Buddhist Stupa of the Eastern Costa del Sol

A Weekend Away: Santiago de Compostela

Live webcams around La Axarquía

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Marianne under Places

It´s always great to have an up-to-the-minute view of what´s happening here, east of Málaga.

Just click on the link to view…..

Lake Viñuela

Torrox

Nerja – Capistrano

Nerja – Burriana Beach

Do you know of any other webcams that readers can link to? Please share them in the comments section….thanks!

Let’s talk about tapas!

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Marianne under Recipes, Slice of Life

First of all, what are tapas?

It is thought that originally in the wine-making regions of Andalucia una tapa (the word “tapar” in Spanish means“to cover”), in the form of a small plate or lid was placed over glasses of wine to keep fruit flies away. Titbits of food were then placed on the dish to be eaten with the wine. How I so love the Spanish that it is unacceptable that a fly ends up in your drink, but it´s fine if it lands on the accompanying snack!

Other stories suggest that tapas were invented by a bar owner in Seville, who decided to put a cover (tapa) over his guests´ glasses of wine, using a slice of bread to keep out flies. He later put a piece of ham or cheese on top, so that his customers could have a bite to eat with their drink.

Either way, the idea spread, so that nowadays the types of food served as tapas are limitless. Most Spaniards don´t drink alcohol without a tapa and many bars provide them free of charge.

The Spanish equivalent of “fast food” is usually displayed in refrigerated glass units on the bar and served in small terracotta glazed dishes. Some examples of the type of tapas normally available include gambas (whole cooked prawns in their shells), boquerones (fresh anchovies in olive oil, vinegar and garlic), chorizo (spicy Spanish sausage), albondigas (meatball…often in a creamy almond sauce), queso (cheese…often manchego), habas con jamon (broad beans with ham), ensalada rusa (Russian salad) or just a few olives.

Your choice of tapas is usually accompanied by a small piece of crusty bread which helps to counteract the adverse effects of the alcohol through drinking on an empty stomach.

In many establishments, if you stand at the bar along with the locals you will be given one tapa free with each drink you buy. That’s right …. free food!

Should you choose to sit away from the bar, you can pay for a tapas or two (usually for one euro or less in this part of Spain), or opt for a larger serving known as a ración (ration) or medio ración (half ration). This is a great way to eat a variety of dishes, and a pretty sociable activity as groups generally tend to share their dishes.

The food is generally very good, even in remote villages around the Axarquia.

Where is your favourite tapas bar? Which tapa do you choose, time and time again?