CBBH Photo Challenge: STREET ART

Posted on January 1, 2014 by Marianne under Axarquía, CBBH Photo Challenge

In November, I featured some of the fabulous urban street art in the Soho district of Málaga – which proved to be a very popular post!

Since then, more murals have been commissioned by the city, including these two on the facade of the Colegio García Lorca. The one the left is by British street artist D*Face whilst the other, (Peace and Liberty) comes from American contemporary street artist, Shepard Fairey (aka OBEY).

There’s great street art in many cities around the world, so please share some with us in this month’s CBBH Photo Challenge: STREET ART.

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, meaning 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:

Casa Az provides an online scrapbook of daily events in the life the Queen of Tapas! Canadian by birth, Shawn is a cancer survivor now living with her little friends in the Andalucían capital of Seville, where she conducts tapas tours for visitors to the city.

Caroline Angus Baker is a self-professed Duende-loving Kiwi novelist, commentator on modern and historical Spain and Spanish Civil War nerd, full of bullfighting praise. She’s had a busy 2013, too!

I’d love to you pop along and say HOLA to both of these ladies. Tell them Marianne sent you!

So that´s the CBBH Photo Challenge for January, 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]

Spain’s Christmas Lottery: El Gordo

Posted on December 21, 2013 by Marianne under Laws and Customs

Image credit: alvy (Flickr CC)

Spain as a nation is lottery mad!

It is not uncommon to see a long queue of people outside a state-run lottery kiosk, where various forms of lottery ticket can be purchased. You may even find yourself approached in the street or in bars by people selling tickets.

But it’s at Christmas that their enthusiasm really does go overboard.

It was estimated last year that 98% of all Spanish adults participated in El Gordo (literal translation “The Fat One”), meaning that the Spanish Christmas lottery has the biggest prize pool of any lottery in the world, last year totaling over two and a half billion euros!

Tickets are very expensive, around €200 each, but you don’t have to buy a whole ticket. Most tickets are sold in decimos, or tenths, and often groups of neighbours or families will club together to buy a ticket between them. This type of communal gambling can mean that whole villages or groups of workers can suddenly become very wealthy.

El Gordo is drawn only once a year, on December 22nd, with the process taking in excess of four hours.

The draw procedure has followed exactly the same form for over 100 years, with the pupils of the San Ildefonso school (formerly reserved for orphans of public servants) drawing the numbers and corresponding prizes, and singing the results aloud in front of the public. Believe it or not, people sit by their televisions or radios for much of the day, watching or listening to the live broadcast, eagerly awaiting the results.

In the video, the boy is singing “one thousand euros“, which is the prize for that particular number drawn – and the girl sings the winning numbers which will each have that prize of one thousand euros.

To be honest, it’s not the most riveting TV show …. unless they happen to draw your number, of course!

The chances of winning a prize in the Spanish Christmas lottery are around 1:6, though not every one wins a fortune. Those who manage to win back their initial stake tend to spend it by buying a ticket for El Niño, the second largest draw of the year, which takes place on January 6th.

Buena suerte!

Do you ever buy lottery tickets and, more importantly, have you ever won?

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

A Celebration of Fried Breadcrumbs: Migas Festival in Torrox pueblo

Fresh Figs Stuffed with Goat´s Cheese and wrapped in Smoked Bacon

Cost of Living in Spain: August 2013

Travel Theme: Still

Posted on December 14, 2013 by Marianne under Photo challenges

“There is no standing still because time is moving forward.” ~ Greg Lake

I photographed this little gecko from inside a window. Unusual angle, isn’t it? I love how his little toes are sticking to the surface of the glass to give him grip.

He seemed like the perfect subject for this week’s Travel Theme: Still

Related articles:

A Prayer in Playa del Carmen

Cee’s Photography

Dawn over the water

How to get three-times the benefit from your log fire

Posted on November 27, 2013 by Marianne under Axarquía

Contrary to popular belief – YES, it does get cold here in sunny Spain in winter!

Don’t get me wrong – even in the depths of February we usually have sunny days with blue skies, but as soon as the sun begins to drop behind the nearest hillside, it’s time to change into jeans and thick socks ready for the cold evenings and nights. By European standards, the temperature doesn’t drop very low (around 6 Celsius) – after all, that’s one of the main reasons we moved here from England’s perishing winters, but it surely feels cold.

Houses around here are built to keep out the warmth of the sun during the long, hot summer months rather than for keeping warm in winter. Village houses are built close together (causing shade), and with small windows. More modern houses, like ours. might have patio doors and larger windows, with insulation in the walls – but we still have tiled floors rather than carpeted ones and inadequate heating (by UK standards).

Fortunately, on our land we have 47 almond trees, which come in handy when pruning time comes around during the autumn months. Branches here and there are selected for firewood – after which I send my hubby out with the saw.

Here cometh the first benefit!

On another day, the branches need chopping into smaller logs to fit in the fireplace, before being stacked in a dry place.

Thus comes the second benefit of the log fire – and still without a match being lit. (Well, my hubby certainly always leaves me in no doubt how warm he gets whilst sawing, chopping and stacking!)

Later follows the third, warming benefit ….. and the bit I like best – the log fire!

See how much better warming value we get, rather than telephoning a local supplier for yet another load of logs to be delivered.

WHAT???

Do you have a log fire and do you get such good value from yours?

Other posts you might enjoy:

The Green, Green Vegetables of Home

East of Málaga: The Weather in Winter

Chickpea and chorizo soup with smoky paprika bread

Following in the footsteps around Comares

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Marianne under Axarquía

Being one of the highest white villages (pueblos blancos) in Andalucía at 739 metres above sea level, the village of Comares can be seen for miles around, perched high on its cliff-top position, keeping a watchful eye over the surrounding countryside.

As you wind your way up the road towards Comares, the village keeps appearing and disappearing from view, tantalisingly getting closer and closer with every kilometre – until finally you reach the “Welcome to Comares” sign.

You’re almost there!

Once you reach the main square (Plaza del Balcón) you will see a series of beautiful tiled murals depicting the history of Comares and, it’s from here that you can follow a circular walk around the village marked by ceramic footsteps set into the stone paving.

The footsteps lead to the main historic sites of Comares and to spectacular viewing points. The walking route takes around an hour, and is steep in places but, if you don´t want to walk, you could always take a donkey taxi (burro taxi) ride around the village!

As you wander around the narrow streets you may find yourself invited into the home of one of the Spanish ladies who sell local produce such as wine, almonds, avocados, raisins, olives or honey. Some of them are very persistent sales-women!

One of the interesting places the ceramic footprints lead you to is the Plaza de los Verdiales, where there is a beautiful tiled mural, plaque and statue to commemorate the Panda de Verdiales – a band of local men playing lively music.

The village name Comares originates from the Arab word for castle – Qumarix. The first fortress was built here by the Romans, but the history of the village is pre-Roman with the main traces of occupation being Arabic.

When the Moors invaded Comares they made full use of its excellent location and developed the town into one of the areas principle defensive strongholds.

Comares is known with good cause as the “Balcony of La Axarquía”.

One of the highest points of the village is the cemetery (cementerio municipal), from where there are magnificent views over the surrounding countryside. It´s well worth a look!

Finally, if the steep streets have taken their toll, you could always stop and have lunch or a cool drink in the beautiful courtyard of El Molino de los Abuelos in the main square.

To really enjoy the views that Comares has to offer, make sure to go on a clear day. Summer skies are often hazy, so an autumn or winter day is probably best for a visit – though if you´ve been to Comares once, you´ll want to go back again!

You can read more about the village of Comares, HERE.

How to get there:

Follow the A7/E15 autovía, east of Málaga, to km 272 and take the exit signposted for the A356 towards Vélez-Málaga. Stay on the A356, bypassing the town and, after a few kilometres, turn left at the junction signed towards El Trapiche. You’ll see the first sign-post for Comares as you approach that turn off – then just follow the signs – though, be warned, there aren´t many!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6xFMlMxTXo

Other articles you might enjoy:

Apocalyptic skies over southern Spain

Málaga’s Urban Street Art

Fresh Figs Stuffed with Goat´s Cheese and wrapped in Smoked Bacon