Tag Archives: weekly image of life

One Trip EVERY Month Challenge: February

Posted on by under Axarquía, Challenges, Further Afield, Places


Vejer de la Frontera, Spain

I’ve a couple of trips to tell you about this month.   My February began in the delightful Andalucían town of Vejer de la Frontera, on the Costa de la Luz, where I was a guest at Annie B’s Spanish Kitchen.  Annie not only showed me around her home-town, where we feasted on delicious tapas, but she also took me to the fish market at the nearby town of Barbate, where we bought the delicious fresh ingredients we would use for our cooking weekend.

 I’ll be telling you all about Annie B’s fabulous Spanish kitchen in a separate post, later.

Border crossing from Spain to Gibraltar

My second trip was somewhere that many British expats take regular visits to.

Gibraltar.

Just three hours along the coast, it’s a popular outing to stock up on British goods and groceries we can’t always get hold of in Spain.  You know how we English love our cups of tea, so a trip to British supermarket, Morrison’s, can be a bit of a treat.

I’ve been to Gibraltar many times before, but I’ve always driven through the border on previous occasions.  This time, I was on a coach rather than in a private car, and as there was a bit of a queue of vehicles, some of us decided to hop-off the coach and walk across into Gibraltar.

No sooner have you crossed into the British Overseas Territory, you are faced with the following sign:

Airfield crossing sign, Gibraltar

Because  Gibraltar is so small (just over 6.5 square kilometres), and within that area is the famous 426m high Rock, space is at a premium.  This means that the peninsula’s runway is bisected by its busiest road, Winston Churchill Avenue.  Each time an aircraft wants to land or depart, barriers come down to prevent motor vehicles from crossing the airfield.  

As you can imagine,  it causes quite a spectacle …. and a queue!

Walking across the runway in Gibraltar

So there you have it – my contribution to the One Trip EVERY Month Challenge this month is two for the price of one!

One Trip EVERY Month Logo

If you’d like to join me, here’s how:

  • Each month, visit somewhere and then write about your trip or describe it using photographs – whichever suits you best.
  • Don´t forget to title and tag your entry ’One Trip EVERY Month Challenge’, and link back to this page.
  • Display the Challenge logo on your post or in your sidebar.
  • HAVE FUN!

Are you ready to join me by taking ONE TRIP EVERY MONTH?  What are you waiting for?  

GO!

CBBH Photo Challenge: ACROSS THE ROOFTOPS

Posted on by under Axarquía, CBBH Photo Challenge, Photo challenges

I put off using this challenge because of the spelling of the plural of the word ROOF.

When I was a girl back in England, the plural of roof was rooves.  Nowadays, whilst still being correct, it seems that rooves is considered archaic, with the preference being for roofs.  Whatever next?!

Anyway, however you say it, or spell it in your part of the world, the CBBH Challenge for February is the plural of the word ROOF!  

Looking across the rooftops in the village of Comares, Spain

We have some very pretty, and sturdy rooves in Spain.  You might remember that this is the view from the top of the village of Comares, looking across the rooftops.

Rooftops of Frigiliana, Spain

And here is the view across the rooftops of Frigiliana, with a photo taken from Calle Alta, the highest street in the village.  It’s a fabulous view!

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!

Conejo Blanco BLOG HOP Photo Challenge

My Featured Blog Links for this month:

*** Dianne Gray is an Australian author and self-professed mosquito magnet, currently living in Queensland, Australia.  Last year Dianne moved a derelict  former Rugby Union club-house building to her farm and has transformed it.  I don’t know where she finds the energy!  OH … and if you ever wondered how cyclones or hurricanes are named – this is the woman to ask.

*** Every week I get messages from people (often in the US) asking about obtaining residency visas, taxes or healthcare.  Because I am English and originally lived in the UK, it was a relatively simple process for me to move to live in Spain, because I already lived within the European Union.  The Wagoner’s Abroad however, are an American family of four, currently living down the road, in the Spanish town of Almuñecar.  They’ve been through the process, and are in a much better position than I to tell you all about the lessons they’ve learned.

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 February, guys.

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]

PS:  DO LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU CALL MORE THAN ONE ROOF, WONT YOU?

CBBH Photo Challenge: WINDOWS

Posted on by under Axarquía, CBBH Photo Challenge, Photo challenges

Whether your first thought is of panes of glass or Operating Systems

– the CBBH Photo Challenge theme for October is WINDOWS!

Pretty window in Cómpeta, Spain

I found my first window as I wandered around the streets of the white village of Cómpeta.  You´ve heard me mention this village many times before, because it is the closest to my home in the nearby countryside.  Many of the very pretty village houses have plants outside their windows but inside the metal grills that are a common feature on houses in the area.

Stained glass window depicting St George slaying the dragon

This beautiful stained glass window is in St George´s Church, the oldest Anglican church in mainland Spain.   St George´s Church can be found within the grounds of the English Cemetery, about 300m east of the bullring in the city of Málaga.

Malaga´s Atarazanas market

Staying in the city of Málaga, here is another stained glass window, but this time it´s inside the Atarazanas Market.  Offering fresh, local produce at fantastic prices the Mercado Central de Atarazanas is most definitely worth a visit if you happen to find yourself in the city.  Joining the bustling crowds of discerning locals at the stalls offering an abundance of seafood, fruit, vegetables, meat, spices and dried fruits is a wonderful way to buy fresh, local produce.

The ivy-clad windows of the Parador in Ronda, Spain

Here are some of the ivy-clad windows and balconies of the Parador in Ronda, where we were fortunate enough to spend a few days last summer.   Paradors are state-run hotels, often located in castles, palaces, monasteries and extraordinary Spanish national heritage buildings. The Parador of Ronda is a luxury hotel in the former town hall, which sits on the edge of a gorge.

Derelict sugar factory in Maro, Spain

Do you remember when I visited the derelict San Joaquín sugar mill, on the old N340 coast road between Nerja and Maro?   Though the glass in this window is long gone, it was still interesting to peer through at the interior of the building, though unsafe to wander inside given the state of the roof.

Flying over the snowy mountains of northern Spain, heading south.

The window of an aeroplane gives a unique look at the world from a totally different perspective.  Whenever I fly, I always request of window seat because I love the spectacular views of the world from 35,000 feet!  Here you can see the snowy mountains of northern Spain, as I am flying south, back home from a visit to England.

Window and pretty balcony in Nerja, Spain

There is always a lovely display of flowers on this particular balcony in the nearby town of Nerja.  I always think it must be delightful to look out of this window and see all the different shades of pink and purple of the many flowers.  The patterned tiling underneath the balcony is very typical of the area, and I also like the way that the white building opposite and the deep blue sky is reflected in the panes of glass.

Ice on car windows in Spain

My final window might surprise you, as most people think that it´s always hot and sunny in Spain – all year round.   This photograph was taken a couple of years ago over the  Christmas holidays, whilst we were staying in one of the cave rooms at El Ventorro near to Alhama de Granada.  Being only about 50 kms from the city of Granada with the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains and ski resort,  we awoke one morning to find our car completely iced up.  We didn´t have long to wait though, because by the time we had eaten breakfast, the sun had come up and all the ice had disappeared!

This month´s CBBH Featured Blogs:

** Sally at Deliberately Delicious describes herself as a “Collector of sand dollars.  Adventurer.  Writer.  Weather girl.  Back up singer in a little black dress.  Dancer.  Poet.  Soccer mom.  Bond girl.  Teacher.  Diva.  Walker of beaches.  Seeker of truth and all things delicious in life.”

I have so enjoyed reading about Sally´s adventures this summer, sailing with her friend, Dan, on the western coast of Canada, near to her home in Victoria, British Columbia.  She writes with an easy-reading style, and has  many stunning photographs on her blog.  Deliberately Delicious has quickly become one of my favourite blogs to escape to.

** Whilst we are on the subject of delicious, Natalie at Cook Eat Live Vegetarian features amazing recipes and photographs that you just want to dive straight into!

Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, though fortunately now fully recovered, Natalie attributes her swift recovery to a combination of conventional and alternative treatments and to her following a whole foods, mainly plant based diet.

She is  a freelance food writer, photographer and stylist, specialising in delicious vegetarian and vegan cuisine that you wont be able to resist trying!

So that´s the CBBH Photo Challenge for October, folks!

Remember, all you have to do is post your entry by the end of the month,  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]