Holiday snaps

We've returned home after a week in Spain, thoroughly enjoying the change of pace, beautiful warm, sunny weather and excellent food (especially the excellent food!)  

A glass of rioja, at a pavement bar as the sun goes down.  This was our favourite bar; the owner went out of his way to ensure all his patrons were looked after - we felt our custom was really appreciated.

Torremolinos was one of the original package tour destinations on the Costa del Sol, and seemed to acquire a bit of a reputation as a cheap and cheerful, booze-fuelled place in the sun (or maybe that's how I perceived it).  Just goes to show how wrong perceptions can be.  We stayed there for a couple of days late last year and thought what a lovely place it was, and quite deserving of a longer stay.  We weren't disappointed at all - it is everything we thought it was, and more.  Venture a few yards off the promenade and it becomes much less tourist, and far more traditional Spanish.

The promenades are wide and flat, ideal for strolling along or jogging . . .

. . . and they often have a separate lane for roller-blading and cycling, all of which are very popular.

The lifestyle in southern Spain is slow and easy-going and N and I feel very comfortable there.  It's very much an outdoors life, and that suits us fine.  We spent the week just strolling up and down the wide, flat (and clean) promenades, in shorts and T-shirts, and managed to notch up over 60 miles in the process.  

A jug of sangria was very welcome after a few miles along the prom!

Food, it seems, plays a big part in our trips to Spain (and Greece; very similar climate and lifestyle).  We always appreciate the fresh, local produce which seems to have such a superior taste to anything that comes wrapped in plastic on the supermarket shelves in this country.  And meals are meant to be enjoyed and taken time over, not rushed.  I think we had all our main meals outside, and that simply added to the pleasure and experience.

Seafood paella at one of the many 'chiringuitos' (beach cafe/restaurant/bars) that are all along the promenades.  Excellent food everywhere.

We have 'found' Spain at a time in our lives when we are able to really appreciate all that it has to offer in the way of lifestyle, food and yes, the weather does help, too!  It seems to us to be a slow and simple way of life there which suits us very well.  Walking so much, as we do, allows us to take in things at a leisurely pace and whilst we may not see all the 'touristy' attractions, and we don't spend a penny buying tacky souvenirs, we feel we probably gain much more by taking things at a 'Spanish pace'.