USVI-On-Line

Don’t know if you still are interested hearing about our vacations in Spain, but here is a sort of a TR from our latest visit there.

JULY 2010

This year it’s 30 years since we started our Spanish adventure. How the time run. Cannot really understand it. But we often talk about the lot of experiences, we have had in Spain during the years. All the different people we have met there, and the many friends we have got. Certainly an important part of our lives, which we are grateful to have had the possibility to experience.

If some of you are interested in reading more about how the adventure started etc.. you can find it here:

http://virgin-islands-on-line.com/forum ... ight=spain

http://virgin-islands-on-line.com/forum ... ight=spain

http://virgin-islands-on-line.com/forum ... ight=spain

http://virgin-islands-on-line.com/forum ... ight=spain

Shortly before we left, we had the bad news that we for the first time in 21 year have had a break in.
Thieves had broken up the lock to our garage, had stolen our water pump, some of hubby’s tools and a new trimmer. How annoying! Luckily a good friend was able to arrange that we got a new water pump before we arrived. Cannot have water without a water pump.

ARRIVAL

As usual we used the first days to “move in” and to clean, repair and paint some of the walls in the house. The winter has been bad in Spain, so there was enough to do. Hubby was very frustrated, because more tools than expected were stolen. That his tools were gone was absolutely the worst about the robbery. Hubby without his tools is like a woman without any make up!

After 3 days the house and the “garden” was nice. No much change from further years, still a very simple house, but we like it so.

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VISITORS- INVITED!

A couple of our good friends were visiting us for a week. Normally we don’t invite friends to live in the house, because it’s a small house, and we don’t think, it has much to offer (only the good view from the terrace and a good vibe). They knew that, and it became a great week. They really enjoyed being in Spain. We were at the beach, up in the mountains, shopped in the supermarket admiring the wide range of fresh fish, fruit, vegetables etc. We dined on different restaurants – great food and cheap!- and of course we also enjoyed it on the terrace. Every evening we started with a Gin and Tonic – just the best in a hot summer- and often we ended the night with an “half and half”-
a mix with a special Spanish liqueur with the name 43 and a brandy. So good.



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They also became fans of our favourite drink, which we have both for meals and as a “restorative”
during the day. It’s red wine mixed with a special water with fizz in, Gaseosa , and with ice and lemon.

One thing we also enjoyed, was to take a night swim in our neighbours pool. They were back in England and had told other neighbours that we were welcome to use their pool and garden. So we just got a key and could come and go as we like. Luxury!


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GRANADA

Our friends wanted to visit Granada and see Alhambra, so even though we have been there twice we
made a day trip up there. Here you can read about the place:

http://www.alhambradegranada.org/en/inf ... uction.asp

I had reserved the tickets from home, which meant that we avoided standing in a long row to buy tickets. The ticket is only giving you access at a certain time, so the officials are able to control how many people there are in the building. We had some time left, before it was our turn, so we hired a taxi to bring us to Albaucin, the old Granada. It was very, very hot in Granada, but we enjoyed the view to Alhambra and with the snow-covered Sierra Nevada mountains in the background. It should be one of the most romantic places in the world to see a sunset (Bill Clinton has been there together with Hillary to show her), but it was also beautiful in the daylight.

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Before we returned to Alhambra we had a beer and a tapas in a bar with this special guy, where they tapped the beer from.

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Our visit in Alhambra started in Generalife, the summer residence for the sultan.

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Later on we went to the palaces. Fantastic to see what they were able to do for so many years ago.
I would wish that I could go back in time and see what was going on, when the palace was occupied. It’s also interesting to think of that it was in this palace Columbus met the Spanish queen and king, Isabella and Ferdinand and had their support to try to find a new sea rout to India. Instead he found America.

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There were so many special details, and we could not take a photo of all.
And I can tell- we were terrible tired- missed nearly the forces to see it all. The heat didn’t help. One day in Granada isn’t enough. You should have at least two days. But what I missed was to see the most beautiful room in the palace the Lion room “el patio de los leones”. It’s a big room with 12
stone lions. Unfortunately the room was under renovation.

When we came back to the coast about 8 AM, we decided to go to the beach, asked for Paella and took a bath in the sea, while the food was prepared. A nice way to end an eventful day.



THE BEACH

We visited different beaches during the trip, but we have a favourite beach mostly because of the restaurant. The same family has owned it at least 25 years. First it was the father, who made the grilled sardines, but now it’s one of the sons. We meet the same waiters there from year to year and the food is always fresh and good. It’s not the cheapest place, but not expensive either. We like the “spirit” there.


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After such a dinner we love to relax/sleep on our neat sheet.


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THE WORLDS CHAMPIONSHIP IN FOOTBALL

We had an extra experience because some footballgames, where Spain participated, were taking place, when we were there. So off we went to the promenade at the coast, where especially one restaurant, owned of football enthusiasts, are a meeting place for football fans. We have been there before and as usual it was funny to see the reaction from people. And of course it was fun to be there the night Spain won the championship. All people we met were happy and smiled celebrating the victory, and there was a terrible noise of cars driving round and round tooting the whole night.


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VELEZ MALAGA

We always have to go to a bigger town nearby to buy the documents we use, when we pay our tax in Spain- just a small amount have to be paid. This year we decided to see some of the historical places in the town, and among other places we visited an old church, where the religious statues, which are used in the Easter processions, are kept. It was very impressing to see the church, they also had a room, where a video was running, and you could experience the processions and see the statues being carried through the town of people in special clothes. We will probably go to see the processions in Velez Malaga next time we are in Spain in Easter. We have seen the processions in other towns. The one in Malaga is very big, and it was an experience you never forget. But you have to drive for about an hour to come there, and it’s difficult to find a parking place in Malaga. But there were many beautiful things in Velez Malaga too and many different dressed groups.



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WHAT DID WE ELSE EXPERIENCE

We were in Spain in 3 weeks, and the time was running too fast.

One night we had our “ meatball party”, which we know our friends in Spain always enjoy.
We serve marinated herrings, some in curry, next course is “grandma’s meatballs”, think I have told the story before, but here it is: Meatballs are a common Danish dish, but when we were newly married, hubby always criticized my way to make meatballs- not so good as his grandma’s. So one day I said- then you can make meatballs yourselves- and he have done it all the years since. I never make them. But I have to say, they are very good, and our friends like them (this year our guests were Scottish, English and Norwiegan). To the meatballs we have potatoes and sauce béarnaise. The sauce is ready-made. I bring in a carton from home. Especially the English love the sauce, and often ask about the recipe, but I always tell that it’s a secret! We had a fun evening, perhaps also because we drink a lot of beer and aquavit/snaps!

Also there was still work to do. We decided to have a chain across the road leading to our house, so it’s not possible for a car to pass by. A thief can of course always carry the stolen things to his car, but it will take longer time, with the risk to be discovered. I must say that I hate to have a chain across the road, it’s not natural, but I also hate break-ins, so I had to accept.


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We also visited some of our friends from home. They have rented an impressing house in Marbella.


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We had a nice day together with them and were invited to stay for the night. But hubby could not be without tools, so after the visit we were in a big store in Malaga to buy the most necessary.


We also had dinner in a nice restaurant in one of he old houses in the town and with a pretty view


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I had lamb. Tasted good, but the restaurant was a little expensive compared to what we got.



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And before we left. Working again “packing the house down” we put all our things in boxes to prevent dust etc.


But a nice vacation as usual. Looking forward to come next year.



GREETINGS FROM “FRENTE A LA VISTA” IN SPAIN


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Linne

I love your reports! You seem to truly enjoy every moment! Thanks

Hi Linne...thanks for sharing about your trip. I enjoy reading it and seeing the pictures. I laugh at neat sheet on the beach!

I love the bar/counter area at the house in Spain. Something so welcoming and cozy about it.

Thanks again!

I just love reading your Spain reports, Linne! Thanks for sharing.

Linne - absolutely wonderful TR. The fish on the stick and the food following that had my mouth watering!!

Sorry about the robbery and having to put in the chain. It isn't right that people steal.

Your house is looking wonderful and I hope you all enjoy it for many years to come!

I always love reading your reports and seeing your photos, Linne. Your house is so cute! I love that style.

The photo of the prawn dish looks amazing! I want some of those.

your Spanish trip reports are magical. Reading them makes me want to be there.

Your food pictures? YUM! Especially the grilled fish and squid.

Thanks so much for sharing your trip with us Linne! I love seeing the photos of Spain and your charming home there. So sorry about the robbery.

hiccup sorry!

hiccup

Linne,
I never tire of reading your reports. This one really interested me because I have some of those same pictures that I took in Granada at Alhambra. I was in awe at the beauty of the place. Being a former history teacher standing on the floor that Columbus stood on really impressed me. I kept thinking of Ferdinand and Isabella giving him his leave to explore.
Your pictures of you home are beautiful, to say nothing of the food pictures. Those sardines looked great.
It's been a long time since we have seen pictures of your newly constructed vacation home. Please send some to us. I'm sure others would like to see the finished product.

Linne,
I so enjoyed your pictures. You own a piece of paradise with amazing views and have the added benefit of good neighbors with a great pool!

I noticed the "orbs" in the ceiling photo of the castle. Lots of spirits there.

Thank you for sharing!

Terry

I love your house! It's adorable!

Fine that you still are interested in our adventures in Spain. Thank you for the nice words.

silverheels wrote:Linne,
I never tire of reading your reports. This one really interested me because I have some of those same pictures that I took in Granada at Alhambra. I was in awe at the beauty of the place. Being a former history teacher standing on the floor that Columbus stood on really impressed me. I kept thinking of Ferdinand and Isabella giving him his leave to explore.
Your pictures of you home are beautiful, to say nothing of the food pictures. Those sardines looked great.
It's been a long time since we have seen pictures of your newly constructed vacation home. Please send some to us. I'm sure others would like to see the finished product.

Yes, that about Columbus I also find such a interesting story, so I understand your fascination being a former history teacher.


Our new vacation home isn't quite finished yet, but I would like to show you some pictures later, and tell about it. We love this place too.

Linne

Great job maybe I will make it to Spain next year