Country Life in Spain

Early morning sunshine

Margaret Merry — Fri, 24 May 2013 09:34:04 +0000

The rocky, north end of Las Negras beach

At this time of year early morning is the best time of day to take a walk along the shore of Las Negras.

Looking towards the Cerro Negro

The low sunshine filtered by early morning haze casts a soft light, the Mediterranean is calm and the temperature mild.

The south end of the beach

Very few people stir in the village before 10.00. Just one solitary figure was enjoying the first rays of sunshine at the south end of the beach.

Boats and digger

A digger was parked by the little boats in front of the cottages having just cleaned the beach before visitors arrive for what is expected to be a beautiful weekend.

Buying from the banks in Las Negras

Margaret Merry — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:37:01 +0000

Large villas for sale

The property market in Spain seems to be two paced at the moment. Firstly private owners are having great difficulty selling as the price they need to recoup their initial investment or clear their mortgage is more than the current market price. Individual, fairly unique properties in good locations are finding buyers though.

Terraced houses for sale

Secondly properties repossessed from developers by the banks are selling quickly but at very low prices and with good mortgage offers. There are even some of these in Las Negras.

Terraced house with private pool

In a small development close to the village centre and only a few minutes walk to the beach there are still some terraced houses available although the seven individual villas have been sold. These houses have three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a small garden, some with private pool and can be bought for under 200,000 euros. There are six left for sale.

Apartments with communal pool

Nearby there are a few new and spacious two bedroom apartments with private terrace, communal pool, underground parking and storeroom. Prices start at 70,000 euros.

Houses above the rambla

The best bargains at the moment are probably the individual villas above the rambla about 15 minutes walk from the village. These large, 280 square metre, detached and semi detached properties are in plots ranging from 500 square metres and are in a very sunny and sheltered location with mountain views.

House from the front

The houses have three bedroom, three bathrooms, very spacious living area and large basements. The gardens can be made quite secluded and there is space for private swimming pools.

From a garden

It is possible to obtain one of these well built properties for 160,000 euros.

Another view of the apartments for sale

We hold keys and have sales agreements in place so if you would like to view any of the above properties or want more information contact digmerry@gmail.com

Las Negras, 19 May

Margaret Merry — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:50:35 +0000

Las Negras from the cliffs

It has been an unsettled week here in Las Negras. Although there has been plenty of sunshine, strong northerly winds have been battering us, the fault of weather in the UK, according to the local forecasters, and temperatures have been unseasonably low at about 18C.

Along the beach

This morning, though, the wind dropped and we enjoyed our morning walk over the cliffs and along the beach.

Hoary stock

There’s an interesting maritime flowering plant – hoary stock – growing along the shore. The conical clusters of pretty pink flowers are reminiscent of lilac blossom.

Artist at work and photos on display

After taking the dogs home, we walked back to the village which was coming back to life at midday. A photographer was showing off his photos and a local artist was painting a watercolour beside the beach.

On the sea wall

Sunbathers were taking advantage of the shelter provided by old cottages to take some rays on the wall by the beach or ….

Boats on the sand

…. stretch out between the boats on the sand.

Tapa at Malafama

There are several good tapas bars in Las Negras and today we tried Malafama. Here, we were given with our first drink a delightful tapa consisting of mushroom, vegetables and pine nuts topped with a creamy goats’ cheese. The second tapa was equally delicious and was a mixture of spicy chorizo and sultanas. It was accompanied by a dish of sliced tomatoes dressed with seasoning and olive oil.

Las barcas by the boats

Most serious diners, though, were as usual enjoying fresh fish at Cacho’s ‘Las Barcas’ restaurant where they have just constructed a new summer terrace on the beach below.

Puente de Mayo

Margaret Merry — Sun, 05 May 2013 10:41:25 +0000

The rambla to the beach early morning

On Friday we moved from Las Totobias on the estepa of the Parque Natural down to Maria’s Farm in Las Negras. More about this later as we have been so busy but we thought we would share these photos taken yesterday in Las Negras.

Outside La Bodeguiya

This weekend is the Puente de Mayo, the first major holiday after Easter, and there have been many visitors to our village.

The beach at Las Negras

The beach and the fine weather are a major attraction but the ambience of the village with its friendly, laid back atmosphere is the main reason it is popular.

Flamenco singing outside Bar Tiritiritrán

Many of the bars had live entertainment. This group was performing outside Tiritirtrán …

Jamming on the beach

… and these guys were jamming on the beach.

Fish for lunch at Bar Manteca

Eating fresh fish or paella by the sea is another attraction. Bar Manteca and Las Barcas were very busy.

Evening on the beach

These kids were still on the beach at 19.30. A good day was had by all.

Springtime in Granada

Margaret Merry — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:14:33 +0000

San Basilio

Yesterday I went to Granada. Spring is the best time of year to visit this lovely city. The light and colours are at their best and the city is full of life with its tourist season at its height. As usual I started my walk around the city by heading down the Cuesta Genil from San Basilio church.

Book fair in the Cuesta Genil

There was a book fair on at the city and the Cuesta was lined with book stalls all the way down to the Puerta Real.

The Plaza Capilla

In the Plaza Capillo children were amusing themselves with colourful balloons.

Calle Reyes Catolicos

I love the colourful facades of the beautiful old buildings along Calle Reyes Catolicos.

Facades of Calle Reyes Catolicos

Although the stores are modern the classical buildings have been beautifully preserved.

Plaza Cuchilleros

The Plaza Cuchilleros also has some fine old buildings.

The Plaza Nueva

Then I reached the Plaza Nueva. Instead of the usual shot of Santa Ana Church I turned around and took this photo looking the other way. I think the young people moving around on the two wheeled vehicles are offering tours to the holidaymakers.

Snacking outside Santa Ana

Outside Santa Ana Church these girls were enjoying a food break and concentrating very much on the task in hand rather than their beautiful surroundings.

Carretera del Darro

As usual tourists were strolling along the Carretera del Darro.

Busking in Granada

This violinist was among many street entertainers busking for a little money.

Paseo Padre Manjon

The Paseo Padre Manjon was full of life and colour too.

Pink blossom

Particularly pretty were the trees with the deep pink blossom but I am not sure of their name.

Arabic shops

Back towards the centre I always like to walk down this street which is lined with Arabic shops and tea rooms.

Lit by lanterns

The insides are often illuminated by the colourful lanterns they have for sale.

Painting in the square

Finally at 1400 I reached the Plaza Bib Rambla when it had started to cloud over. This artist had obviously started his work earlier in the day when the sky was a clear blue.

Along the rambla

Margaret Merry — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 17:16:54 +0000

The rambla

It now feels that summer is on its way and along the rambla in Las Negras this morning we noticed the change in the nature.

Limonium

Many of the wild spring flowers have withered or are past their best but clumps of blue limonium are now in flower.

Thistle

So are the striking flowers of the thistles.

cochineal beetle on brassicas

There are now many more insects around. Most are too small and flighty to photograph but I managed to get this one of a cochineal beetle on brassicas. Not difficult as there were so many of them.

Mallow Skipper

Little butterflies were flitting around and once again almost impossible to photograph but this mallow skipper did settle on the ground for a moment.

Crested lark

Earlier in the week I took this photo of a crested lark near our home. They are so many of them here that the house is called ‘Las Totobias’, which is Spanish for ‘The Larks’.

San Miguel de Cabo de Gata and La Iglesia de las Salinas

Margaret Merry — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:21:53 +0000

Boats at San Miguel

This morning we drove to the western edge of the Parque Natural to look at the fishing boats and shacks at San Miguel and the salt flats. We were hoping to find some interesting compositions for paintings and photos.

Fishermen’s shacks

San Miguel was very colourful as usual with the boats on the beach and the sheds, nets and floats behind.

Boats on the beach with San Miguel behind

Digby has posted some photos, which he has enhanced, on http://coloursofspain.wordpress.com and here are some more.

Mending nets

There were not many people around. Just this solitary fishermen mending his nets.

Boats and the church

Then we went on to the church, La Iglesia de Las Salinas, which always makes a nice photo with the boats on the beach in the foreground.

Cottages behind the beach

More cottages and sheds

Across the road by the salt flats is a group of cottages with more ramshackle, weathered sheds and old boats.

La Iglesia de las Salinas

The wasteland in front of the church was carpeted with the pink flowers of silene.

Mesembryanthemum

We also saw clumps of mesembryanthemum in flower.

Legacy of the Wild West

Margaret Merry — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:39:14 +0000

Remains of an old film set

The landscape around Tabernas has been used since the 1960s as the setting for many western films. The last being an episode of Dr. Who filmed last year. Many of the old film sets have been preserved as tourist attractions but on the way back from the town this afternoon we stopped to explore a derelict site.

Dereliction

A few stone walls and wooden buildings of the makeshift wild west town survive.

A millstone and was the building the saloon?

Dead trees and stone walls

Trees planted at the time of the filming have been neglected and died adding to the eerie atmosphere.

Looking towards Fort Bravo

In the distance we could see one of the sets which is now a tourist attraction “Fort Bravo”
Wild flowers are growing in abundance here including this pink Limonium.

Typical landscape of Tabernas

Further along the road we stopped to photograph this landscape which typifies the badlands of Tabernas.

El Castillo de Tabernas

Margaret Merry — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:03:03 +0000

Tabernas

After we left the market there this morning we walked up the hill to the old castle. Looking back there are good views of the town and church.

Cat at a window

We passed this cat looking out at us from behind the rejas. An unusual pose for a cat and it was clearly a pet because it had a collar with bells.

Looking up to the entrance of the castle

Parts of the old castle have been restored like the entrance towers and arch.

Original tower of the castle

The castle was built by the Moors in the 11th Century.

The castle overlooks the valley below

It had a strategic position guarding the valley below Tabernas which was the main route between the old Moorish kingdoms of Murcia and Granada.

Old walls and a restored part

During the 16th Century, after the reconquist, it became a Christian stronghold against uprisings by Moriscos. Most of the castle is in ruin but the original walls still standing create a feeling for those centuries past.

Back down to town

Back down to Tabernas for lunch and then on to the wild west, our next post.

Market day in Tabernas

Margaret Merry — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:22:17 +0000

Tabernas

Today we visited the town of Tabernas in the desert of Almeria. We did not know what to expect as we had not visited the town before. The main attractions for visitors to this part of Almeria are the old wild west film sets in the desert.

Tabernas market

We were pleasantly surprised to discover it was market day.
The square by the church and the narrow streets off were packed with colourful stalls.

Fruit and veg stall

It was one of the best town markets we have seen. There were stalls selling, fruit and veg, spices, flowers, plants, clothes, shoes and much else.

Chatting in the square

The town was bustling and we crept away to walk up to the castle, the subject of our next blog.

Avenida de Andalucia, Tabernas

We returned to the town to explore more of the streets as we liked the old buildings.
There is quite a contrast between buildings in decay and others beautifully restored.

Tapas at Hostal El Puente

After many years in Spain we have a nose for a good tapas and sniffed out the Hostal El Puente. We were not disappointed. The photo shows lomo and anchovy served on what seemed like pitta bread and before we were given an excellent paella tapa and their speciality which is slices of baked potato on the plancha with herbs and sauces.
You will find more photos on http://coloursofspain.wordpress.com