TRIP THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS TO RONDA

Left Marbella today and off in the direction of Ronda.  There's a heatwave hitting Spain and the temps today are over 38 degrees.  I decided to not go to Sevilla after all, I've long wanted to go there but just don't do well trying to walk and sight see in the heat so after this will head steadily north.
The road from Algeciras to Ronda is spectacular with several of those white villages hanging on to the hillside like Caseras and Gaicin

Ronda is amazing built as it is on a gorge with the most amazing bridge, walks and gulleys.  A very attractive town with many little alleys and steps to explore.  It is full of fun looking restaurants and bars.

See how deep it is in next pic

Marbella Family Celebrations

My nephew Brendan, his wife Noele and their two lovely girls live in Marbella most of the year and this week there were two events hosted by them.  One on St John's Eve (St Juan) where the Spaniards light the traditional bonfires on the beach and the other a celebration of Bren's 50th birthday.

St. John's Eve

The Bonfire on the beach

 Many of the family came over from Ireland.
They live in a lovely area beside the beach with huge lovely swimming pools and exotic plants.  Very little contact with the very touristy scene in the centre of town.

Amy left and Laura right

Two lovely girls

Not a good pic but all the family together

GRANADA

Going to Granada for most people means visiting the majestic moorish triumph of the Alhambra and General Life.  I haven't been there for almost 40 years so of course I was no exception.  Actually it was all booked out on line so I was pleased to manage to get a ticket via the allotment to the campsite.

At this time of year it is very hot and so I was knackered by the time I'd visited all of it.  The grounds are so extensive.  It was great to get on the "hop on/off little train" that runs via all those tiny streets where it barely squeezes by.

VALENCIA

I went in to Valencia by bus.  What marvellous architecture on the way.  I was meeting David my friend from Chiang Mai who moved here two years ago and feels at home and happy with his choice.
He brought me over to the Silk Museum and the wonderful Mercado

The ceiling of the Silk Museum

The great market

CAMP GROUNDS

Because I'm on the road for months I try to stay at small, less expensive camp grounds or often I free camp if there's any other motor homes nearby.  I don't ever stay alone just in case of a problem.  It's not hard to find many of those free places in Italy and France and they're well signposted.  Most cities have them close to a bus line in to the city so that makes it unnecessary to drive in crowded streets and often narrow ones.
Spain has very few of those free parking places set up for motor home use.  During the low season using an ACSI card gives very cheap rates but now the high season is almost here and I'll be heading north to cooler weather but to areas that have almost no camp sites.  It will be an experience how that will work out.  Here's a few of the places I stayed at lately and the views from them.
Below are a few views of Las Palmeras, Crevillente near Alicante

lovely foliage and plants

The big pool

happy in Brandy



This one is in Granada.  I love the entrance to the pool at Reina Isabel.

IMPRESSIONS OF SPAIN

I'm now over a month wandering around Spain and my initial impression was written about the Basque people and areas.  I found them so friendly and kind with lots of smiles.
Since then the road to the south and along the Costa del Sol has not shown the  other Spaniards to be very different (although they are in appearance)  they are also ready to try to understand and to help.  Of course it isn't always easy to meet the Spanish as most camp sites are full of people from other countries and the south of the country is over run with tourists.  There are such beautiful little villages  like Los Negros below.  They are worlds apart from places like Malaga and Torremolinos.
I was in Roquetas del Mar a really nice town and loads of visitors but almost all were Spanish.  Lovely beaches, showers, bicycle paths, walking trails etc.

The roads are great and one of the biggest surprises for me is how little traffic there is even in cities.  I've frequently been the only car on the road and I don't use toll roads.

  It's easy to change lanes, rare to have a car close behind, no horns beeping and overall drivers are very courteous.  I didn't come across much traffic until I reached Malaga.











 I was at a party in Marbella this week and the rental properties are just ideal for a good holiday.  Several huge swimming pools and fountains around the complexes and right beside a lovely beach.  Perfect for families even though they would not be meeting many Spaniards there.

complex swimming pool

great party, I think there was one Spanish lady there

The prices of most things are much less than Ireland especially for food, coffee and wine.  A 3 course menu is often around 9 euros with water, wine or coffee.  It's clear we have way too much tax on alcohol.

A Lovely Stay at Ruth and Jose's great old house and a trip together.

I didn't drive far from San Sabastian.  Ruth and Jose live in the mountains between Bilbao and Victoria so very much in Basque land.  The house was in Jose's family and it is really lovely.

Welcome drinks in the garden with good friend Johannes

 Like all old houses there's a lot of conservation needed for the wonderful beams and floors.  This is a wall in "my" bedroom, decorated by Ruth.  I loved it.

  I had a really lovely stay and then we all decided to head south as rain was definitely in the forecast as it often is in this region.  We had planned to see Rioja and visit wineries but it was just pouring down so we compromised and just stopped for a tasting with cheese and jamon and didn't spend the night

Ampara's Paella

Ruth and I in Bilbao


We drove on down to Valencia where we all stayed beside each other in the camp grounds of a friend of theirs named Amphara.  She was very nice and also her brother Pepe.  Here's a picture of the great Paella she made Valencia fashion

A Lovely Stay at Ruth and Jose's great old house and a trip together.

I didn't drive far from San Sabastian.  Ruth and Jose live in the mountains between Bilbao and Victoria so very much in Basque land.  The house was in Jose's family and it is really lovely.

Welcome drinks in the garden with good friend Johannes

 Like all old houses there's a lot of conservation needed for the wonderful beams and floors.  This is a wall in "my" bedroom, decorated by Ruth.  I loved it.

  I had a really lovely stay and then we all decided to head south as rain was definitely in the forecast as it often is in this region.  We had planned to see Rioja and visit wineries but it was just pouring down so we compromised and just stopped for a tasting with cheese and jamon and didn't spend the night.

Basque Country

Sunday morning in San Sabastian.  Have been here for a few days visiting friends Rose and Graham. They live in Vancouver and have rented an apt here for a month.  It was a pleasant surprise to find the city is so easy to drive around, none of the hectic traffic of most cities and the people everywhere continue to be so genuinely friendly it's a delight to talk to them
Yesterday we spent some hours in the Basque Museum of San Telmo and rambled around the old city. Lovely parks and sitting areas, wide streets and a most congenial social scene.  Of course the first walks here are to that glorious area where La Concha beach curves around the lovely bay

.  Very impressed by the Sallida sculptures among the churning foam around the blow holes.

 A nice ride on the funicular brought us to the complete view from above.  Each house has an individual style of architecture.















Believe it or not each glass of wine (large) is no more than €1.50 and on Thursdays there's a free Pintxos (Basque Tapas) with each beer usually €2 for both.  This city is famous for its terrific selection of these

Pals for so many many years