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This is Peter and Maureen Scargill's Spanish website. We live in Galera in Andalusia (for clarity, that is the English spelling - Mid-Spain they spell it Andalucia and pronounce it "And-a-loo-thee-a").

We've had a home in Spain for more than 14 years and it is now our permanent base though we retain a small home in the UK.

Find out more about this by reading through the blog entries, menu-accessible pages and archives if you're interested! Welcome to Peter and Maureen's Spanish website.

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Archive

Autumn in Southern Spain – I Love It

Since the intence heat of August is no longer with us and now that the Saharan “Calima” has given up, it’s time to actually get stuff done not to mention a spot of entertaining and travelling around.

Dust storm from Africa

Just had a UK pal of mine visit for a few days and we went to check on the local lake (which has frighteningly low water level) ending in a late-Sunday visit to a magical area nearby with waterfalls, a stream and more, ending in a coffee stop an hour or so east of us at Pozo Alcon.

Lake Negratin

Yesterday, Maureen and I visited the lovely small town of Cela (near Tijola and half an hour southeast of Baza, our nearest large town here in Granada province) for a relaxing sunday picnic and she went off for a short swim in Balsa De Cela… the weather was absolutely ideal.

Cela - the pool

You can’t beat a pool when the weather is hot (nice heat just off-season). Unfortunately lots of the local facilities are closed (poolside restaurants, one of the bars etc) persumably as this is the time of year the Spanish take breaks. Can’t have everything.

Maureen in the pool at Cela

I could see another trip to Cela in the spring – lovely place. Above, Maureen had just gotten over the initial shock of the cold water and went on to have a good swim.

Balsa De Cela

Weekend now over, things to do, people to see, places to go. Well, the first two anyway 🙂

Big excursion of the week – Thader

Just an airport run to pick up the boss but decided on an overnight stoppover..

B&B Hotel Murcia
B&B Hotel

Not the most picturesque hotel (needs trees) but awfully handy for the motorway and shopping (2 minute walk to Thader shopping centre) as a stopover on the way to Alicante Airport.

Thader Shopping Centre
Thader Shopping Centre
Thader Shopping centre
Cute

Oh and had a trip to Brico Depot in Crevellent – as always – beats B&Q hands down despite being from the same parent company.

Brico Depot
Brico Depot

The Now Defunct Emilios and Far from defunct 3JJJs

For years, my favourite breakfast spot was Emilios bar/restaurant on the road from Huescar to Baza via Castillejar. Nothing better than a quiet breakfast outside in the sun at this delightful but now sadly defunct bar just past Los Carriones on the A4200 route from Huescar and on to Benamourel and Baza.

Emillios

Sadly now closed but just further west a km or so is the Bar 3JJJs with its shop which sells lots of English food for those who like to buy English food (generally not a fan with exceptions). Google Maps rightly calls the shop Supermercado El Salto but seems to make no reference to the 3JJJs displayed proudly on the wall of this smaller but pleasant cafe. I’m not one for unhealthy “Full English” breakfast but made an exception this week and can recommend the place for said full English as well as my more normal coffee (cafe con leche) and “tostada con tomate” breakfast. Staff are pleasant and a good if simple atmosphere.

Bar Las 3JJJs

For me you can’t beat a simple tostada – not pre-made but with toast, a bowl of tomato, a bottle of olive oil and salt, out in the country away from towns and the noise.

Mid-September update

Slight amendment to 3JJJs recommendation – this week gone I ordered tostada con tomate e queso fundida (toast with tomato and melted cheese) – the tomatoes, instead of being finely chopped as usual came simply sliced complete with skin etc… didn’t enjoy that at all, others might. Never come across that in spain in all the years we’ve been here. Won’t try that again.

A Lovely Summer Day at the Crowded Spanish Coast

Well it is holiday season after all and we’ve had a quiet day at the beach just south of Aquillas (south of Spain).

Beach Panorama

Of course at this time of year there’s no such thing as a secluded area but we had a nice time regardless at La Carolina, one of several short stretches of beach surrounded by mountainous rock.

Playa La Carolina

We spent the day simply idling on the beach with the odd dip in the water. Rather choppy so next week Aquillas itself as it has a nice sheltered cove.

Playa La Carolina

Makes a break from constantly DOING stuff. We’ve just returned from a trip to the UK to visit friends and a spot of maintenance. Back here in Spain, not much happening on the new gadget front as many companies are on holiday right now – and just a few minor repairs to do around the house, so what better when it’s too hot to do outside work than cooling off in the sea.

Map of our trip

Hottest July on Record Except in Northumberland

To escape the heat in Galera (fine until July but then particularly hot – see photo below) we decided to go to the UK for the back-end of July and early August while, simultaneously, UK friends of ours stay at the cave.

End of July 2023 weather in Galera - HOT

While it’s not COLD in Bellingham (Northumberland), it IS drizzling a lot as usual. Hence instead of sitting outside enjoying the weather, I’m sitting in here while Maureen is coffeeing with a friend.

End of July 2023 weather in Northumberland - sunny mornings, miserable otherwise

Spending a lot of time in bars and restaurants here is out of the question, thanks to Covid and Brexit which together with rampant opportunism have jacked up UK prices far more, I suspect than those who spend all their time here realise.

Mid-2023 Greggs Steak Bake pricing - utter rip off

I’ve seen prices well over double what they were just a couple of years ago and… well, a tale for another day.

The house here is quite new for us and I’m making good headway toward getting the electrical basics up and running. Got dehumidifiers sorted, temperature monitoring and broadband in-hand and more – but will a long way to go and I only have another 12 days. Wish me luck

Summer is Upon Us – Sort Of

After more torrential rain then a couple of days of calm in Galera this week gone, Maureen and I headed off down to Nerja at Spain’s south coast – a lovely area we’ve been to several times – but with a twist.

Cobra at the Pahuna Nepalese Kitchen

The day we arrived, we walked down to the coast from our apartment just up the hill. Luckily we were positioned right next to the usual bars and restaurants at the beach and so for our first dinner – a nice little Indian restaurant in which you could sit outside and watch the tourists and the beach.

The restaurant was lovely, not very expensive and the only let-down was the British who tend to get loud on holiday – well, a certain sector of the Brits anyway.

Our apartment was comfortable – breakfast included – Carmen Rooms if anyone if interested.

Recovering from the drive, we’d had a nap and so didn’t get out until fairly late.

The weather was stunning – probably around 28c in the shade, still around 25-26c in the evening.

Carmen Rooms in Nerja, just off the coast.

The photo below looks deceptively empty – an area JUST above the Balcon De Europa – a delightful shopping/restaurant area at the coast in Nerja.

And there it is, the Balcon De Europa – stunning.

Day 2 we went down to the beach and stayed there for a couple of hours (I spent most of it on my backside) and simply enjoyed the sun and the view.

After the beach we headed back to our apartment where we had a pool to soak in – effectively private as we were the only ones using it before having a nap then heading off to a different part of Nerja (West end) for dinner – again at the sea front but this time a little more up-market – no screaming kids – very civilised.

Bar/restaurant on the seafront in Nerja.

No question about it, we’ll be heading back there again when time permits.. Same town, completely different view and feel to the place. Just a short break (2 nights) but very welcome.

That’s it for now – we came back to Galera yesterday to superb sunshine and a perfectly warm pool of our own.

Sadly today the heavens opened up again in Galera – so much for the weathermen – but no harm done and there’s a good chance of some sunshine tomorrow – anyway it’s still warm enough to sit around in a t-shirt.