When in Granada we often visit one of the best coffee/patisserie places in the city, Bernina 1930 S.L. on Calle Almireceros – as recommended in our Coffee guide – just down from Gran Vía. Inside there’s a huge black and white photo on the wall, which we’ve always presumed was the facade of the place … Continue reading
Outside of Dublin and London we don’t think we love – and know – a city more: Granada. Long before lockdown, privately-made ‘strolls’ though cities – normally filmed in 4K – started appearing. Some might say they are a niche market: ‘why would I spend an hour watching a walk through the streets of Lisbon, … Continue reading
It’s not the first time we’ve had a guest post from Charlotte, who lives in the US. She loves the Alpujarras as much as we do. Her previous stories – A Quiet Escape on the Ruta Olivos Centenarios and On the buses – an American in Paradise are a joy to read. So it’s a … Continue reading
Infrastructure plans – first mooted back in 2005 – are back on the table; this time though, things are looking up. Lanjarón’s town hall, the Junta de Andalucía and other local municipalities – including Órgiva – recently presented and/or attended a project to improve access to the Alpujarras from Granada, shortening the journey time and … Continue reading
With the imposing Alhambra bearing down on it, it’s easy to stroll past this old piece of Granada’s history with barely a glance. Nestled among the tall plane, horse chestnut and maple trees that cascade down the hill the Alhambra was built upon – Sabika – on first sight the arched gateway looks like a … Continue reading
As kids we would be be dragged around the south of England’s damp churches that smelt of varnished pews and candle smoke. If you were lucky you could take a trip up the bell tower. Stepping ever higher the dark, satanic bells seemed like monsters but then you had those views over chess board fields … Continue reading
The devil has wrapped its arms around the world and all of us – to differing degrees of severity – are in lockdown. So, let us take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of… Granada. Apart from the rustle of leaves in orange trees, the birdsong, and the odd passing Guardia … Continue reading
It’s taken a few years, but we finally managed a trip to Córdoba in February. A city that was once the second largest in Europe, where Muslims, Jews and Christians lived in relative harmony and education and learning flourished. Despite our love for Granada, it was a thrill to be heading to another of Andalucía’s … Continue reading
This post will only be of interest to those who know Órgiva and, even then, it may be the most boring thing they’ve read in ages. The Bridge over the River Kwai Chico is having a facelift. It was deemed unstable a while back having largely withstood (since the 1920s) first, horse/mule-drawn carts, then cars … Continue reading
We’re fans of both Órgiva and Lanjarón and, while based in the former, a trip to our nearby spa town is always something we enjoy. They’re neighbouring towns in La Alpujarra competing for your affection – so just what is the difference between the two places? How dare you call me an egg-seller! Lanjarón may … Continue reading
We’ve borrowed a photo of Órgiva from an earlier post to compare the same scene painted many years ago. The picture hangs upstairs in Galindo’s bar next to the church. We don’t know anything about the artist – L Medina – but they had a good eye, capturing the whitewashed facades and evergreen valley which … Continue reading
[This event is now over.] Following our previous post about Venta Maria reopening, we continue the food theme but this time a post with an ‘eat by’ date – IV Ruta de la Tapa 2018. Running until next Sunday (2 December), it’s a chance to savour different tapas offered up by the bars and restaurants … Continue reading
There’s been an American in Paris, an Englishman in New York, and now; an Italian in Órgiva – a bar, that is. The much-missed Venta Maria bar closed down a couple of years ago only to be reopened by the World’s most miserable owners who would greet you, arms folded, as if you’d shot their … Continue reading
Head for Capileira – one of the ‘pueblos blancos‘ of the region – and a restaurant awaits offering something more spicy than traditional Spanish food – and in a place you’d least expect. El Jardin de los Sabores (‘Garden of Flavours’) is a lovely spot with spectacular valley views. You can wile away a leisurely … Continue reading
La Alpujarra is simply beautiful as anyone who lives here – or has visited – will testify. It’s not the first time we’ve stumbled upon a TV programme about the area and here’s another. It’s basically a long, but lovely, advert focusing on the food typical of the region. In short, a chef – ‘Atleta … Continue reading