Lloret de Mar, (Nearby Resorts)

Lloret de Mar is an ideal base from which to see other nearby resorts, and it is quite easy and cheap to do so. The two nearest ones are shown above. The first picture being Blanes and the second one is Tossa de Mar.

There is an excellent bus service to both resorts, costing only 2.30 euro return (as of summer 2005). The cost and times may change for this year, so we will publish this when the new timetable comes out. As a rough guide the buses run every half hour, although on market days more buses are added. These days can be very busy in summer, so if your not a market 'person' don't go! Just to warn you market day in Blanes is Monday, and Thursday is Tossa de Mar market day. Lloret's market is held on Tuesday's.

Time for a Lloret de Mar Summer Photo

As we are all so fed up of the rain and snow and mist and cold here I think we should fast forward a few months to the summer!

This picture was taken in June 2005.

It was a quiet month, and for the business owners here, we hope 2006 will be better, so don't be shy, book your lloret de Mar holidays 2006 now.

Lloret de Mar's parish church.

The church of Sant Roma in Lloret de Mar as seen after recent modernization. This part is now finished but work is still being carried out on other parts not seen in the photo.
It is said that back in 1522 when the building of the church was completed it had cost a total of 3,000 pounds. At that time the people of Lloret did not live by the coast, but out in the remote villages where they felt less threatened by attacks from 'pirates' who regularly attacked the Spanish coasts.
So now with the new church, and St Joans Tower (seen on 17th January post) which they felt gave them the added shelter and protection they needed, the people slowly began to make they homes nearer to the coast.

Weather in Costa Brava

At the moment we are experiencing some appalling weather conditions in the Lloret de Mar area. Temperatures are currently hovering around zero, and the outerlying urbanisations of Lloret were hit by heavy snowfalls last night. Aguaviva Parc was without electricity all night leaving some homes without heat.

The picture above was taken at midday today at the entrance to Mont Lloret urbanization which is at the back of Lloret Blau.
Roll on Summer.

Food in Spain.

The food in Spain varies from region to region.

It is always said that if visitors to Spain eat where the Spanish eat then you will never go wrong. The food here can never be described as spicy, but always very tasty.

The Serrano Jamon (dry cured ham) is a very popular dish. A full ham can cost anything from about 20 euros to 200+ euros, depending on the quality.

It is usually served paper thin, along with olives, or with a Catalan salad, which contains various mixed meat's.

The Street's of Lloret de Mar.

Here we have a 'dry' scene of the flooded street below. This is how it normally looks (in winter month's)

As you can see the streets are deserted.

A peaceful time of year for the residents of Lloret!

During the months of July and August this part of Lloret is absolutely cram packed with holiday makers.

Lloret de Mar Weather - Storms

October 2003

November 2001

We have been lucky these last two years not to have experienced the severe storms of 2001 and 2003. On both occasions the beach was completely washed away in parts.
Although the town hall tried to get the beach back in order for the summer season, in 2002 it still looked like a building site.

The picture taken in November 2001 was at about 11am in the morning outside the Londoner Disco. The water is actually the sea, not helped by torrential rain. This is the street of El Torito, Yates Bar, and what was still then known as the Western Saloon now the Aztec. All businesses were flooded.

The other picture was taken in October of 2003. Although the storm did not cause nearly as much damage as two years previously, it was still severe enough to take half the beach away.

Font de Canaletes. Lloret de Mar.

The Font de Canaletes can be seen on the promenade in front of the town hall.

This fountain is a replica of the one that stands on the Rambla (baring the same name) in Barcelona.

It was given to the town by the city of Barcelona in 1968.

Lloret de Mar Nightlife.

The town of Lloret de mar comes to life at night with the bright lights of the club's and disco's.
Just to mention a few, Moby's, Tropics, Colossos and the Londoner. There is a very good choice, with each one having their own different theme nights.

Nightlife in Lloret usually starts at about midnight , and goes on until at least 5am.
Which makes this resort very popular with the younger generation who are more nocturnally inclined!

Shopping in Lloret de Mar

Although we all know Lloret de Mar is one of the most liveliest holiday resorts on the Costa Brava with the usual beach ball and lilo shops. There are also hundreds of better shops in the small narrow streets away from the beaches. Walking through the streets you will come across just about every designer brand you can think of. Whether it's clothes, jewellery, or perfumes you are sure to find some of the best shops on the Costa Brava.
A few of the shops you will find are Fabregas Calcats, which is in the church square for what must be the most stylish (and expensive) shoes in town.
Also in the same area there is Monterro Perfumerie for the top names in cosmetics and perfumes. For jewellery try Grau Joreria where you'll find the best designer name's such as Gucci, Chanel and Rolex!

Fishing Boats in Lloret de Mar.

Now it's my turn to show an old photo! With two views of the same area...
The top photo was taken in 1974 on my first visit to Lloret with my husband Steve.

The second was taken in December 2005. They show the small fishing boats on the edge of Sa Caleta beach.
It would be interesting to know if any of the same boats are still in use after all these years!

Costa Brava Holiday

Anyone planning a Costa Brava Holiday may be interested in seeing a map of the Costa Brava.

The Costa Brava begins at the French border, with the town of Portbou being the most northerly point. The most southern town is Blanes.

Costa Brava means 'Wild or Savage Coast'.

The Costa Brava covers 200 kilometers of coastline, which is 38% of the Catalan coastline.

Apart from the fantastic scenery it has fairly high temperatures, a lot of sun and quite low rainfall which makes it ideal for the popular holiday it has become. The average annual temperature is 17°C.

A Day in Barcelona.

Barcelona is easily reached from Lloret, either by direct bus from the bus station or by train from Blanes. The train is my favorite as it is the most scenic route. It follows the coast all the way down, so you will see the many different resorts on the way. If you get off the train at the Placa de Catalunya, you will find yourself right in the bustling centre of Barcelona. From there you can take a trip on one of the open top buses, which take you to all the main sights in the city, including the Sagrada Familia, Camp Nou football stadium, Olympic Village and Gaudi region.
Or you can take a walk down the Ramblas, where there are various stalls selling souvenirs, flowers and even birds and small pet's!
Then there are also the 'live statues' of all shapes and sizes, as seen above! who will not move unless you put a few cents in their collection tray, then it's anybodys guess what they'll do then!!

Time for Another Old Lloret de Mar Photo

A very nice old nostagic picture of Lloret de Mar church taken in 1975.

The church was created in Catalan gothic style and built between 1509 and 1522.


I first saw it in 1981 and in that year the church did not differ from the photo above but the street behind it had. Last year (2005) the church has (very unfortunately) undergone some modernisation- we will post a similar view up-to-date picture within a few days.

Spain vs England!

Sant Joans Tower, is situated on top of the hill which seperates Lloret and Fenals beach. The tower dates from between the 11th and 12th century. The castle was built as a watchtower to prevent maritime attacks.

In 1805, a British warship fired salvos some of which destroyed part of the tower and walls, but it was in 1923 that a severe storm finally brought the tower down.

In 1992 it was restored, and now tourists can take pleasure from the fantastic views from the area.

But they are not taking any chances with us Brits again, as it is all fenced off with tall metal railings!!

Property Law Spain

Many foreigners have a dream of owning a property in Spain. Although property buying horror stories frequently heard years ago, are far less common these days, it is definately not advised to sign your name on a document or contract of sale without first seeking expert legal advice. Do not make the mstake of thinking property laws in Spain are the same as in your country. A local lawyer is probably the best qualified person to help you. If you are unsure about a lawyer's reputation, ask other expats living in the area to recommend a lawyer they have used.

There is an extremely valuable book written by David Searl which covers the property laws in Spain in detail. It is also a mine of information on other areas of Spanish law and anyone considering visiting Spain for long periods should own a copy! It is written in easy to understand everyday layman's english.

Lloret Hotels

This photo is taken from the road which runs behind the Guitart Central Park Hotel. It shows the busy hotel area in Lloret, in summer months this part of Lloret is bustling with tourists, as there is a large selection of souvenir shops, bars, cafes and restaurants to suit all tastes.

Package holidays took off here in the 1960s, thanks to the region being so close to France.
As the gateway to mainland Spain the Costa Brava saw the first tourists arrive by car and coach, then later on by charter flights into Barcelona airport.

Resorts such as Lloret de Mar offer round the clock entertainment for those wanting an action packed holiday! Yet there is also another world to be found which offers a quieter time, with ancient castles, green valleys and traditional unspoilt villages- only 1-2 kms inland.

Cala Banys LLoret 1950

Another similar view- this picture was taken around 1950 I believe, or quite possibly earlier.

Lloret de Mar, Costa Brava.

A nice shot of Lloret, taken from the cliff top's at Cala Banys, which is located between Lloret and the small resort of Fenals just next door.

Lloret, Costa Brava 1975

Enough of that, it's time for another old picture.

This is a picture postcard sold in 1975.

Looks tame doesn't it? It wasn't, according to those still alive to tell the tale.

Lloret de Mar Nudism

Others, such as this fireman from the UK, seem to have trouble waiting till they get to the beach.

Nudist Beach in Lloret de Mar

Lloret beach has all the facilities you need for a good holiday, with a great choice of restraurant's bars and shops near the palm tree lined promenade.

During the summer months of July and August it can get too hectic. So it might be a good idea to take a boat trip to one of the more secluded beaches quite near by. Santa Christina is ideal for the children as there is a more gentler slope into the the sea, and the sand is much finer for building sandcastles etc. Also on the beach are pedalos for hire, a beach bar and toilets.

Boadella beach (pictured above) on the other hand is not for the faint hearted!
Although to me is the most beautiful beach round here, it is a nudist beach, but this is not compulsory!! It may not be a good idea to take the kids as these people are not shy. They will walk up and down all day long and stand to watch the boat trippers as they arrive....so if you are broad minded it is a nice trip and always good for a laugh, if only to see the many different shapes and sizes (of people of course) that dare to bare all !!!

Things to do in Lloret de Mar- Casino

The Casino is situated on the main road as you enter Lloret opposite what used to be the bus station and is now a big hole in the ground until it becomes the new bus station.

It cannot really be missed as it has a very brightly lit neon sign. It was the first casino to open in Catalunya. It is open every day of the year.

Hours of play are from:
Monday-Thursday 5:30pm-4am,
Friday-Saturday and bank holidays 5:30pm-5am. (This may vary slightly depending on the time of year).


The casino has the following facilities-
101 Slot Machines (A record of 74.978 euros was won on a slot machine in 2004).
8 Roulette tables
2 Boule tables (Boule is a slower, smaller version of Roulette)
4 Black Jack tables
1 Punto-Banco table
4 Poker tables

It also boasts a bar, a restaurant, a snack bar and a 'sala de fiestas' for live shows.

You must be over 18 to enter and carry Photo ID.

For a virtual tour, Click Here.

Advertising in Lloret de Mar!

All this just to advertise bread...

This was taken during the summer of 2005 flying over the beaches of Lloret and Fenals. The helicopter did not look or sound as though it was powerful enough to carry the advertisment. Not seen in the photo is the large weight hanging from below the ad in order to keep it straight!

Lloret de Mar Beach 1950

A similar view of Lloret beach, but taken 50 years earlier.

Amazing- in those days Roca Grossa had not been built on at all. These days they are selling air space for ALOT of money. By airspace I mean the plot for sale is a about 30 metres long and a metre deep and the rest of the plot you pay for (usually at least 500 square metres is a sheer drop over the side of the mountain).

Lloret de Mar beach.

Many people do not appreciate the beauty of Lloret beach.

Some of the best shots can be taken from the rocks between Lloret and Fenals.
The above photo shows the beach, with the Roca Grossa urbanisation in the background.

LLORET DE MAR HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

If you come to Lloret you will never be short of something to do.
Well worth a visit is the local market, held every Tuesday morning behind the casino.
Just about ever sport you can think of can be found in Lloret, bowling watersking scuba diving, parasailing, tennis and also football to name but a few. Lloret's local team play on the pitch beside the casino on Sunday's.
Across the road from the football pitch is the bus station from where you can get a free bus to
either Waterworld or Go-Karting just on the edge of town. For the golfer there are 2 courses to
choose from, the Angel and Papalus.

Other resorts can easily be reached by the boats, tickets are obtained from kiosks on the beach, or buses, again from the bus station, which are excellent value, for example a return trip to Tossa de Mar up the coast is only 2.30 euro, but the most popular pastime is the same as anywhere else... sampling the local booze and the odd game of Pool!!

Blind Lily

I found one:-)

Not pictured playing the fruit machine, but in a typical pose nonetheless.

He is also going deaf:-0

THE CHARACTERS OF LLORET DE MAR!

As you can see from the previous post,we have our share of characters who make Lloret de Mar the unique place it is to live. These character's are both residents and people who come to back to Lloret year after year on holiday!

One particular resident is 'Lily' a local man who is totally blind, but believe it or not can be found many a time in the Bodega Barretina playing on the fruit machine!!
As yet we have no photo, but we will try to catch him one of these days when we have a camera handy... when he's not looking of course!

Lloret Birthday Boy- The Wild Man of Lloret

I had every intention of seeing the children's parade tonight commonly known as "The Three Kings" it is parallel to the UK version of Xmas Eve, as Santa delivers presents to the deserving kids.

However after getting diverted by the traffic police too many times to count I had to face the sad truth that there was no space for me in that wonderful infantile parade.

So I hope the kids enjoyed the parade- fortunately it did stop drizzling after about 19.00h.

Happy King's Day Kids.


And Happy Birthday to you Sax- Hope to see you soon XXXXXXXX

Lloret de Mar Castle

The castle that never was or will be !
Situated at the Sa Caleta beach area of Lloret de Mar stands the most well known sight of the Costa Brava. Although it looks like an ancient building, it only dates from 1940, just after the civil war!
It is possible to walk from the beach in Lloret round the rocky path just below the castle, which will bring you to some of the small coves.
Flip flops not recommended! as it is not a very easy walk, but well worth a try, owing to the fantastic views of the coast.

Lloret Old Photos

I have a great collection of old photos from Lloret de Mar. (Thanks Stuart!)

This is a scene from the castle end of the beach (Camino de la Caleta) taken in 1955.

Lloret de Mar Sky

.

This Christmas in Lloret we have seen some really dramatic sights in the sky, the featured photo was taken on New Years Day. The weather over the Christmas period and so far this year has been almost like the UK summer,(but without the UK rain!) It is now quite a few week's since we had any rain, we are still in short supply after one of the driest summers on record. Despite this, Lloret de Mar and the rest of the Costa Brava is one of the greenest and most picturesque areas of Spain, and very underrated!

Lloret de Mar Xmas Lights

Lloret Town Hall did a really nice job with the christmas lights this year. They will be up for just a few more days until The Day of the Kings which is the day kids traditionally get their presents in Spain. The three kings arrive by boat on the evening of the 5th to deliver to all the kids that have behaved themselves.

There is a procession of the kings on the fifth that passes through all the man streets in Lloret. It starts around 17.00h.