Smoking Ban in Spain

The latest news for all smokers who either live or visit Spain is that the ban on smoking in pubs, bars, restaurants and all other public places will now not be enforced until July  2011. The ban was originally due to start on 2nd Jan.

Lloret de Mar Winter Events

Pumpkins and Aloe Vera plants

All around the church square in Lloret on Sunday there were a few stalls selling homemade produce. This was to raise funds for the local walking group - Xino Xano. There were pumpkins of every size and shape, as you can see in the above photos!

Jams, marmalade and pickles.

Bottles of wine were also on sale.....along with some small tasty looking tapas. 

Lloret Views Dec 2010

Here we have a short film show and a few shots taken yesterday on the sea front in Lloret de Mar.

We had another nice day with great weather, lots of people were out walking making the most of the warm temperatures...I think this woman who we saw taking a dip gets the 'Bravest Woman' in Lloret award!

Lloret de Mar Xmas Lights

All the Christmas lights are now on in Lloret, its never a great illuminated display but the streets do look a little bit more Christmassy!

The Spanish Christmas is quite different from the UK, the family all gather together to eat their Christmas meal on Christmas eve. Seafood  will always be on the menu, along with the meats just as we have at home....turkey is now becoming very popular here. So one thing does happen here the same as at home...the prices for these items go sky high!

Always at this time of year the supermarket shelves are well stocked with turron this is a nougat type sweet and comes filled with lots of different flavours such as nuts, glazed fruit, coconut and even alcohol flavours!

The children may only be given a small gift on Xmas day as the Spanish custom is to give their presents on the day that the three kings arrived in Bethlehem - 6th Jan. To celebrate the 3 Kings arrival in the towns all over Spain there are large processions of floats on the eve of the 5th Jan. Tons and tons of sweets will be thrown to the crowds that line the streets to watch the parades as they pass by.