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.

Latest Cigarette and Tobacco Prices....Dec 2010

The price of cigarettes and tobacco has just risen sharply in Spain, here is a copy of the price list which I got from the tobacconist today. So far the biggest rise is with Golden Virginia which has gone up almost €20 for a pack of 10. Some prices have not yet changed but I was told others will rise shortly, so I'll keep you informed whenever this happens.

Lloret de Mar Bodegas

If you are planning your annual holidays for next year, why not try the Spanish bodegas or tapas bars. The local tapas bars always give great service and value for your well earned holiday cash. Drinks are usually a few cents cheaper than the tourist type bars and small Spanish style snacks (tapas) are normally given with each drink.
Even though you may not speak Spanish they will always serve you with a welcoming smile, you just have to take a seat at one of their tables either inside or out and they will come to take your order.
All the bodegas have their own sangria recipe either made with wine or Champagne,  you should be able to get a litre of good sangria for about €6 - €8. Give it a try, its a great way to spend a couple of hours in the afternoon just watching as the Spanish people go about their laid back way of life! Take a look at some of the local bodegas here in Lloret de Mar on my  BODEGAS PAGE.

Lloret de Mar December Weather

Lloret de Mar Christmas Tree.

Its not a bit like Xmas, its almost as though summer is on the way back!

Temperatures over the last 2 days have been very mild...19ºc very good for the time of year.

These two photos were both taken today, the first one of the Christmas tree in front of the town hall - I still don't like it! I much prefer the traditional green one with the red decorations they used to have. The photo below is taken on Fenals beach, not many people about here but over in Lloret there were a few actually laid on the beach taking in the sun!

Lloret de Mar - Blanes

Views of the coast and chapel taken from near the Sant Joan tower in Blanes.

Looking towards Lloret de Mar