Lloret de Mar - Beach scenes

The season in Lloret is slowly coming to a close. Less people are now here on holiday, these four photos were taken today, the top two showing plenty of room on the beach in Fenals. The weather is still very good with the temperature today being 25c with a nice breeze.

These two photos show the beach at boadella today, just a nice easy stroll over the hill through the woods at the far end of Fenals beach, again with hardly anybody sunbathing. Most of the sunbathers were nudist's who usually use this beach.

 

Lloret de Mar - Bus services

We are very lucky in Lloret to have a bus station with so many links to other places, both near and far. To start with there is a choice of 3 free buses which will take you to either the Go - Karting, Waterworld or Marineland, ( but you do have to pay the entrance fee when you get there)....
There are direct buses to take you sightseeing or shopping in the nearest cities of Girona or Barcelona. Then there is the direct service to the nearest airport of Girona.
Other resorts such as Tossa de Mar or Blanes are also easily reached by bus from Lloret, both places are only 20mins away.
For trips further afield its possible to catch buses to Olot, Palafrugell or Auigamolls, on the way seeing a lot more of the beautiful Catalan countryside!
Also very handy - although not so much these days with the bargain flights available, is that the Eurolines bus company have a ticket office in the bus station. From here you can book and travel to anywhere in Europe.

Lloret de Mar - Weather

After all rain which we've had last week, the weather is now back to normal, for this time of year. The beach is quite busy with the boats and water sports centre up and running again. 

 With the hot weather this year we had a lot of jelly fish out at sea - gladly, they now seem to have cleared up.

The above photo is the glass bottom boat up the coast at Tossa de Mar. This boat goes from Tossa up the coast towards San Felieu, taking you around the rocks and into the many caves there. Where you should be able to see all the different kinds of fish and 'things' that live out there in the sea!! 

Lloret de Mar, Weather .

Over the last 4 - 5 days we have had very bad rain and storms, its certainly gave everyone some thing to talk about. Not only here in Lloret but just about all over Spain. The heavy rain along with thunder and lightening caused severe flooding in many places, so much so that its been the main topic on the Spanish TV news.

Streets here in town were almost deserted, with only people venturing out were those who had to!
The holidaymakers here just now probably didnt fetch suitable clothes or shoes for the unsuspected bad weather, so they have been dodging in and out of their hotels in between downpours in shorts and t shirts!
September is usually a nice month here weatherwise, with the heat being a little less harsh than that which we get in July and August...

Today so far has been dry, although more rain is forecast until Sunday, we may get back to the sunshine then!!

Lloret de Mar - Best Bars

The bar at Cala Banys......

Walking past the statue of the Donna Marina (the lady looking out to sea) on Lloret sea front will bring you to what must be the best location for a bar on the Costa Brava.

The bar is tucked into the cliffs running between Lloret de Mar and Fenals. All the rock has been cut away to enable the building of the bar and also paths and stairways, leading in and out and up and down the cove of Cala Banys.

Drinks are a little more expensive here, but you will find it a very relaxing place to have a drink while looking out to sea - where the only noise heard is that of the waves breaking on the rocks below!

Lloret de Mar - Holidays

Now that we are well into September, all the children are back at school here after a long summer holiday, just as they are in the rest of Europe.

The children above are on a school outing in Girona, all dressed in their very smart uniforms.

Lloret de Mar - Meeting New Friends.

We are now into September with August the busiest month of the year behind us. With September we seem to get a much more relaxed atmosphere in Lloret!
August is the favorite month for many old friends to meet up here.
One family in particular who come back every year, is the Vinall family from Bicester near Oxford.

They have been coming to Lloret for many years now, Colin and Maggie even lived and worked here back in the 80s. Their children Lucas, Callum and Poppy now seem to look at Lloret as their 2nd home, as they come for the whole of August every year!

Here for the first time this year was some of my family, Bev, Daz, Amy and Jodie. They were here for one week and immediately hit it off with all the regulars in town.

So hopefully they will come back to see us again, and all the new friends they made while they were here !!

Lloret de Mar - Marineland

Marineland is an excellent day out for all the family, with everyones favourite - a show put on by the dolphins. Situated just out side Lloret de Mar, its easily reached by the free bus which leaves the bus station every hour starting at 9.15am.

The entry price is 20euro for adults, with a reduced price for children aged 4 - 12yrs, (under 4s are free)

The days entertainment begins with the parrot show at 10.30, followed by the very funny sea lions at 11.30. The dolphins do their excellent show at 12.30, after which the rest of the day can be spent in the waterpark area with the slides and watershutes etc. So it is actually 2 parks in one.... for more info along with video clips and a 3 euro discount voucher click here!

(Looks like Amy enjoyed this water slide, not sure about Daz though!! Hope you all enjoyed your week in Lloret, Hope to see you all again soon :-)

Lloret de mar - Things to do

Once again we had another entertaining night here by the beach in Lloret, with another tribute band - this time ABBA REVIVAL.
As the final part of the Clon Festival, everybody danced and sang along to all the well known Abba songs.

The weather was kind to us, just like it was last week for the Stones revival night, as we have had quite a bit of rain over the last few days.

Lloret de Mar - Things to do.

As I have said before ¨There is always something happening in Lloret¨ and this weekend something really special happened....
We were able to see a free show of the Rolling Stones tribute band - Smoking Stones as part of the yearly Clon Festival here in Lloret. They're show was on Friday 18th August at an outside venue on the edge of the beach. The show started at 10.30 and they played through to 12.30. It was a perfect summer evening, with people dancing and singing to songs which everyone knew from the original 'Stones'

The band originates from this area of Spain and have been together 11yrs, and are said to be one of the top tribute bands in the world of the Rolling Stones. If you are a fan of the Stones music, you will enjoy the Smoking Stones should you ever get chance to see them!

Otherwise you could visit they're website and see them in action in the videos section, click here...

Costa Brava Weather.

Over the last fewdays here on the Costa Brava we have finally had the rain which we have needed for many weeks now (if not months) but for people spending their annual holiday here its a big disapointment. Today however looks a little more like August, although temperatures have dropped from the high 3os we were getting a couple of weeks ago.
It is now 10.15am and currently 22c with hardly a cloud in the sky!
Tomorrows forecast is for the same as today - but more rain is forecast to follow, fingers crossed for our relatives, friends and other holiday makers here it will hold off until they have gone home!

Costa Brava - Camping.

For a change from the normal hotel/package holiday, camping here in Lloret could give you a completely different holiday. The campsites are very well equipped for a family holiday, with different options of accomodation. You can either park up your own camper van or rig up your own tent, but there are also apartments, tents, or chalets to rent.
Facilities include - bars, swimming pool, paddling pool for the younger children, shops , supermarket, electricity, restaurant, showers, laundry and in the high season entertainment.
So every thing what you could need for your holiday is catered for.

The nearest campsite to Lloret de Mar centre is Campingtucan.com which is on the road at the back of the resort.
The other one is Canyelles.com which is located just a short way up the coast in its very own picturesque bay on the beach.

Ryanair - New Route

Starting at the beginning of November is a new long overdue flight into Girona from Yorkshire.
The new link is from Doncaster airport, and will operate three times weekly - Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Departing from Doncaster at ..... 19.55
Arriving at Girona at .................. 23.10

Return flights operate the same days.
Departing from Girona ................ 18.05
Arrive Doncaster .........................19.30

Some free flights are on offer, but if you are not lucky enough to get one I have seen them for as cheap as £14.99, but for more detailed information go to the Ryanair website at Ryanair.com

Buying Property in Spain.

Every year thousands of British buy a property in Spain, some just for a holiday home but many move out here permenently. What ever the reason may be, its always advisable to ensure you choose the area most suitable for you and your family. Prices are rising every year,but you still get much more for your money here than in Britain...

Coastal propertys are approximately 20% dearer than inland, so it maybe tempting to buy inland, but it's always advisable to make checks on your chosen area, as it may not come upto your expectations. Then after putting down a non-refundable deposit, you may find out that the property you are planning on buying is not connected to all services such as water, electric, telephone and sewage drainage. So it could be too much of a culture shock having to get your water delivered, or the cess-pit emptied once or twice a year!

Once you do find your property, whether its a run-down finca, apartment or one of the best villas around, the buying process is the same. As soon as you pay your deposit, the property will be taken off the market. Your lawyer will then write out a contract of sale, agreeable to both the the seller and the buyer. After which he will do all the necessary checks to ensure the property is free from all debt from the previous owner, and is rightly their's to sell!

It's always wise to remember while you are looking for property here in Spain, the price advertised is not the total cost. On top of the purchase price you should always add on approx 10%, this is for your legal fees and taxes.

If you are planning on buying a resale property its quite normal for the sale to be completed in only a couple of weeks.

So happy house hunting.....don't let the horror stories you may have heard about buying abroad put you off. The best advice I can give you is to, just do your homework on the area you have chosen. A lot of people have taken the plunge and regretted it, but everyone that I know out here are very well settled with no intention of ever going back to the UK (me included!!)

Spanish Artist's.

Some of the worlds most renowned artists have originated from Spain.
To name a few -
Francisco Goya, born in Saragossa. 1746 - 1828.

Pablo Picasso, born in Malaga, 1881 - 1973.

Joan Mirò, born in Barcelona, 1893 - 1983.

Salvador Dali, born in Figueras is the most recent, 1904 - 1989.

Here in Lloret you can purchase your own piece of artwork, a portrait of yourself done in almost any style you choose! Take a walk on the sea front early one evening, and you will see artist's painting their subject's.

So you can take home your very own piece of Spanish art for only about 20 - 30 euro!!

Fireworks in Blanes.

Still on the subject of fireworks - all this week in Blanes, has been another yearly event, the International firework competition, with seven different teams competing. One every night of the week. The competition has been running since 1906. The town also has all sorts of other activities going on to celebrate the fiesta of Santa Anna.

The display is held in the last full week in July - this week it began on the 21st and ended last night, the 27th. Starting at 10.30, each display must last 20 - 25 mins and continue none stop for the total time.

The boat operators did a good trade from the local beaches taking spectators down to see the show. They were running untill very late at night, and made a special effort to make the boats look very decorative, with lights and trimmings etc - and even serving champagne!

The winning team (as yet I dont know which one) will win 7,500 euro + trophy, 2nd will win 5,100, and the 3rd wins2,400 euro.

 

 

Lloret de Mar - Fiesta.

Last night on the beach front in Lloret de Mar we saw the spectacular fireworks display, each year seems to be bigger and better than the one before!

These photo's don't do the display the justice it deserves, the atmosphere all over town was incredible. Spectators were at every possible viewpoint, there were thousands of people just on the beach, even more than is normally there sunbathing throughout the day!

The noise from the fireworks was even quite frightening at times, as the loud bangs echoed off all the surrounding buildings. All the spectators applauded and cheered after each series of fireworks, an attmosphere you just can't capture on camera.

SO WELL DONE LLORET DE MAR, EVERYONE HAD A GREAT NIGHT !! 

Lloret de Mar - July Fiesta.

Today in Lloret is the yearly fiesta, which celebrates the towns patron saint - Santa Cristina.
The fiesta starts with a procession of boats of all shapes and sizes. From the beach in Lloret they head down to the small bay of Santa Cristina, once there everyone tucks in to the traditional Catalan dish of estafado, (something like our stew !)
Then tonight is the huge firework display, set on the beach in Lloret, this is a sight not to be missed. All the road along the sea front will be closed to traffic before the display gets under way, and everyone gathers at various points all over town to try get the best view.

Sun Burn Prevention.

During these hot summer temperatures it is very tempting to go out in the sun without first thinking of the dangers the sun can cause. The most common problem of over exposure to the sun is the reddening of the skin, but the true extent of the damage will not appear until several hours later. With the skin showing signs of swelling, feeling itchy and also can be very painful.
Other symptoms of too much sun can be head-aches, sickness and a possible feeling of feverishness. If this is the case, the best thing to do is to seek the advice of a chemist or even a doctor in severe cases.

To prevent spoiling your holiday on the Costas, prevention is far better than cure....

To protect yourself from the suns harmful rays always wear a sunscreen cream, but don't wait until you are out in the sun before applying. It is always advised to apply 30mins before exposure to the sun, and re-apply during the day several times. A factor 15 at least should be used, even in cloudy conditions the sun will get through.
To pevent dehydration always have a bottle of water with you. This will replace body fluids lost throughout the day with perspiration. You may not feel thirsty but you can soon dehydrate without realising it! Symptoms of this are headache, dizziness and shivering.
A pair sun glasses will protect you eyes from harmful rays and a hat will protect your head from burning and possible headaches.

Lloret de Mar - Costa Brava.

The boats which run from the beaches of Lloret and Fenals are an ideal way to see the Costa Brava coast. Going up the coast from Fenals the longest trip will cost 19 euro.This trip will take you all the way up to Palamos. It takes approx 2 hrs depending on the sea conditions. You will then have ample time to have wander round the resort before heading back to the boat for the 2 long trip back to Lloret.

Places which you will see on the way are - the small cove of Cala Canyelles, Tossa de Mar, San Feliu de Guizols and Playa de Aro. On board the boats there are toilets and also very reasonably priced drinks. 

Palamos (pictured below) is like many Spanish towns, it has been built in two halves - a new part and the old part. The old parts of these towns are always the most interesting, as this is where you find the typical narrow streets and the church, along with the little parks and squares where the locals will gather to talk about all the local gossip!

 

Lloret de Mar - Weather.

Owing to the dry weather conditions in many parts of Spain, certain restrictions are now in place. It is not allowed to go out into the countryside with the family and have a barbeque. The reason being that it would be so easy for a stray spark to start a fire which could burn for days on end and spread for miles and miles!

On one such occasion back in the early 90s, one fire got so close to the outskirts of Lloret, that ash was falling onto the tables outside the restaraunts. These photos are a few which were taken while I was here on holiday at the time.

The above photos show the water carrying planes coming down into the sea just off Lloret beach to fill up and take the water back to the fires.
The bottom photo looks as though it is a night time scene, it was actually taken at mid day as the fires had started. The sun can just be seen through the smoke!

 

Lloret de Mar, Weather .

The weather just lately is verging on the unbearable!

Rain has been forcast (again) but so far here on the coast all we have had is a few drops.
Daytime temperatures are reaching 35 - 37 degs, not just the odd day, but every day. It's a nice relief when a bit of light cloud passes over!Through the night temps are maybe dropping down to 25 - 26 degs - very uncomfortable for sleeping.

Lloret de Mar Beach

  

Lloret de Mar - Catamaran cruise

The Catamaran Cruise is another popular trip from the beaches of Lloret or Fenals. This trip is a favorite of the younger holiday makers, as you can eat and drink as much as you like!
After boarding the catamaran you are taken down the coast, where it pulls in to a picturesque cove.
Then the party begins, usually by diving into the sea from the side of the boat!

Lloret de Mar - Boat trip

A view of the glass bottom boat just pulling into the beach at Lloret. From here it will go up the coast towards Tossa de Mar, weaving its way in and out of the rugged cliffs and caves.
This is a very popular trip, as you can tell from the amount of people on the boat.

Not your normal scenery excursion!!