Formula 1 - Lloret de Mar

The Spanish Grand Prix is taking place today in Barcelona. The weather is very good, current temp is 23c.

Down on the beach in Lloret the flags are flying at the beach bars and with thousands of people in town its certainly a party atmosphere here today!

Barcelona Romance !

April 23rd St George's Day...


As we all know St George is the patron saint of England, but also what many people don't know he is also the patron saint of Catalunya. While in England the day passes with hardly a mention, here in Catalunya you are made aware of this special day from morning till night. Mainly because it is tradition here that woman are given a rose by their husband or partner.
In turn the men should receive a book given to them by the woman in their life!

The book sellers and flower stalls on the Ramblas in Barcelona do a roaring trade every year, and almost everyone is either carrying books or roses.

Many men seem to be carrying several roses...so you can make up your own mind about what is going on in his life !!

Spanish News - Water Shortage.

The water shortage in Spain is now at its worst for 50 yrs, so much so that the beaches in Barcelona have had their showers shut off, and of all the public gardens and parks only approximately 18% are regularly watered.
Drastic measures are been put in place if there is no change in the near future. This will be the the delivery of water to the port by large tankers from other regions of Spain and France. These deliveries are due to start early May. Also if necessary water will be brought by rail.
A hose pipe ban is all ready in place, so all car washing and watering of gardens by hose pipe is not allowed.
The latest news is saying that people found breaking the ban will be found up to 3,000€.

Lloret de Mar - Parrots

Green parrots are quite often seen in Lloret. Usually in the woods at the back of the resort.
You don't realise they are about until you hear them squawking, as they are so well camouflaged against the palm trees.
In the photo above if you look carefully there are four, all collecting material with which to build their nests.

In Barcelona they are very common in the parks, and even on the Ramblas where there's hundreds of people walking about.

Birds of Spain.

One of the most common birds to be found in Lloret is the Jay, this one was spotted in the woods between Lloret de Mar and Fenals.
We also saw a red squirrel in the same area, but weren't quick enough with the camera.
May be we'll catch him next time!

Barcelona - High Speed Train.

A new train service started between Barcelona - Madrid on the 20th Feb. The new AVE route has three classes, either tourist, first or club. Prices for tourist class (the one I travelled!) is approx 101€, 1st class 152€, club 182€ one way depending on the time chosen to travel. If a return journey is booked there is a 20% discount on the return journey.There are several trains through the day, roughly every hour. The journey time is 3 1/4 hrs travelling at 300 kms per hr.
For more details see the RENFE website.

Fenals - new post office!

At long last it looks as though the residents of Fenals are going to get our own post-office. It is near the entrance of the Aquarium hotel behind the tabacs shop on the main road in Fenals opposite the Caprabo supermarket. As yet it is not yet ready to open but judging by the work already done it shouldnt be too long now.

Lloret de Mar - Weather

The weather for the Cost Brava has been dreadful this holiday week- end. It always seems to take a turn for the worse at Easter, but this year seems to be worse than ever.
We travelled up to Lloret from Barcelona yesterday evening after arriving back after a few weeks holiday on the Costa del Sol, trying to escape the winter here in Lloret! On arriving at Barcelona at about 3.30pm the weather wasn't bad at all, but then it started raining and just got heavier and heavier!
When we reached Santa Susanna it was quite dark and could see that the beach looked very pale...then we realised it was snow. It was completely covered!
It's the first time after living here for 4yrs that I have ever seen it! On reaching Lloret it was just raining but very cold, so it looks like our plans to escape the winter here failed...

Not to worry we'll try again next year!

Costa Brava Markets

One thing you can always be sure of as you walk around the markets on the Costa Brava is plenty of colourful stalls. Here the colour is found from a display of bras, which come in a wide range of styles, sizes and every colour you can think of!

Carnival Time in Lloret

This week end in Lloret de Mar is Carnival time!
This has to be the most exciting and colourful event of the year.
Sadly I’m not in Lloret for a while. I have moved further south for the winter to the Costa del Sol, so cannot publish any photos with this post.
Hopefully the weather will be kind to those taking part in the parades, and also the thousands of people who line the route of the parade round the town.
Photos of the carnival from 2 years ago can be found here, but I’m sure this year will be bigger, better and noisier than previous years!

Winter Views - Costa Brava

We are now nearly at the end of January, and here we have 3 winter views of Lloret de Mar.
Daytime tempertures can still be 18º - 20º. So still quite warm, although if there is a slight breeze it can feel a bit chilly!

The photo below is looking towards the Santa Clotilde Gardens from the cliff tops.

The picture below shows Fenals beach, taken from the short walkway round the rocks.

The photo below was taken near the castle in Lloret.

Classic Cars on Show in Lloret

This is one of the Classic Cars on show at the monthly Sunday market in Lloret.

There are usually 6 or 7 cars on show along side the stalls at the market.

Shopping in Lloret de Mar

A bit of local news from Lloret de Mar...

The results of a recent poll have found that about 25% of residents buy their weekly shopping out side of the town. Most people I know go to Blanes where there is far more choice of supermarkets. About 80% of the shops in Lloret are aimed at the tourist market, no good at all if you want to get your groceries in for the week!
The town hall has now said it hopes to improve the situation. (The sooner the better!!)

The area of Lloret where I live (Fenals) has over the last few years seen a big increase in apartment blocks being built, so with this there has been a steady rise of shops for the residents opening up along side these. Which means that for us here in Fenals we now have a reasonable choice of supermarkets, maybe more so than over in Lloret!

Live Web Cam - Lloret de Mar

Today at appox 5pm local time (4pm UK time) is when the 3 Kings arrive in Lloret town centre. The streets are usually lined with children eagerly waiting their arrival as it is tonight when Spanish children get their Christmas presents. Tomorrow 6th Jan is the Day of the Kings. So all the kids in Spain will be up very early to see what the 3 Wise Men have brought them! I have put in a link for a webcam which may show part of the parade...
In the distance at the end of the rocks, it is just possible to make out the castle which is Lloret's best know land mark.
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Since writing this post the said camera has since been disabled but you can still view live images from the Fenals area of Lloret from our very own LIVE  web cam CLICK HERE

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Costa Brava - Santa Fransesc

Three views from Santa Fransesc, one of the small coves between Lloret de Mar and Blanes.
The first photo is looking up from the beach towards the exclusive villas in the urbanisation.

This second photo is looking down over the roof tops of the villas to the beach.

Once down on the beach there is a very nice reasonably priced restaurant where you can get a menu of the day or just a drink.

The only way to reach this beach is by car or a very long walk down through the urbanisation as the boats are not allowed to pull into the beach here!
Owing to this its not a very crowded beach in the summer, apart from the weekend that is when the local residents like to spend their free time just lazing around!

Christmas Nativity in Blanes.

This is the Nativity Scene on display near the fruit and veg market in Blanes.

Quite a large scene as you can maybe just make out from the people looking round. It takes up a large section of the street and is raised up on a platform.

I'm not sure what they do with it on a night time...whether it is closed off some how, or maybe it is just left open. Something like this would not last very long back in the UK.

It would either be vandalised, stolen piece by piece or completly stolen and rebuilt in somebodys back garden!

Not the Christmas spirit you would expect...but when things here are put on display they are left alone so that everyone can enjoy them.

Christmas in Spain.

Children in Spain do not receive their Christmas gifts on the 25th December as in the UK. The day for giving presents is 6th Jan, traditionally known as the Day of the Kings!

It is the three wise men who deliver the presents here, not Santa Claus!
So to put in a request for what you would like for Christmas, you must address your letters to
the Three Kings.

Another Christmas tradition in Spain is the making of model nativity scenes, either at school or home. Every year here in Lloret de Mar there is exhibition of nativity models made by some of the businesses in town or individuals, these are on show in the Local Church. On the run up to Christmas many shops in town stock all kinds of figures and model rustic style stables with which to make your nativity scene!

The Summer of 2007

Looking back to good times and good friends of 2007

Lloret de Mar Beaches

A view from the cliff tops overlooking Santa Christina beach.
Looking through the trees up the Costa Brava coast the next cove is Boadella, then you come to the larger beach of Fenals.

Then the next beach is the main beach of Lloret, from where you can take a boat to travel down the coast to see these very picturesque beaches the journey only takes about 20 mins or so.

Girona School Uniform

A photo showing some children on a school outing in Girona, all looking very smart in their school uniform!

Sunday Market Lloret de Mar

Every 2nd Sunday of the Month there is a boot sale type market in Lloret de Mar.
One or two stalls sell new products such as slippers, pottery, honey and herbs.
The photo below is a stall which sells old photos of Lloret and other parts of the Costa brava,
they are quite interesting to look through.



As for the the other stalls the only thing I can say about them is.....I've never seen so much rubbish in my life!!
as you can see from the next 2 photos!!

Typical Spanish ornamental pottery.

Lloret de Mar Medieval Weekend

Lloret medieval week end brought hundreds of people into town as always.

The weather was perfect for both days, so the streets were packed with people looking round the colourful stalls. There were pony rides for the children, along with sheep and goats in pens looking just as they would have been kept in medieval times. The streets were covered in straw again to give them that 'olden times' look!

 

Lloret de Mar Medieval Weekend.

Just one photo for now.
This had to be the best looking bird at the Medieval week-end!

Last Stop in Spain!

This slideshow show photos from the very small border town of Port Bou. This is the most northerly town on the Costa Brava before you reach the French border. The railway here is the most important place in town, serving trains from both sides of the border.

Port Bou sits in a valley surrounded by mountainous green slopes which stretch right down to the sea. The church of Santa Maria can be seen from all over the town as it is set on a hill at the back of town only to be reached by very steep hills or long flights of steps.

The sea here is crystal clear even in the small harbour, where usually you would see a light covering of oil in places from the boats. Not here though all the harbour and town is kept spotlessly clean!

A Colourful Autumn in Girona.

Although the weather is still very good on the Costa Brava, as in the UK autumn is well and truly here. These trees are just outside the bus station at Girona, adding a variety of colour to a very dull looking station! Temperatures in Girona these days are reaching 22c - 23c, but dropping to about 3c during the night. Daytime temperatures on the coast are about the same through the day, if not slightly warmer, but night temperatures can still be 12c or more!

Medieval time in Lloret de Mar

Due to take place during the weekend of 10th - 11th November here in Lloret is the popular Medieval event. Everyone looks forward to this special weekend, as it brings hundreds of people into town, which is very good for the shops and bars. Hotels will be full to approx 80% - 90% capacity.