Please do not download or copy photos without my permission, Thank you.

Please do not download or copy photos without my permission, Thank you.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Lloret de Mar Weather


These photos of the beach in Fenals were taken yesterday. Still plenty of holiday makers about but not quite as crowded as August. The weather was very good, temperatures were about 25-26c. Rain was forecast but we didnt get it here on the coast.

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Lloret de Mar Events


In Lloret de Mar on the second Sunday of the month there's a small collection of classic cars on show in the square opposite the Xaine Park Hotel, along side the flea market. Today was a good day for the market, the weather was good with just a few clouds about which kept the temperatures down slightly.


Here's a few of the cars on show today, all nicely washed and polished for their day out!






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Monday, September 08, 2008

Cheap Flights to Girona


The latest special offer on flights by RYANAIR for travel during October and November was supposed to end at midnight last night. The cost of flights were £5 each way, the offer has now been extended to finish midnight on Wednesday, at a new cost of £10. This is still very cheap as there are no extra charges included.



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Saturday, September 06, 2008

Cheap Flights to Girona.


If you are sick and tired of the rain in the UK this year, it may be a good time to think about trying to catch a bit of sun. You have until midnight tomorrow to get a cheap flight from Ryanair.
The flights are for travel during October and November, and the cost of most journeys are only
£5 each way. This is the total cost with no taxes or any other charges, apart from your insurance or baggage which you have to pay extra for these days. The good weather here in Lloret is expected to last until late in the year owing to all the rain we had at the start of the season.

Friday, August 29, 2008

Weather in Lloret de Mar.

The weather this month here on the Costa Brava has been very hot & humid, making it very difficult for some people to cope.
OK, we all like to have a nice tan when we return home from holiday but there is no need to suffer in able to achieve it!
At the first sign of any discomfort in the sun is the time to get out of it, trying to stay there will only cause more problems which your body wont be able to cope with. You will then not only end up with badly sun burnt skin but worse still possibly sunstroke and dehydration which can cause dizziness and vomiting. This will then keep you out of the sun for the next 2 or 3 days at least.
So the best thing is to take things steady and not try get your tan in the first few hours of arriving in your holiday resort, until you have built up some resistance to the harsh sun and heavy humidity which we have in Lloret de Mar.
No matter where you are going around town its always advisable to take a bottle of water, even the steadiest of walks can cause heat exhaustion. Just a few sips every few minutes can help stop you suffering from any ill effects in the heat.
Sun creams of at least factor 15 should be applied before you venture out at any time of day. Even while walking round the shops looking for your gifts to take back home, you will be getting more sun than you realise!
While sunbathing on the beach, if you start to feel uncomfortable and sweaty and you don't like taking a dip in the sea, just a quick dip under the shower will cool you off and keep your body temperature down.
Sunglasses also help protect your eyes from the sunlight, even in not so bright conditions without them you could still get glare from the sea which may cause headaches.
Clothing should be loose and light, but make sure that the material is not too thin or see through as the sun's rays can pass straight through and you can then end up with sunburn without realising it.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Steve's 50th in Buzzby's

Another 50th birthday party in Lloret de Mar !
Happy Birthday to Steve, who is one of the longest reigning workers still here in Lloret. We all had a good night in Buzzbys to celebrate his birthday. Here is a slide show of the photos taken, with a few faces from the past and present !

Saturday, August 23, 2008

The Beatles - Abbey Road


The last of the Clon Festival tribute bands played in Lloret de Mar last night. All day the weather was cloudy and looked as though it would rain at any time, but it held off ... that is until the band came on stage!


Owing to the wind part of the framework which house's the stage lights couldn't be erected so it made it almost impossible to get photos with out large lumps of metal in the foreground.


As usual they came on stage at 10.30, and then it started lightening over the sea, After 30-40 minutes it started to rain quite heavy so they couldn't possibly carry on and had to stop the show and cover all their equipment. What we saw though, they were brilliant...
Even the drum had the familiar 'Beatles' name on the front as you can just make out from the photo below! Their excellent web site can be seen HERE




Sunday, August 17, 2008

Lloret de Mar - Weather

Last Thursday night we had what can only be described as a mini tornado in Lloret!
The weather had been quite good all day, although cooler than previous days - which was a relief!
We were in Buzzbys in Fenals when it started to look rather stormy, one of the locals came in and said that a storm was on way as he had just come from Girona and had seen the black clouds heading our way.
At about 12.oo it started to rain then without any more warning the heavens opened !
The strong wind was actually blowing the rain sideways. The power went off in the pub and various other places in town.
Then at the top of the street a manhole cover lifted and water came gushing up through this, flooding all the road in seconds ! The water flooded over a low wall opposite the pub into a small piece of land making it look like a lake.
Further away we heard that part of one of the main roads was blocked by fallen trees.
For people who were actually walking through it said it was terrifying, almost as though they were going to drown!
This only lasted for 10 minutes or so, we hate to think what would have happened if it had gone on for much longer.

So the forecast shown on the 8 day chart below was correct...even though it had been a nice day until then.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Weather in Lloret de Mar


This August in Lloret de Mar we have had shade temperatures well into the 30s. The main beach in Lloret has been packed with holiday makers, its almost impossible to find a place these days. Just about every weather forecast link on the web we seem to find here is for Girona, but as this is a few kilometers inland it doesn't always give a true reading of we what get here on the coast. I have found a local forecast which gives us an 8 day weather forecast , you can find the site here...WEATHER

Saturday, August 09, 2008

Wish You Were Here?


Last night in Lloret we saw 'Crazy Diamond' the Pink Floyd tribute band. We just didnt know what to expect from this band-could they sound anything like the real thing? We didnt think they would, but we were mistaken!


 They were excellent! Although I was never a fan of Pink Floyd when they were popular, since then I have grown to like a few of their songs, such as Money, Brain Damage, Brick in the Wall and Wish you were here. They came on stage at 10.30 and played for 2 hrs. You can hear Crazy Diamond for yourself on MYSPACE.


Sunday, August 03, 2008

Lloret de Mar - Clon Festival Dates

Just a reminder about the Clon festival dates. So far we have had two of the 4 scheduled bands play. The final two bands to play are the Pink Floyd tribute, 'Crazy Diamond'
Then on Aug 22nd is the beatles soundalikes 'Abbey Road'
Should be another 2 nights of excellent entertainment !

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

British Expats - Go or Stay ?


Every month on the Costa Brava a free English language magazine (The Resident) is published. In this months edition I found a very interesting piece about plans for a new television programme for ITV 1 back in the UK. Here is the article as it appeared in the mag...

Dear Resident,
Every year more and more Brits are giving up their life in the sun to move back to the UK - last year almost 100,000 expats came home. Whether it's because they miss family and friends or are finding it hard to find a job or learn the local language, many Brits are deciding that there's no place like home. The decision to return is a tough one, and can be a huge decision,
and you may feel you've lost touch with what kind of place Britain really is to live in these days. Is it as good as you remember? Or are you better staying put where you are?

ITV1 is making a new day-time documentary series on this subject and we are keen to talk to British expats who live abroad and are considering moving back to the UK. Families who take part will be flown to Britain to test drive the reality of life there.
Its an opportunity to make an informed choice - to remain an expat or realise its time to come back home.
If you are interested in taking part or you know someone who may be suitable, please email: oliver.strous@fevermedia.co.uk or call +44 207 428 4630.

After contacting Oliver to ask if I could include his letter on the my blog I received a very speedy reply granting his permission.

So thank-you once again Oliver!

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Fireworks In Lloret de Mar


Last night we went over to Lloret to see the fireworks display, which is held on the beach every year as part of the Santa Cristina Festival. The show lasted 20 mins and was bigger and better than ever!! Last night we were surprised that the display was accompanied by music, to which the fireworks seemed to dance about in the sky to!
We were watching from the cliff tops just above the beach and had a very good view. From there we could see what must have been thousands and thousands of people on the beach, roads and all around us. The road between Fenals and Lloret were completely blocked by cars and mopeds.
Here are the photos from last night put to a slide show with our own choice of music...hope you enjoy it !

Friday, July 25, 2008

Fireworks in Blanes.

This week in Blanes is the annual Fireworks Competition, with a different team taking part each night. These teams come from all over the world to compete.

Thousands of people gather to watch from all the best viewing points all over Blanes, so many in fact that the roads in and out are completely blocked.

The show starts at 10.30pm and last for about 30 mins. The local boat company's who run the daily resort trips, do special excursions to see the displays from out at sea.

Even in Lloret people can watch the display, even though it is a few kilometers down the road to Blanes. We went down to our local beach in Fenals from where we can see the coast at Blanes, and had quite a good view!

This slide show is the result of what we saw

Monday, July 21, 2008

Lloret de Mar Nightlife


Lloret de mar has got to be the nightlife capital of the Costa Brava, and with the height of the summer season here now after dark the streets are full of party goers looking for the best club. 


Queues are formed outside just about every music bar and club in town. Workers belonging to the best known clubs are on the streets giving out their free entry tickets and leaflets, but only if you fit their age group and dress code !

More photos of Lloret de Mar nightlife along with links to some of the best clubs can be found here - Lloret de mar Nightlife




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Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Who Gave permission for this eye sore ?

Here we have another eyesore taking shape in Fenals ! Every-one I have spoken to about this building that is now well on the way to completion in Fenals say it is far too big for this area and can not understand how and why permission was granted for something so ugly !
Also its position is just across the road from the very popular Santa Clotilde gardens visited by tourists and locals alike!


It also spoils the view of residents who have paid hundreds of thousands of Euros for their apartments across the road. They used to look onto the woods which are just on the edge of the beach, but now have to look at this monstrosity

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Lloret Clon Festival



Last Friday 11th July, the first of this years Lloret Clon Festival was again an excellent nights entertainment, this time from Dire Straits tribute band Sultans of Swing. They played none stop from 10.30pm until 12.30 am, and was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone! This is now the 5th year and is a very popular event with all the locals and also the people here on holiday.
 

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Thursday, July 10, 2008

Lloret de Mar - Beach


With the Lloret de Mar weather being more settled these days holiday makers are out 'in force' on the beaches. The boats are doing a good trade ferrying people from one resort to another. Temperatures are now hitting the 30s, so after a very slow start to the summer season the sea temperatures are also as they should be for this time of year.



On Lloret beach there are plenty of activities to keep people of every age amused while here on holiday. Alongside the more energetic watersports such as the jet skis for hire and the water sking, para-sailing, banana boat and fly-fish there is the slower paced pedallos.
Sun-beds and para-sols are also available for hire if you just prefer to relax on the beach after a well earned rest!



Friday, July 04, 2008

Lloret de Mar - Clon Festival Dates

The dates & bands for the Lloret Clon Festival are as follows...

As said on the previous post Sultans of Swing will play the Clon Festival on 11th July. The next two dates are 25th July the Bob Marley tribute band 'Legend' will play. The band is from Birmingham, you can see their website HERE



The third band to play the Clon Festival this year is the Pink Floyd tribute band from Barcelona 'Crazy Diamond' which I think will be the most popular one judging by what people are saying in town at the moment!

They are playing 8th August, but to see the band in action before go to their page on MY SPACE

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Lloret de Mar - Events

One of the most popular events in lloret de mar is the annual Clon Festival. This is where you can see tribute bands of some of the biggest names in music.
The event is free and takes place in the open air down on the sea front in Lloret near McDonalds.

Altogether there will be four nights of entertainment...

The first event takes place on Friday 11th July at 10.30pm, the band playing this night will be the Dire Straits tribute Sultans of Swing. The band are from Barcelona and here is a link to what they do ! Sultans of Swing.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Lloret de Mar - Innovation 2008


This week is the annual Innovation event held at Colossos here in Lloret. This event brings hundreds of clubbers into town so the hotels are having a busy time this week. To read more about this fun event click HERE

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Lloret de Mar - Old Stuff

After recent emails the first of which was from John McGuire who worked here in Lloret back in the 70s, I have decided to start a new blog dedicated to the good old days of Lloret de Mar.

I never thought this would have created so much interest, so thanks to John for starting the ball rolling and sending photos which he has kindly given me permission to use. The first photo seen here is from the Prince of Wales back in the 70s. John is the twit with the beard at the front, sorry John but they were your words not mine !

Behind him to the right is Alan Hagger...who is still here and still making a nuisance of his self :-)

With the new blog I will be posting photos from 'days gone by' and if possible put old friends back in contact with each other.
Here is the link for Lloret de Mar old stuff

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Lloret de Mar - Watersports

After the heavy downpours we have been subject to during the last few weeks, it now looks as though the summer beach activities are back in business.

Both Lloret and Fenals water sports centres are up and running for the season. Here is a short slide show showing them at work !

Monday, June 16, 2008

Lloret de Mar - Eating Out

Eating out in Lloret...you need never be stuck for somewhere to go. The famous fast food place McDonalds can be found at the opposite end to the castle right next to the beach!


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Thursday, June 12, 2008

Lloret de Mar - Fun on the Beach





With hardly a cloud in the sky today the beach was very busy with holiday makers making the most of the sun. Something we haven't seen much of just recently! The current temperature is 28º in the shade(4pm), just as it should be for this time of year. The Water Sports Centre in Fenals were doing a nice steady trade, but the three little girls above decided to bring their own to the beach!

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