In My experience you wait ages for a bus and then two or three come and once. Also in my experience I have nothing to say ( don’t !) for a while then I do. Sadly my experience with public transport has changed. I have had to hand back my old f***s pass as we have moved out of London. That hurts. But I have applied for my new bus pass which will just cover buses and but not tubes and local trains.

After an absence of 6 months we returned to Spain. I’ve already mentioned the joy of the return to the house and garden. But the visit wasn’t all garden and village life.

When we first bought Casa Verano every visitor wanted to go to The Alhambra. 1.5 hours away. In the first year I went 6 times and was so familiar with it that it was a standing joke. I could be a tour guide. Except my Spanish would let me down.

Sadly we couldn’t get tickets this trip ~ so instead we had a day out in Granada itself. I always thought that the Costas were all Sand sea and sangria but trust me. There’s more to them than that. Malaga is a very underrated city with plenty of culture and foodie delights.

Granada is the same. The best thing is that we have the parking sussed. Parking in Spanish cities can be trying. Generally the underground car parks aren’t built for larger modern vehicles. I won’t mention the time I parked in Malaga and couldn’t find the car. Thats history. But in Granada we have found a favourite just 5 mins off the motorway. Large. Easy to find and next to a landmark.

The parking is just close to the Monasatario san jeronimo ~ a Román Catholic monastery with an interesting history. A lovely church and two cloisters quietly tucked behind some gates it is a hidden gem, and never busy.

Despite my dodgy back and having to use a walking stick I managed to get around Granada pretty well. With a few coffee and cake stops thrown in obviously.

Walking uphill in the narrow cobbled streets was easier than on the flat which was a bit of a surprise. We had watched an episode of Michael Portillo travelling around Spain earlier in the week and he had visited Granada. In the episode he visited a bakery where they made a cake ~ which was nicknamed the popes hat ~ the pionono.

I had never seen them before but we happened to stop at a modern cafe and there they were! Not the ones he made ~ he’d admit he wasn’t that good or quick. They were delicious.

In Malaga we have seen the farton which I haven’t tried largely because my childish humour stops me asking for them. It’s a long sweet elongated pastry, which I’ll try when we are next in Malaga but I’ve just read it hails from Valancia. One of my favourite places to visit in Spain.

There is so much that is stylish about European cities. Even the street lights. Beats the glow from ours. How I hate the LED’s. We have just one in the hamlet. One too many for me.

A quick visit to the cathedral ~ where like most other cultural sites you exit through the gift shop.

But it’s quite a magnificent cathedral with not one but two identical organs opposite each other. Reminded me of the church in Camberwell which once a month had organ karaoke. The sound from these two would be awesome.

The streets of Granada

So it wasn’t all gardening. We did have a trip or two to Nerja. When we first had the house I didn’t particular like Nerja but times have changed. Especially if I want a pizza. Yes. I also like pineapple on pizza. Don’t judge me !

I’d never heard of Nerja but then again I’d never heard of Competa until March 2017. But speaking to an old colleague at the time I mentioned Nerja ~ ‘oh we went there on our honeymoon’ which was 40 years before. Then to an old neighbour from Somerset ~ ‘oh we have been going there for years’. Last to the party !

A trip to Algarrobo for lunch. Algarrobo is down the wiggly road to the coast approx 15 miles away. A long beach with a long promenade dotted with plenty of places to eat. Down To Lidl and Mercadona and the occasional walk along the long promenade. But last year on the walk we stopped at a chiringuito we had walked past many times ~ and have been back numerous times since. Great food. Awesome service with sea views.

Beach baby

But we needed to be back in Somerset for April and May. It is tulip time after all.

Have I said I like tulips ?