Places To Go

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If you’re looking for somewhere to spend the day with your family this summer then I’d recommend the La Concepcion Botanical Gardens, close to Malaga City. I spent some time there recently with my sister, brother-in-law and family

If you’re a tree fan you’ll be in your element, but those who prefer flowers may feel slightly disappointed, as trees definitely rule the roost! There’s even a special section called ‘Around The World in 80 Trees’ featuring 80 trees from across the globe. If you actually stop at each tree and study it, then you can see how they look different from ordinary trees.

I was certainly in my element at the gardens, mainly because of the abundance of frogs. I make no secret of the fact that I simply ADORE frogs. Not in the way that I’d like to plant wet ones on their cheeks (although if they turned into handsome prices I might consider it….), but simply to watch them be. They jump around from lily pad to pond without a care in the world…what a life hey?! The froggys were also the highlight of the day for my two nieces, Charli and Leoni. They loved playing ‘spot the frog’ then throwing small twigs their way to scare them into jumping (teehee!)

Our little clan involved five adults, two children, a buggy and a wheelchair. This meant we could only stick to certain areas and we couldn’t go gallivanting beyond the trees, or up steep hills. But the children had great fun riding on the back of the wheelchair while Daddy pushed them along, and the buggy proved a great storage system for heavy bags.

We visited the gardens on an especially hot day so the sprinkler water system proved a real treat as we all ran through it to cool down…and there were plenty of stray lemons to quench our thirsts!

But the best part of all was when we saw a tree dedicated to my magazine, The Sentinella. Yes, the ‘centinela tree’, which towered above most of the other trees in the gardens. It’s ashame they mis-spelt it, but hey, it’s the thought that counts!

It’s also worth noting that there are picnic benches in the gardens and a delightful café serving drinks, snacks and a selection of light meals. And do check out the gift shop, where you can purchase cute little memories of your day.

For more info including directions visit their website at www.laconcepcion-ayto-malaga.es, call 952 252 148.

Keidi x

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Trip to Barcelona

I’ve just got back from six days in the Catalan region of Spain.

To celebrate three years together Chema and I spent four days in Barcelona City and two in a coastal region of Girona, Plaje D’Aro.

The best bits about Barcelona for me were Parque Guell, designed by Gaudi, La Boqueria – a colourful food market with all the fruit, nuts, chocolate and sweets you could possibly imagine and a bar full of trees with faces (right next to the wax museum).

And of course I can’t forget the human statues along Las Ramblas. Some real funny characters there, including a man sitting on the loo, a guy covered in flowers and a metallic looking figure.

Girona was rather nice too, as the hotel we stayed in offered a free limousine ride with a bottle of cava, plus a romantic dinner and unlimited usage of the spa.

It’s horrible to be back!!!

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Medieval Market

Me at the Medieval Market, in Malaga

Me at the Medieval Market, in Malaga

I tend to find Sundays in Spain a little tedious. No shops are open for heaven’s sake…

But this Sunday as I racked my brains for something to do and somewhere to go that didn’t involve simply plotting in a bar scoffing my face with tapas and paella, I saw a light.

A medieval market was advertised on a local website so my boyfriend and I trudged along to check it out.

Sunday perfection! A whole park-full of stalls, and all made up to look medieval. Even the stall-holders were dressed up in old-style clothing. What a brilliant atmosphere! I even bought a few Christmas pressies there.

And I couldn’t resist a fat slice of home-made chocolate and walnut cake – mmmmmm

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I didn’t even know it was there, until a friend mentioned it one evening over a meal.

“Hey, you should go to the animal park, in Almuñecar. It’s free to get in.”

The word ‘free’ jumped out at me. I love a good freebie.

And so Chema and I chugged up steep moutain roads to check it out.

The journey there was a little treacherous in places, but luckily there weren’t many cars coming the opposite way. It’s actually fairly easy to find. Just take the McDoanld’s exit into Almuñecar, keep to the right, and continue straight until you see a sign for Peña Escrita on the left. Take that left turn off and follow the road up all the way, about 11km.

It’s not a park the car and walk kind of place. In fact there is no car park. You must drive your car up the mountain, stopping at the cages as you see them,  then getting out to take a proper look. At the side of most cages there’s a footpath leading to yet more animals.

If anyone has visited any of the local zoos in the area, Peña Escrita is far better, plus it’s FREE! We saw a vast array of animals, including hippos, monkeys, birds, ducks, deer, tigers, lions, bears, kangaroos, porcupines, pigs, peacocks, camels, horses, zebras, wolves and many more. Some, I’d never even seen, or heard of before!

The hippos were my favourite, because suddenly, from under murky waters their heads appeared, spraying water in all directions. It was great watching them emerge!

There’s also the option of renting a cortijo or a wooden cabin for the night from around 55€.

Some tips for those who decide to visit Peña Escrita.

1. Wear sensible shoes / trainers

2. Bring snacks and water

3. If you rent a cortijo or cabin then by all means bring your own food for dinner and breakfast as the choice in the restaurant is rather bleak (if it happens to be open).

4. Bring some soft bread to feed the ducks, etc..

5. Take a camera

6. Take a jacket / cardi / jumper in case the weather turns cold. It can get chilly high up in the mountains

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