A month in Spain in the winter
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The Spanish Flag |
November 2023 9th November to………………. 9th December
Another trip to SaIobrena…….. Had not been to the house for a year
Decided to drive to Salobrena in the Citron Picassa with Danielle. We left at 3pm to catch the 4pm Wightlink ferry to Portsmouth where we arrived at 4.40 pm. A short journey but expensive. We the drove to the Continental Ferry port where we joined the queue to board the ferry to Santander. The waiting seemed endless. Once aboard we went to our cabin. It took two nights and one day to reach Santander, At times it was very rough in the Bay of Biscay but it got less so as we neared our port.
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At the start of the holiday the car was on the
car deck |
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Watching for Whales & Porpoises |
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The Bay of Biscay |
We began our drive at about 8am and it took 12 hours arriving at about 8pm on Sunday. It was difficult to find a parking space near the house so I had to leave the car closer to the sea, but it was a good place to park.
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Salobrena |
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Walking Through Salobrena |
On Monday we went shopping and got organised in the house. It was good to find the house untouched and in good order. But I fell down the stairs twice but didn`t get hurt. I set up the battery lights on the staircase and this helped.
On Tuesday I got the tyres on the bikes pumped up ( they hadn`t been touched for a year) We watched UK TV via the wifi and then went out for a bite to eat and sleep on the beach.
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My bike on the beach in Motril, 5miles from Salobrena
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The beach at Motril |
The weather in Salobrena was calm and warm. I was in shirt sleeves all the time. The forecast each day was the same. Unlike the weather in the UK which was windy and wet. It was what we came to southern Spain for. Better sunny weather in the autumn/winter away from cold and light sickness or `Sad`
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The car parked in Salobrena |
On Wednesday I went out on my bike. I hadn`t been on the bike for a year. Everything worked well but the brakes needed adjusting. I cycled to the Motril area and did about 12 miles.
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| Salobrena |
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| Salobrena |
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| The beach at Salobrena |
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| Salobrena |
The next day on Thursday I tried to fix Danielle`s bike, but two of the batteries would not charge. They had been left a year without a charge and were no good. I think Danielle was quite pleased she would not have to do any cycling.
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The beach near Saloberna |
In the underground carpark at Sierra Navada
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On the beach at Salobrena in the sunshin
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Drove to Sierra Navada and the Ski apartment
There was no snow and the machines were making artificial snow.
I kept in touch with Eli in South Africa and she wanted to put a metal door guard in front of the door at the front as this door is a weak point with the house. Like most places in the world there are homeless people in the Salobrena. If they decided to break into the house it would take ages and money to get them out. It`s a case of the victim is in the wrong. It seems right these days to have no money and no place to live. Eli tried to get a metal carpenter to make a suitable guard to protect the property.
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Coming downstairs, I fell down stairs three times
so I placed lights which respond to movement. |
On Friday we moved the car closer to the house went for a drive towards Malaga and had lunch at a cafe in Salobrena where the owner spoke English. He informed me there there was a metal carpenter in Salobrena and where it was. We might be able to get them to make a metal gate to be installed in front of the front door for security reasons. I spoke to Eli, Duncan`s partner from South Africa on the phone and she emphasised how difficult it would be to get a family out of the house if they broke in, so a security gate is a must.
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The car parked bear the house
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Eli managed to find a person to do the job from Motril, the nearest city to Salobrena. He came and measured up and said he would come on the 5th December a couple of days before we had to leave.
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View of Salobrena from the castle
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One day we visited Almunecar just along the coast in the car, but other days we just chilled out. It was a very low key holiday.
On the 3rd December 2023 I went out for a cycle ride. I had my GPS set to Guajar Faraguit and had voice instructions. It took me through the village of Lobres which is a sleepy place and I ended up at a rambler ( a river valley in Spain) which the gps told me to cross. The water was too deep so I turned around and retraced my route back to Salobrena. It was a good ride along very quiet roads. Later in the day Danielle and I walked to the beach and sat down for an hour in the sunshine. Imagine sitting on the beach in the warmth in December in the UK.
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| The castle at the top of Salobrena |
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The edge of the castle at the top
of the town of Salobrena |
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| Looking round the castle |
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| The cafe in Salobrena where English is spoken |
Today, Monday there was a little rain for the first time and the light was dull. I went for a cycle ride for the last time. Did about 10 miles. We then walked to Bar Amigos and had some breakfast. It was a bit chilly without any sunshine.
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Cycle ride north of Salobrena |
The next day Tuesday was just a little better weatherwise. I did a little shopping but had to put everything back at Carrfour as I had forgotton my money. I went back to the house but the gate arrived for fitting. It was soon fitted and looked good. I then went back to the shop and on my second at attempt bought the goods. I had moved the car closer to the house for packing tomorrow. I know I shall feel happier once we have left with the guard protecting the front door as there is quite a lot of crime in Salobrena.
On Wednesday 6th December we packed most of our stuff and I took most of it to the car ready for departure the next day. It was done fairly quickly and we were free for most of the day. We went for a walk along the sea front and had a coffee and coke in a sea front cafe
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| Danielle on the roof terrace |
The next day we left the house making it secure, turning off the electricity and water. And knowing it will be a long befote it`s occupied again. It was a long drive. 600 miles and it took me 12 hours to reach Santander. We stayed in a hotel for one night, then in the morning made our way to the ferry departure port. Eventualy we boarded and sailed to Portsmouth which took 27 hours, it was very rough at first but calmed down as we got closer to out destination.
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| Leaving Santander for Portsmouth |
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There is much crime in
Salobrena ao Eli though
there should be a guard
on the door.
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| On the ferry returning to Portsmouth |
On the 10th December we arrived back in Portsmouth, left the ferry and drove to the Isle of Wight ferry. We were soon back on the Island and drove home.
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