We came to France for a few reasons. One was MRB'S love of Bordeaux wines and especially St. Emillion. After Italy and we thought we had already enjoyed the best of great countryside, food and wine.When we arrived in St. Emillion we thought we had gone to heaven. What a beautiful town. MB had been here for a few hours in 1990, but to stay in the 'Hostellerie De Plaisance' hotel, was a great joy. A place where you could really enjoy beautiful countryside dotted w...

We decided before we went to Granada to visit the Costa del Sol, and Costa del Golf. Another interesting trip, but very barren, winding hilly country. As we came into San Pedro we could not believe how vast the development of housing is. However, great looking golf courses and seriously beautiful Spanish mansions. MB has has his usual swim, but the beach is rocky here, and we are back now to the Mediterranean.We can see Gibraltar and the coast of Africa from the...

Today we drove from Jerez to Ronda. A beautiful drive through mountains, lime green fields and olive trees everywhere in dry arid soil. Fantastic roads here compared to Italy, a lovely country drive on wide relatively new roads. In Ronda we stayed at the Parador in the old city centre. First up we had lunch at a beautiful restaurant in the sun, tomato salad with tuna and anchovies. This is a hill town so we walk the old city walls at the old town limits, visiti...

We arrived in Granada to a view of snow covered mountains of 'Sierra Nevada' and the large city of old and new buildings. The main feature here is 'Alhambra' the red palace, built by the Muslims starting in 1238, it was the last bastion of muslims in spain defeated by christian monarchs in 1492. Due to the muslim influence it displays beautiful architecture and detail in this enormous and elaborate building. We stayed at 'Alhambra palace hotel' built in 1912, wh...

Today we went to the cathederal in Seville for high mass. Janet wanted to know why there were so many priests needed to say the same mass and they seemed to be set apart in a golden cage in this enormous church removed from the congregation? Mick had no answer. We left Seville for Jerez de la fontera less than an hours drive away.When we arrived we wondered why we had come to this seemingly suburban town. We looked around, had tapas lunch in the old centre then ...