Postcard from Andalusia - 24 March-4 April 2016

After a worse than fraught week, I took off from Gatwick just 30 minutes late on Maundy Thursday but we arrived on time.  After searching for my luggage and my driver I had a swift car journey to the Kempinski Bahia in Estepona, Marbella.  Had a lovely room with views of the sea and the mountains, so soaked up the sun on my balcony for the afternoon.  Spent next two days soaking up glorious sunshine in the Kempinski gardens.  It was quite windy at times, but did manage a swim!  Easter Day was rather cloudy to start with; it warmed up for a short time, but then became quite cool so I spent the afternoon just inside my balcony doing some tapestry.  In the evening my friend, Anna, who was staying nearby came over and we enjoyed some wine together.

On Easter Monday a car picked me up and took me to Malaga Station from where I took a train to Cordoba. A lovely journey across Andalusia, passing miles and miles of olive trees.  On arrival I took a taxi to the Hospes Palacio de Bailio, where I had a rather small and dark room looking out to a courtyard.  I took myself on a 5 mile walk for the afternoon trying to find my way around. Found a tapas bar in the evening for a cheap and cheerful dinner. Next morning was a chilly start but turned into a beautiful day.  I did a five-hour walking tour around the City, mostly visiting Alcazar de los Reyes Christianos and the mosque, La Mezquita.  Exhausted, I relaxed by the pool in the afternoon!  In the evening I went on another long walk back to the main area of Cordoba to find a nice Tapas restaurant for dinner. On Wednesday morning I walked the streets of Cordoba again and relaxed by the sunny pool in the afternoon.

On Thursday 31^st in the morning I took the train from Cordoba to Seville, and a taxi got me to my hotel soon after midday.  Sadly not the best of hotels – rather too basic for me.  However still sunny weather so took myself off for a short walk to find my bearings, but my mind was on whether the sale of my Sussex flat would go through [due that day] or not, so returned to the hotel to await the email, which thankfully came through at 3.15pm telling me I had exchanged and completed the sale!  What a relief.  Then I had to set to with 101 emails.  I did however take a walk to a supermarket to get a bottle to celebrate!

On Friday I did a free guided walk around the City and met with a very nice couple from Wales.  It was another glorious morning, and after the tour the three of us took a stroll around the gardens of the Spanish Plaza, finishing up with a ‘glass’ in the sunshine.  Later that afternoon I did a tour of the Real Alcazar and gardens, and found a tapas restaurant nearby in the evening.  On Saturday I took the open-top bus around the City in the morning, and then did a lot of walking around in the afternoon.

On my final day it poured with rain all day, so spent it in the hotel reception waiting for my car to the airport, and after a rather delayed flight, eventually arrived home about 11.30pm.