The arrival of our first guests.

18th June 2010 


Ian and Diane arrived on Wednesday night (or I should say Thursday morning). Their flight which was due to arrive around 10.45 was delayed by 50 mins. By the time they got their luggage and cleared customs it was past midnight.

They have had a great holiday so far. Ian was absolutely wrapped about the bike races in the Isle of Man. They spent that week camping. Diane thoroughly enjoyed both the races and the camping because the campsite was so good... Then they flew to Ireland stayed in the Independent Hostels. They enjoyed the pubs and the craic. When they got to Madrid though, we got a text message from Ian saying that they were at the tapas bar at the airport and he was already loving Spain because the beer was half the price it had been in Ireland!

We had a typical Spanish tourist day yesterday. Got up late – around 10.00 am. And after doing some chores took them out to see some of the Alhama sites. The tourist guide was just opening the Convent of St Carmen Church when we got there, so they were able to go in. Then to the square for coffee and biscuits at one of the many bars; some shopping for essentials like beer and wine, back to the house for a change of shoes, and then we did the walk through the Gorge to the restaurant for a great lunch of grilled lamb, fried rabbit and salad plus a bottle of red wine.

Diane was enthusiastic about the fact that we didn’t start eating until about 3.00 and were just heading back around 6.00 and it was still broad daylight. Spain is on double daylight saving time, so getting up at 10.00 is really like getting up at 8.00 am, and so our lunch was close to when we would usually have it, but the double daylight saving means that about 20 of the 24 hours are mostly light, and the siesta is still timed to cover the hottest part of the day.

Today we started out with tea toast and fruit for breakfast on the back terrace, then down to the market where Diane bought her first pair of shoes (every girl must buy shoes in Spain) and some other bits and pieces. I saw just the thing for Therese as well. Then up to the best supermarket in town, followed by drinks in the new part of Alhama – we had two each, so had two lots of tapas which were enough to do us for lunch. Enjoyed a siesta after that and then happy hour on the roof terrace followed by dinner at home – a delicious spit roast chicken and salad, then up to the square around 10.00 for more tapas some Sangria for Diane and me, beer for Ian and a rum and coke for Brian. They have decided they really like this life and are bemoaning the fact that it will not be too long before they have to go back to work.

We are taking them to Granada on Tuesday morning where they have booked into see the Alhambra. We have booked into the same hotel, and will take them to the airport on Wednesday when they fly back to London, where they will be staying for a while before heading up to Southport for Ian’s conference...