New Year in Spain

At the crack of half past three on Boxing Day morning, we staggered out of bed and made our way to Manchester Airport to catch the plane to Gibraltar. Meanwhile the Wren and her husband were flying out from Gatwick to Malaga. We were all meeting up in Vejer de la Frontera to spend some time with Jemima and Cody. That night we all met up to swap Christmas presents and catch up on each other's news.

Since I last went to Vejer, Jemima and Cody have acquired a dog, Eva.


Peter with Eva by the fountain in the main square. Some joker had put shampoo in the water and it was bubbling all over the place.


This is Flossie, Eva's best mate. Flossie belongs to Caroline, Cody's mother.
We had great fun taking the dogs to the beach for a scamper.



One evening we went for a walk in the pine forests above Cape Trafalgar. These are the pine trees that produce pine nuts. On the way back, just as it was getting dark, we saw an Eagle Own sitting on a branch. I texted Maalie excidedly. He was somewhat envious. He's never seen one.


Eagle Owl Woods.


Eagle Owl. I didn't take this picture, by the way.


Cape Trafalgar from Eagle Owl Woods.

One day we all went into Cadiz, the nearest large town. I hadn't been there before. It is a strange place, built on a spit of land, and the highest point is only seven metres above sea level. Cadiz was beautiful, very old. Some say that it is the oldest European town. There were some huge Rubber Trees. The original seeds were brought back when the Spanish first discovered the Americas, so must be over five hundred years old.


Wren and Jemima admiring the Rubber Tree.

On New Year's Day, a gathering of Jemima, Cody's and Caroline's friends met up on the beach. It was cold. Really cold. The Atlantic waves were huge. People were wearing wet suits and surfing. Jemima got very excited and suggested we all went in. "No cozzy" said I. "Go in wearing undies" she replied. So we did! My it was cold. Once you got to knee-level, you were knocked over by the pounding surf. We didn't stay in long, but I surprised myself by having a swim in the Atlantic on New Year's Day wearing my undies! Luckily I have no photos to prove it. You'll just have to take my word!

Another silly thing we did was to clamber up a gigantic sand dune and then turned round and ran down again. That was hard work actually!


Peter and me at the top.

The week went by so quickly. It seemed like no time at all, and we were back in Gibraltar. We sat on the roof of the airport waiting until it was time to board. This cheeky little fellow wouldn't leave us alone. He was obviously after my croissant and coffee. I thought it was a Herring Gull, but Maalie assures me it's a Yellow Legged Gull. Well, he should know.



In the plane waiting to take off on the rather scarey runway. The Rock on our right, sea on our left, ahead and behind.


Looking forward to going back soon.