Spending the winter abroad

Just reviving this thread to say that I am sitting up in bed watching an enormous sun rise over the Mediterranean. Thank you susiecb for your original post! The weather is sunny, warm enough to wander around in a t-shirt in the sun, but cool in the shade. We spend a lot of time on the balcony watching the fishing boats go in and out.
We are on the coast near Malaga, can see it would be my idea of hell in the summer, but very pleasant in winter. I know of one other Gransnetter who booked as a result of this thread; did anyone else?

Mamie, I'm in bed too. Shivering. And dreading the thought of travelling to work. My lecture isn't until 1.00 so I'm hoping the ice isn't too treacherous by then. I'm not envious. Not one bit.

Mamie, and it's not even that snowy here in Cheshire.

me too! No snow here but it is very, very cold.

Not sure if this is still relevant but here goes. We have a home in southern Spain, Sotogrande, where you can see Africa very clearly from the beach nearby. The weather in January through until March and April can be lovely but it can also be very wet occasionally, so if you do rent then make sure that the apartment or house has heating that you can use.

From where we live we can easily reach Tarifa, Seville (beautiful), Cordoba, Jerez or venture to North Africa on the hovercraft. Gaucin is also beautiful. This is a part of Spain that is so rich in culture and so much to see and do. The Spanish rail system is fantastic and cheap compared to UK. We do not have lager and chips here....the spanish food is excellent and so are the markets. Not as good value as it used to be but the Spanish make you so welcome - especially children.

Strangely enough at present, we spend most of the winter in the UK. My parents are elderly and are often very ill during winter months, so I am here to look after them until I return around March time. My brother will return from Canada next year when he retires and then he can take over the winter caring and I can spend the winters in Spain!!

Hope this helps anyone thinking of spending time abroad in the winter months.

fonda that sounds wonderful. I'm off to Mijas Pueblo soon for the whole of February , having negotiated a 'mini-sabbatical'. I will see whether I can get to some of the places you mention - Gaucin sounds great. We are planning to do an overnight to Granada to see the Alhambra.

We had a wonderful Easter holiday in Gaucin at Easter about fifteen years ago; it was fabulous. All the shops seemed to be in people's front rooms and food was very cheap. We are going to Ronda tomorrow, which we have only driven through before.

Grannyknot do try and get to see the Alhambra,Granada is such an enchanting part of Spain you will enjoy.

Couldn't agree more. I went round it with late husband about15 years ago. Well worth the effort!

Best of all would be to stay in the Parador, inside the Alhambra. It is a bit pricey though. Agree the Alhambra is wonderful. We went at Easter several years ago and OH got very bossy when people kept trying to queue jump. I think we started queueing about 8am.

I've been round the Alhambra complex three times and would willingly go again. The city is lovely too. By the way, Grannyknot, it will probably be a good bit colder up at Granada than it is nearer to the coast, so take a jumper. If you don't stay in the Parador, at least have a drink there.

Thanks for all the lovely suggestions and interest. I am so excited! Don't mind if it's a bit cool, as long as it is warmer than London!

Hi Mamie. I will give you a wave as we pass through Malaga soon.
Leaving this Wednesday with the Motohome. We are heading for a site on the Western side of Gibraltar. We will be away for 3 months.
I fly back half way through the holiday as I can't be away from the GC that long.

Just returned from Tenerife - fabulous weather, around 26/29 during the day, but 15C at night. Wonderful. Now many think of Tenerife as being hugely over-built, part fish and chips and part Las Vegas - but as soon as you leave Los Christianos/Las Americas and head North or West- you leave all that behind. Even within 10 mins you can get to nice fishing ports with lovely restaurants, markets, old houses, etc. From Los Christianos you can even walk to La Caleta along the beach. And if you don't want to drive, lots of companies do tours. We also love Puerto de La Cruz on the South-West coast, with its old quarter, botanical garden, huge municipal series of pools in a lovely garden setting by the sea. And Los Gigantes with its massive cliffs - take a boat to go and see the dolphins and whales (best time for that around March = sardines. But good all round). Visit the volcanic area around Teide, and the lovely green valleys around La Orotava, with all the almond trees in flower, camassia, echium, and so many more. We loved it and have booked to go again next January - booked already. If our daughter ends up staying there, we will definitely consider spending January there every year.

Oh and forgot - of course from there you can visit the much wilder La Gomera- with a Parador hotel above the port, and La Palma and El Hierro. Many tours take you for the day to visit La Gomera, and we've been a few times, from the port of Puerto Colon in the South. You can take the ferry from the capital, Santa Cruz (North-East) for the other two islands.

Granada is surrounded by snowy moutains - in fact from the Alhambra we could see people skiing with my binocs. It is VERY cold in Jan/Feb - we had thick jumpers but nearly froze in the early morning queue. The Paradors have fantastic offers for seniors, with great discounts if you stay more than 2 nights- but to stay at the one inside the Alhambra you have to book a long time (very) in advance. When we asked if they had a room - they thought it was hilarious!!!

If you want to read a bit about the recent history of Granada, during the civil war, do read Victoria Hislop's The Return. Very interesting. You will find that the hill opposite the Alhambra is still inhabited by Gipsies who live in caves - now accompanied by many new age travellers who can be a bit intimidating, walking around with packs of semi-wild dogs.

Our son drove down from Granada to join us this weekend. It was 7 degrees in Granada and 20 when they got here just over an hour later. My granddaughter only has winter clothes here and managed to fall over when paddling, so my DiL had to do an emergency shopping trip. People are on the beach in swimming costumes and behind them you can see snow on the mountains. Masses of people out and about today.

Oh Mamie. I can see the road now in my minds eye. As soon as we pass through Granada we know we are in sunshine.

granjura. I have read the book. It's makes it so much more interesting when you have been to places in the book.

Just to add that Grannyknot (plus Mr. Knot and Mr. Mamie) and I had a very nice mini meet-up in Fuengirola today. Sunshine and new friends; thank you to the Gransnet winter abroad thread!

Oh stop it Mamie It's raining/snowing/sleeting/very cold/very windy here!So glad you are having fun though

Mamie/ Grannyknot Pleased to hear you've had a good meet-up in the Spanish sunshine!

Thanks both. Start the long trek north soon, though we are stopping off in Salamanca which I have wanted to see for a long time.

Salamanca! Ah, that brings back memories of a time with future husband, a motorbike, the hot smell of engine oil and dust, arriving wind-blown and exhausted through an avenue of cypress trees. A beautiful city.