Such a short distance across the Straits of Gibraltar between Spain and Morocco and yet they are a world apart. This is the wonder of travel in these parts, a short boat ride delivers one to a completely different culture, language, geography, religion… in short, a completely new and exotic world! “The word exotic has traditionally been attached to … More So close and a world away: Morocco
I had read a lot about the ‘free’ tapas in Granada before we arrived but didn’t think much about it other than it might be a nice garnish (pun intended) to our experience. Now that I am here, I have become enamored of, perhaps even addicted to, the ritual of going for tapas. Having a … More My love affair with tapas in Spain
Every journey has its requisite ebbs and flows, ups and downs and in-betweens. I think that is why travel makes me feel so alive. As one tests oneself against new and changing situations, drifting is not an option. Being permanently awake to the new, while exciting, can also be overwhelming at times. My family and … More Reflecting on 8 months in Spain
My husband and I have both travelled a lot, separately and together, but this is the first time we have travelled extensively as a family of four. We are eight months into a year away with our children who are aged 9 and 7 years and we are discovering first-hand the vast differences to our … More What I have learned from travelling with children
It is strange that I harbor such a passion for foreign languages when I hail from the monolingual country and continent of Australia. What I love about learning languages is not the theory and grammar but the revealing of a culture, its history and a new way of being. The truth is I have no … More The best way to learn Spanish (in Andalucía)
After the whirlwind of settling into a new continent, country, city, suburb and community, I have finally had some time to connect with family and friends back home in Australia. I have had half a dozen long Skype conversations with my tribe and the differences between my new life here in Granada and the one … More A different Perspective…from my ivory tower in Granada
When we were researching where we would live in Spain for a year, climate played a large part in our decision which is why we chose to live in Southern Spain. And although coastal Spain would have been the most suitable climate befitting a ‘soft’ Australian, we couldn’t see ourselves amongst the sun-seekers and retirees who flock to … More Southern Spain Does Have a Winter
We have experienced many wonderful cultural adventures these last few months and as we take them in our stride each day, we often forget just how different life is here from our life in Sydney, Australia. Any excuse for chat We find that Granadinos and those who have adopted Granada as their home have a … More Autumn months in Granada
The first of many months in Spain As the full moon rises behind the Alhambra, marking a month since our arrival, the sounds of flamenco guitar waft through the windows and I am reflecting on the beginning of “our year in Spain”. Thankfully our arrival was a soft-landing due in part to forward planning but … More First impressions of a new life in Spain
What a blast it has been. A beautiful week in France followed by an extravaganza of people and places in Switzerland. This evening is the first time I’ve had to really contemplate the massive two weeks that have just been. I had forgotten just how much happens in short space of time when travelling. In addition, … More La Belle Vie in France and Switzerland
Our Year In Spain 