Anyone who lives in Andalucia, or who is an aficionado of Spanish food, will be well aware of the leading role played by "liquid gold" - olive oil - in the region's cuisine.
An Andalucian breakfast is toast with jamon serrano, tomato and olive oil drizzled liberally all over it; it's a key…
The best fried fish in Spain is in... Andalucia!
Although it probably doesn't come as much of a surprise, El Pais recently published a list of the restaurants serving the best pescaito frito (fried fish) in Spain, and nine out of ten were in Andalucia.
Pescaito frito is a mix of fish and…
The Paralympic Games
It's all over. Our glorious golden summer of sport has finished. The Paralympics finished in spectacular fashion last night with a stunning Closing Ceremony, and now I'm watching the parade through London in honour of Team GB and Paralympics GB, on my computer here in Spain.…
Patience, perspective and planning ahead: dealing with spanish administration and small children.
A kind English friend, recently returned from her summer visit, has just lent me a book on parenting - the Supernanny toddler one, which she said all her friends back in England are using. It's the…
Back to VAT
If, like me, you've been away for the summer, and have recently arrived back in Spain, you may be somewhat alarmed by the rise in IVA, effective as of last Saturday, 1 September. IVA is Impuesto sobre el Valor Añadido, and applies to virtually all goods and services, except health and…
My year in Spain
Guest Post: Rebeka Thompson
I have been blogging for Andalucia.com, usually about special events, since March. However, few readers will be aware that this is my final week working for Andalucia.com. As a third-year degree student at Nottingham University, reading Spanish…
The importance of eating local
GUEST POST: CHRIS CHAPLOW
Recently I was having tapas in a bar called ‘El Tipico Andaluz’, enjoying jamon y queso and aceite de oliva. Picking up the bottle of mineral water, I noticed it was not from Andalucia, but from northern Spain. I wondered why and asked the…
Malaga Feria
Guest Post: Rebeka Thompson
Feria has returned to Malaga! The annual Malaga summer fair takes place every August - it is a vibrant, energetic, 10-day celebration with all-night street parties, including lashings of flamenco, food and fino (dry sherry). The fair is over 500…
Fiesta de la Luna Llena.
Guest Post: Rebeka Thompson
I have never been to Thailand, but as it has become an increasingly popular destination for holidaying students and gap year travellers, I know many who have. One of the most alluring aspects of Thailand for university students and other…
Manuel Cortes: a biography
Guest Post: Rebekah Thompson
One of the most famous (or some would say infamous) characters in Andalucía during the Civil War, not for his participation but for his ability to remain hidden for three decades, was Manuel Cortes, former Mayor of Mijas. Through hard work…