My Secret Latin Love Affair…

Have you ever thrown caution to the wind and risked it all for a whirlwind romance?

I was turning sweet sixteen and it was on holiday with my parents that I first found a passion for all things Spanish. Admittedly at that time, l  was seduced by the sunshine, the rhythm of salsa and the sheer exoticism of the southern Spanish style of living, but over the years that initial lust turned into a true love of Andalucia.

I found the port of Malaga to be a tantalising taste of things to come… the many seafood restaurants along the pontoons reflect the importance of good food in Spanish culture, and after soaking up the charm of the historic city, there is nothing better than discovering a rustic bodega and whiling away the afternoon enjoying a bottle of Ribera del Duero and sampling delightful local tapas.

When thoughts turn to Southern Spain, most people think of sunshine, sand and sangria; yet there is so much more to this delightful part of the world…

Exploring a little further beyond the shore, the history of Spanish culture is celebrated magnificently in architectural masterpieces such as the Alhambra Palace in Granada and a visit to the historic citadel of Ronda is a chance to see the Plaza de Toros; the oldest bullring in Spain dating back to 1785.

The coastal towns and fishing villages whisper a chanty of seafaring days gone by and the hills of Andalucia are dotted with little white villages – ‘pueblos’; each with their own character and charm, sheltered by mountains extending toward the Sierra Nevada; where in the winter months you will find slopes reminiscent of an Alpine Ski resort.

Over the years, each of my flying visits to Spain were a chance to satisfy my desire for the culture, history, art and wonder that had attracted me to my new found love.

& at the age of 26, I finally committed to my on/off ten-year relationship with Spain and relocated to Mijas Costa, packing up my life in the UK to live in a small villa in the hills; I had fallen for my love of Spain hook, line & sinker!