Another trip to Santa Pola, Carlos Alcaraz US Open champion and World Number 1, Kathy and Phil came to stay, joined by Suzy, Oli in Nantes and a good time was had by all by the beach.

 Gran Alacant, Sunday, 13th September, 2025

With our dear friends Kathy and Phil

Good morning from our pad by the sea where we came last Sunday and would be joined by Kathy and Phil, our dear friends from Yorkshire. We usually see each other once a year, at least but this time it has been 3 years since we last met so we were all looking forward to some fun together in the sun and on the beach and we got it as you will read on. 

We left home, for the umpteenth time this summer, at around 10 a.m. stopping to do a food shop and for coffee and not much more. This was to be our 5th visit here this year so far. We arrived at around 3.30 and after settling in had a makeshift lunch. Gina had cleaned the apartment beautifully so all we had to do was unpack and move in. In the old days we did the cleaning ourselves on arrival and departure which was always a bore. 

Last Sunday was of course the day that the world's top men's tennis seeds were to meet in the US Open Final. Number 1, Jannik Sinner aged 24 from Italy was playing Number 2 Carlos Alcaraz aged 22 from Spain and we were all rooting for Carlitos. If he came out victorious he would become the world's number one again and importantly too would garner his 6th Grand Slam. I felt like Carlos's mother and found the match far too tense to watch. If I was his mother I would have probably had a heart attack. In the end the Spaniard won with his incredible serve and essentially quashed the more predictable Italian who could only gawp at how his rival played in the Arthur Ashe Court in Flushing Meadows last Sunday. Sinner played magnificently of course but Carlos was pure magic. If I couldn't watch the match I loved the ceremony and seeing the young Spaniard lift his second US Open trophy. 

Spain's new tennis wonder kid who has now won the US Open twice aged just 22

Of course I felt sorry for Sinner but only one can win. The Italian lost the French Open final to Alcaraz and Alcaraz lost this year's Wimbledon final to the Italian and so it will go on. These two men will continue to dominate men's tennis for many years as the big three did. They have stepped into the shoes of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic and made tennis just as exciting again. 

We heard from Suzy after the match and before we went to bed. She had been to her first choir rehearsal with her old music teacher, Javier. She was a bit anxious about how she would perform but all her worries were put paid to when her teacher told her she had done really well and he was counting on her as one of the main singers in the concerts they are preparing. I was so happy to hear that and went to bed a happy lady.

Monday came and thankfully we had done the shopping as it was a local holiday and all the main  supermarkets were closed. I loved reading the news about Carlos Alcaraz that morning. Monday 8th was the third anniversary of the death of The Queen and it was probably coincidental but her troubled grandson Harry was in town to see her grave. He later had tea with the King and I hoped that would be the beginning of some kind of reconciliation. Oh what a mess of things he has made. It was back to school for our grandchildren Elliot and Juliet but we didn't get any photos. When the girls were small we took a photo ever year of them going back to school in their uniforms. It seems so long ago now.

We just had time for a coffee at 11ish before driving to Alicante airport to pick up our friends. They arrived to brilliant sunshine and over 30ºc temperature. But it soon turned cloudy and hazy and would remain like that on Tuesday too. Strong rains were forecast and the local authorities prepared for them as if for a tsunami closing parks and even schools but we never saw a drop here although it did rain heavily in nearby areas causing damage in its wake. 

It was time for lunch when our friends settled in, remembering the place well as they had been here in 2018. Later we spent time at the pool which we had to ourselves. It was lovely but a bit spoiled by the clouds and haze.

Kathy and Phil in the pool on Monday afternoon

We came back for drinks on our small but lovely terrace at around 7pm and have continued the tradition since then. It's my wine and pistachio moment; one I always love and maybe it is not good for my figure but it is for my morale. We went out that night for dinner to La Masia de Chencho, a recent discovery on the outskirts of Elche. We just love that place, the food and the ambience and the class it exhumes. We ate splendidly and I'm afraid I only took a photo of the entrance while outside smoking and texting to my friend Amanda who we had taken there  in the spring.

The entrance to La Masia de Chencho surrounded by very tall palm trees

We were sure it was going to rain on Tuesday so took our friends to visit Elche, famous for its date palm grove and palm tree parks. But we couldn't visit them as for precautionary measures all the parks had been closed as had the schools. All we could do was have a coffee and walk along the old streets. I had an unfortunate incident at the cafe where we were menaced by nasty looking pigeons wanting the nuts that came with Kathy and Phil's beer. I have always hated birds since I watched the famous Hitchcock film and my worst nightmare came true when a a nasty looking pigeon flew to our table but first landed on my head. I screamed of course and we quickly removed the nuts but they still kept coming so we moved to another table. I will not be going to that cafe ever again. What a horrible experience. It's funny how some films can cause trauma. Suzy was traumatized by the film Jaws and refused to go into a pool or the sea for many years. Even today she will only go in knee deep. I was once traumatised by a Dracula film and when my father found me crying in the lounge he rang either ITV or the BBC to complain. 

Anyway, after that we wandered the pretty old streets and came to the proverbial town sign you now see everywhere and took some pictures.

In Elche on a very hazy day

The sign is in front of the beautiful Basílica but that was also closed. From there we walked towards the car park to drive home but stopped at a shop called Ale Hop which we all love. I always buy something there.

On our way home we stopped at Quicksave to get beer for my friends and some ice cream. It was after our lunch and during our siesta - yes we have one everyday here - that Suzy arrived in the Mini.She had felt lonely at home and came to join us although she was only here for 3 nights. 

On Wednesday the strong sun reappeared and we all decided to go down to our beach. Here we are walking down.

Going down to the beach on Wednesday

 Being September it wasn't at all crowded and we bagged a spot right on the front. Kathy and I went in first and then Eladio.

Eladio going into the water

The beach was clean as was the water and it felt refreshing. Soon we were being visited by the Senegalese immigrants who sell mainly large bed covers in pretty covers which people also use to lie on on the beach. When I was here with Sandra and Adele in June I bought 3 as bed covers for the apartment and they look lovely. 

A young senegalese boy selling his wares to Kath

Kathy bought one for a sofa at home and was pleased with her purchase. It was then time for what would become our daily walk on the beach all the way to our favourite rock which I consider one of "my happy places". Once back to our spot, Suzy had arrived and we all made our way to the nearest beach bar - called "chirringuitos" here.

Refreshments at the beach bar on Wednesday

Eladio and Phil couldn't resist a plate of grilled fresh sardines - not my cup of tea but Eladio's favourite. 

Soon it was time for lunch - 2pm nearly always and Suzy had gone up to lay the table and have her shower. We spent the rest of the day at home chilling out. I got a sudden booking for just one night at El Cuetu for the next day which had me in a a bit stressed as I thought the minimum stay was 3 nights - later I had to talk to Booking to change that. It meant I had to talk to Andrea the cleaner to get the house ready which she did and in the end all went well for me and for the group of bikers. 

I sorted it all out on Thursday morning while trying to make my breakfast and spaghetti bolognese for lunch so it would be ready when we came back from the beach.

On the way down we stopped at the proverbial Chinese shop to get yet another parasol - our guests break one every year. Soon we were on our favourite spot on the beach and when Suzy joined us she took a photo.

On the beach on Thursday

The three of us were sitting in the sun while my Spanish husband hid under the parasol and was even wearing a t-shirt. As my friend Joanna pointed out he was neither a mad dog nor an Englishman sitting in the midday sun. She is right, yet he is just as brown as us or more.

Once again we went on our walk to the end of the beach and sat on "our rock".

On our rock,. one of happy places

Our morning on the beach ended with coffee time or beer time but this time no sardines, hahaha.

We came home to take 5 showers in turn and then ate the delicious "spag bol". That evening I had booked a table at Atípico, the most popular restaurant in the area which is just across the road from here. As we were all dressed up I got Suzy to take some photos of the 4 of us, one of which I have chosen as this week's feature photo.  The food is divine, sort of Asian, fusion and very creative and I had been 3 times but it was a first for my fellow diners. It was very full so I was glad I had booked a table. While waiting Kathy took a lovely photo of me with Suzy, so finally I have a photo of her to include in this week's blog post.

A lovely photo of Suzy and I at Atipico

Just to give you an idea, here are two of the starters we shared: duck nems and a creative dish of patatas bravas.

Some of the food at Atipico

When we had had our fill, including some chocolate croquettes for dessert we left the restaurant to walk back and that's when we saw the full moon which was red coloured. I had to have a photo to share with you.

The full moon shimmering on the sea water on Thursday evening

Friday dawned and Suzy left at around 10 am. We were sorry to see her go but she had things to do, mostly practice for her choir rehearsal today. It was another beach morning for us which panned out the same as on Wednesday and Thursday.  I made "bitki" for our lunch that day, a staple food in our diet at home and our friends loved them. We had them with fresh asparagus and Padrón peppers.

We chilled out for the rest of the day and the highlight every evening was our wine or beer and pistachio moment on the terrace before dinner. I later heard from Suzy that she was home safe and sound and of course enjoying the company of dear Pippa who must have gone crazy when she saw my daughter. 

Saturday came and we had different plans. We wanted to go the Saturday market in Santa Pola to look at clothes and buy fresh veg and fruit. Yesterday my other daughter, Olivia, was on her way to Nantes with a friend from the language school and I was excited for her.  She had lunch at Pilgrim,. a restaurant run by my friend Adele's son Ben but unfortunately he and his wife were away. Oli who is in love with France, the language and anything French must be in her element this weekend. We got some photos and this is one of them. 

Oli is in Nantes this weekend

Meanwhile we drove to Santa Pola and parked by the bus station across the way from the large Saturday market. There we had a field day and we all got something: Phil got shirts, Kathy a flamenco dress for her niece, shoes for Eladio and  yellow imitation Berkenstock sandals for me. 

Eladio showing off his new shoes

On our way out we bought three small melons for 2 euros. It's melon season and they were delicious. From the market we drove into the old town and parked by the castle. I was keen to take our friends to another of my happy places, a cafe in the main square called Chocco & Latte which has the most divine cakes and croissants. Here we took more photos  like the ones below.

At one my happy places, the cafe in the square next to the castle in Santa Pola yesterday

Notice Eladio and I are dressed in the same colours. We were both wearing a blue top and white shorts which funnily enough was not intentional. After our drinks, the men stayed behind while Kathy and I explored the boutiques. I didn't find anything but Kathy got a long denim dress. The next stop on our agenda was lunch at La Sal on the sea front by the port where we have been a few times. Eladio and Phil were keen on having a paella while Kathy and I shared delicious starters; scallops, cod fritters and calamari. This was the "boys'" paella and they ate every bit of it.

Phil and Eladio's seafood paella yesterday at La Sal

We would have gone straight home after such a delicious lunch but had to stop on the way at blo*** Mercadona to get stuff we were running out of. Once home we chilled out taking a siesta which my friends are seriously thinking of incorporating into their day once back in Yorkshire. This was followed by our usual evening routine; wine and pistachios, a light dinner, a chat on the terrace and so to bed.

I think last night was my best night so far and I must have  slept about 7 hours. Hurray. Today is Sunday and we will be going down to the beach again for more fun and sunshine.

So that's it from me now until next Sunday when our lovely holiday together will be over as good things always come to an end.

Cheers for now,

Masha

PS forget to mention it was my best friend Amanda's birthday on Saturday 13th September. She turned 69 which I will do in February. We met aged 11 at St. Joseph's College which means we have been friends for 57 years, nearly a lifetime. Happy birthday my dearest friend.

 

The barbecue of the season, a chance encounter at Alverán, deadly funicular crash in Lisbon, birthday dinner for Juliet who turned 4, Alcaraz beats Djokovic to meet Sinner in the US Open final and other stories of the week.

Madrid,  Sunday, 7th September, 2025

The family together to celebrate Juliet's 4th birthday on 4th September

Good morning again folks.

This has been a very quiet week and the weather has been marvelous. The awful heat has gone and we have enjoyed much more normal temperatures for this time of year.

Last Sunday was the closing day of August, the hottest ever on record in Spain. Weather wise I suppose it is the end of the summer but not really. We went on our walk that morning as we have done every morning this week with Pippa and a couple of times with Suzy.

We were busy later preparing our one and only barbecue of the season. It was for Oli and family who were coming for lunch and it seemed very appropriate. We hardly ever use it and should do more often. Here are some pics of the preparations. Eladio, of course, was the chef of the day. He did a good job grilling the chorizo, lamb chops and hamburgers to perfection and which we all ate with relish.

This season's barbecue. Hurray Eladio for being such a good chef

We must have been so busy eating we forgot to take photos. The kids behaved quite well and it was good to have them. They have been to all sorts of places on holiday this summer, to Cantabria, Montrondo, Santa Pola and twice to France. When I asked them which was their favourite place I was not surprised to learn it was Montrondo where they enjoy the company of their cousins and can run free in the village. I'm happy to report it is now fire free but what a scare.

We had guests in all our houses which is how it should be at this time of the year and this week I had no guest trouble. In fact the day ended happily with yet another 5 star review for our apartment in Gran Alacant from a recent guest. It made me very happy. Well done to Mar and Gina my key holder and cleaner who do a sterling job. 

5 stars for Santa Pola!

On Monday we woke up to the news of a dreadful earthquake in Afghanistan. Of all the places in the world it had to happen to the long suffering inhabitants of that complicated and very poor country. 

Life continued at home and after our walk I set about making vichysoisse for dinner, a dish we love and which I hadn't made for years. I have become a bit lazy about cooking as Tana does nearly all of it. This week she made hundreds of little Russian meat pies which we batch froze only taking out some for Juliet's birthday dinner. 

That night while waiting for a guest who got lost after running out of battery we watched Spain's PM, Pedro Sánchez being interviewed on the TV. The presenter commented it was his first official interview in over a year. He does tend to shy from the press as he is so embroiled in corruption cases in his own family and his party. He really should resign and only hangs on thanks to the marginal support of minority separatist parties who hold him ransom and really he governs in paralysis. It's time for him to go but there is no alternative a bit like in the UK. Angela Rayner resigned for a much lesser sin so maybe he should take her lead but he won't. Oh how some politicians love power but yet cannot govern. It drives me mad.

What doesn't drive me mad and what I love is watching Downton Abbey for the umpteenth time these last few weeks. It's the script I love and the lines of Carson the butler and the Dowager Lady Grantham, Maggie Smith. You are probably familiar with lots of them but one stuck with me this week from Carson. He told "Mrs. Hughes" that "the business of life is the acquisition of memories. In the end that's all there is". He was talking about his memories and life experience. I rather liked it. 

Tuesday came and after our walk I did guest related work and then joined Suzy for a coffee at Alverán where I went three times this week. I had a new guest, Mackawi who lives in Germany and whose father is from Sudan. What a wonderful boy he is. He is leaving today and I wish him the best in his Erasmus course here in Spain. We had a full house that day as we did all week. 

I have been following the Men's singles at the US Open this week and cheering on Spain's new favourite, Carlos Alcaraz. He won all the run up matches in 3 sets but had Djokovic (38) to compete with on Friday night. Djokovic, whether you are a fan or not, is the GOAT (greatest of all time) as he leads with 24 Grand Slams. The others are Rafael Nadal with 22, Federer with 20, Pete Sampras with 14 and Roy Emerson with 12.  The Serb is aged 38 but is still a force to be reckoned with it. So when the 22 year old Spaniard beat him in the Semi Final on Friday night which I could hardly watch, it was quite a feat. Alcaraz at the tender age of 22 has 5 Grand Slams. Could he go on to beat Djokovic's record? But maybe that's too far in the future to predict. Right now he is playing well but today has to face Sinner, the World Number 1 in the final.  May the best man win although I only want it to be Carlitos. Sorry if I am boring non tennis fans.

So let's move on to Wednesday. That was the day China showed off its military power to the world in a celebration of the liberation from Japan 80 years ago. For the occasion, Xi Jinping invited his dictator friends from Russia and North Korea, Putin and Kim Jong-un who brought his daughter along. The three were caught speaking freely while a microphone was on. They were talking about ageing and the Russian autocrat said soon people could live to 150. That's what he would like and to remain in power for another 70 years. 

Suzy and I went to do the food shopping for Juliet's birthday dinner and had coffee at Alverán which we tend to favour these days. And there we had a chance encounter with Susana G, an ex Motorola colleague who I have known since 1999. I hadn't seen her since Fátima who was also her friend, died and it was a lovely reunion. Here is a photo to remember the chance encounter.

A wonderful chance encounter with Susana an ex Motorola colleague who I have known for 26 years!

I think I mentioned a while ago that Suzy was going to join  a choir conducted by Javier Blanco, her music teacher and choir director at St. Michael's. He has his own music academy Mushi and after giving her a voice test that afternoon he suggested she had singing lessons. He was impressed with her voice and has included her with the sopranos. This is going to be wonderful therapy for her. They will be singing Fauré's Requiem and the Credo by Vivaldi in a series of concerts this autumn. 

The first one is on 8th November at the Church of Saint Antonio, known as the Sixtine Chapel of Madrid. I really hope she sings on that occasion and we can go and hear her and the choir of Matritum Cantat directed by her former teacher she so admires. 

She came back from Madrid feeling good and she needs things that make her feel good if she is to get better. I was pleased for her.

I was also pleased to hear that the border between Spain and Gibraltar will be demolished next year. That day Spain's PM met Kier Starmer where apart from this, they will have talked about peace in Ukraine and Gaza, the two awful wars of our times to which I see no end. 

Meanwhile, in Lisbon, the famous Gloria funicular in the centre which is a tourist attraction but also a means of transport for the locals, crashed when it derailed. A funicular is a cable railway system for steep slopes like the one in Lisbon which involves one car going up and one coming down, sort of pulling each other.  On Wednesday the two cabins crashed after what seems to have been a fault in the cable. 

The dreadful funicular crash in Lisbon this week 

One fell a short distance with not much damage but the other one crashed into a building with tragic consequences. 16 people died in Portugal's worst tragedy in decades. The country is in mourning. I read that there 9 nationalities in those 16 very unfortunate people. I remember taking that funicular years ago. In fact it is over 140 years old. In recent years I have been on many and remember the one in Hong Kong which takes you to Victoria Peak and more recently in Paris when we took it to Montmartre. 

Thursday was 4th September, the day Juliet our youngest grandchild turned 4. She was at school while we were busy making her cake which she had ordered to include strawberries and cream. We were also busy preparing the dinner - lot of dishes which included "perushki", vichysoisse, ham and melon, potato salad (bought), asparagus, tomato salad, prawns, vol au vent with egg mayonnaise and what the kids loved best, croissant ham sandwiches.  A big thanks to Suzy for all her help but mostly to Tana who helped make it happen.

Thanks to Tana I was able to go out for coffee with Eladio and for the third time this week I went to Alverán. Here is a photo to prove it.

Coffee at Alverán on Wednesday morning

While we were there we were given news of our ex squatter, the Russian spy, Felipe Turover. He also used to frequent Alverán where he left an outstanding bill. According to the manager who runs the café at a hospital (Puerta de Hierro) in nearby Majadahonda, he is now squatting at the hospital and escaping the security guards when he can. What an awful development of this man's ruined life. To think he once worked for Putin when the latter was the Mayor or Vice Mayor of St. Petersburg where they lined their pockets with money from the UN instead of giving it to the people of the city. In a way I felt for sorry for him.

We came home to have lunch while Suzy went to a friend's house for her midday meal. That is progress indeed. I love to see her rekindling friendships after so much time living as a hermit. 

Tana and I laid the table after lunch and before Oli and family arrived at around 5 pm. This is what it looked like when we added some of the food.

The dinner table for Juliet's 4th birthday

They arrived smiling and with them came their other grandmother, Merche. Thankfully all our guests were out and we had the house and gardens to ourselves. Juliet was given her presents from her parents and Merche - a doctor's play outfit, a toy watch and a pink satchel. She was a  little overwhelmed so I saved our present till after dinner. She is obsessed with doctors and loves going to see them and was in love with her present. Wouldn't it be wonderful if she became a doctor? 

After some play time we sat down to dinner and had a group photo which has to be this week's feature photo, even if Elliot is making faces while posing, hahaha. Here are two more of Juliet on her big day with her present.

Juliet is 4!

Of course she loved the cake moment most, as we all did and Oli took a lovely video which you can see here. At the end of the evening we gave her our present, a tea set which she loved too so maybe she might also want to be a waitress or cook, who knows. The world is her oyster aged 4. Happy birthday darling. And a good time was had by all.

Friday was quiet at home. In England it wasn't when Angela Rayner deputy PM and one of the most powerful women in the UK, resigned from her post. It was all over a stamp duty row. Apparently she hadn't paid the tax due on her flat in Hove, near Brighton which she claimed was a mistake. If only politicians in Spain would resign for similar reasons. The Labour government is not having its best moment right now but again, like in Spain, what is the alternative? 

While Angela Rayner was going through political hell, I was having a nice day which included my daily walk and on Friday a manicure at my local nail bar. I always have my nails painted bright red but this time I chose bright pink.  I don't think I will be doing that again.

At 9 pm sharp we began watching Alcaraz play Djokovic in the Semi Finals at Flushing Meadows to a huge crowd on what will be their centre court. I could not watch it for my nerves. I have a brother-in-law who is a Barça fan but cant' watch them play. He only watches the matches when he knows they have won. It's the same for me with Alcaraz and previously with Nadal. If they don't win every stroke they play I suffer. So while Eladio watched I put on my ear phones and watched Downton Abbey with half an eye on the screen. But of course I was delighted when he won 6-4, 7-6, 6-2. Sinner also beat his semi final opponent, the Canadian, Felix Auger Aliassime, in a much easier match as the latter is number 25 in the world. Even so the Canadian took one of the sets. 

It was pleasant to read about Alcaraz beating Djokovic on Saturday morning in the news, rather than awful headlines about Gaza, Ukraine or Trump's latest antics. Yesterday was also very quiet and I didn't do much apart from pack for Santa Pola where we are going today. 

We will be joined by our great friends, Kathy and Phil from my beloved Yorkshire and whom we haven't seen since October 2022. We have to make up for that big time when we get together at our sunny apartment.  We shall be driving there today to get things ready and they will be arriving tomorrow. I can't wait to see them. 

Must leave you now as I have to pack food and lots of stuff to take. Have a great Sunday and best wishes till next week.

Cheers Masha

Back from Galicia, home again, the heat has receded but the summer is not over, we resumed our daily walks, birthday preparations and other stories of the week.

 Home again,  Madrid, Sunday 31st August, 2025

It's news; we have resumed our daily walks this week as the heat has finally receded

Good morning on this last day of August.  To think this time last Sunday we were leaving Galicia after 5 days of sun,  sea, good food and wine and. Time flies.

It was a long trip home and this time we did it all in one go and its one hell of a drive - over 650 km. As we drove through Ourense in Galica we once again witnessed the damage caused by so many forest fires. Today, still, would you believe it, the fire near Montrondo, in Fasgar, has still not been extinguished. It has been going on since 7th August when we were there.Thankfully the houses and people from the villages are safe but oh how sad for nature. It breaks my heart that the "Abedular" - the biggest birch tree forest south of Sweden, is all charred. My father used to walk up there and would be upset to hear it is destroyed. I only hope nature does its magic and the forest grows again. My heart goes out though to all those people who have lost their houses.

We stopped for a picnic lunch and, of course, to pick up Eladio's mobile phone he had left at a roadside café on our way to Galicia. He is now back in the world of the connected and says he didn't miss it. I don't believe him.

Once home we noticed the intense heat of August had finally receded. Today as I write on Saturday night at 9 pm approx the temperature is 27ºc which may seem a lot to you but it's much better than 37º or 40ºc which we suffered before going to Galicia. Finally we have been able to have meals outside and for the last few days we haven't had to put on the air conditioning. The heat has receded but of course summer is not over yet. Next Sunday we shall be taking the road again, this time to Santa Pola where we will be joined by our great friends Kathy and Phil. This weekend the apartment is full of guests after Oli and family left yesterday. I hope they had a great time. I do love being by the seaside.

There really is not much to tell this week as we have just been at home and back to our routines. It was good to be home and to sleep in our own beds and nice to have a break in between trips to catch our breaths I suppose. 

On Monday we went food shopping and accompanied Suzy to her therapist. In the afternoon I had more problems with our cleaner, Rosa, in Asturias. Once again she had done shoddy work and the guests complained there were not enough sheets or towels. I was so embarrassed and had to eat humble pie. In the end they went to buy sheets and towels, I rang another cleaner and when she took on the job, I fired Rosa whose work has been more than lacking. I just wondered what the hell she had done with all our bedding, 3 sets for all 5 beds and loads of towels. To top it all she was threatening, rather rude and refused to apologise. I have never worked with anyone worse than her and thanks to her have suffered numerous episodes this summer, which I have had to resolve as best I could at a distance. At times I wanted to throw it all in. Before that we shall give a chance to the new cleaner, Andrea who started on Friday and did a good job, to judge by the videos she sent me. On the plus side, that day I got a 10 out of 10 review on Booking from a recent guest in Santa Pola, bless him. That put my overall score up to 8.7 which is high for Booking.

Tuesday was a quiet day but not without work related to our small renting business. I had to get a plumber to change the shower head in Santa Pola and the administration people to mend the lock on the outside gate. There is always something. While I deal with these things, Eladio has to deal with leaks in the irrigation system in the garden. There is no peace for the wicked.

That's not quite true as that morning, Suzy and I went to our local nail bar to have manicure - me and a pedicure - Suzy. 

On Wednesday the two of us went to have a coffee together and to to take a look inside a local boutique where we had bought clothes last month. I am proud to tell you she has become a volunteer for the Red Cross by the way. That was good Mother and daughter time. This week I have been preparing for Juliet and Elliot's birthdays on 4th and 17th September respectively. I ordered their cards on Amazon, bought balloons in the shape of a a4 and a 6 which are the ages they are turning as well as the cake candles and a little crown and some birthday glasses. This is what is waiting for them.

Preparations for Juliet and Elliot's upcoming birthdays.

As to their presents, I got two books for Elliot. One is about how to draw and the other is from The National Geographic and is about amazing animal records which he is crazy about. For Juliet I bought a very girly present; a  tea set. It's small but beautiful. Look

A tea set for Juliet for her 4th birthday on 4th September

It was only on Thursday that we resumed our daily walks as that was when the temperatures really receded and with 20 or so degrees in the morning we were able to do so.  I have hardly any photos to share with you this week. One of them is of me and Pippa on our first walk which I have chosen as this weeks' feature photo and the one below.

On our walk this week

That evening, like every evening this week we convened by the pool for wine and pistachio time. I always love those moments.

The week flew past and suddenly it was Friday. Again we went on our walk and then did more shopping mostly for today's barbecue with Oli and family upon their return from Santa Pola.

Saturday was crucial for me as it would be a test for our new cleaner, Andrea who was cleaning for my last group this year who will be there until 6th September. She passed the test and only after that was I able to relax and stop worrying about sheets, bedding, cleaning, etc in El Cueto. 

Just before our morning walk, Valerie arrived. She is a new guest and the mother of Milo who has been with us since the middle of August. She comes from Alaska but apparently lives in Denver. We have hardly seen her since. From Monday onward the house here will be full again, as it should be.

Saturday's  highlight  was resuming my weekly calls with Amanda and I enjoyed a long natter with my oldest friend for the best part of the afternoon.

We have resumed our walks and returned to our routines which include watching the news but you will have noticed an absence recently in this blog about what is happening in the world. It is all so depressing and repetitive that I am sick of it. There was a school shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis which sickens me and Russia made one of its worst attacks yet on Kyiv. The main news here are the forest fires which have rocked the nation and make us sit up and think how they should be better prevented despite climate change. I was shocked to read there is one in the North Yorkshire Moors near Whitby. In England too? Really?  I am much more interested in how Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are faring in the US Open. They are doing well and are bound to meet in the final. I should say may the best man win but you know I want Carlitos to lift the trophy and garner his 6th Grand Slam. 

Today is Sunday and we have lots to do to prepare today's barbecue. That will be the highlight of this week.   

Sorry this has been such a short blog post but honestly there has been very little to tell. I will leave you now to get on with the day; our walk and then the barbecue preparations.

Cheers till next week, all the best Masha

Montrondo in danger of fire, hottest day of the year, to the Rias Bajas in Galicia with Suzy for this year's wedding anniversary, 5 days of sun, sea, Albariño wine and good food and other stories of the week.

 Hotel Mar Azul, Playa Major, Sanxenxo, Rias Baixas, Galicia, Sunday 24th August 2025

This year's anniversary photo

Good morning from our hotel near Sanxenxo where we are leaving today after five days of sun, sea, Galician Albariño wine and good food. 

Last Sunday we were at home in Madrid where the temperatures were unbearable. It was the hottest day of the year on record and where the thermometer went as high as 46ºc in Jerez. In Madrid it was 40ºc and sweltering and we hardly left our air conditioned rooms. 

It was hot in Montrondo too and we were startled and worried to hear that a village meeting had been called in the evening to inform about the fire which has been ongoing since Friday 7th August. On the phone to my sisters-in-law they feared the worst and would possibly be evacuated the next day. Thankfully that didn't happen and today although the fire is still alive it seems to be contained and will not reach the village. But the people didn't know that last Sunday and feared losing their houses. All the able people gathered the next day at 7.30 in the morning and  cleared and cut grass from the fields and built fire walls to stop the flames reaching properties. Montrondo was on my mind the whole night.  As I wrote last week, Spain is on fire and has caused so much damage. It is quite frightening. In just two weeks 358.000 hectares have burned.

We were to see a lot of the damage on our road trip to Galicia especially in the area of Orense and because of the fires we even had to change our itinerary. 

Monday dawned in Madrid and it was just slightly less hot. We had to go out and do lots of errands which included the fastest ever hair dresser appointment where I had my roots done but walked out with wet hair. I did so to get back and prepare lunch for Oli and family whom we hadn't seen since they left Montrondo for France. 

The news from our village was that so far the efforts of the villagers and the local volunteers who took turns to watch out for fire, were paying off. 

Local volunteer fire fighters on the mountains of Montrondo making sure the fire doesn't reach the village.

They are heroes and I was glad to hear that finally they had some proper help from the forest fire brigade and Army. 

It was on Monday that Zelensky travelled to Washington to meet with Trump about peace for Ukraine after the latter's meeting with Putin in Alaska. He was joined by quite a few European leaders and at least this time, Trump treated him well. Of note he wore a sort of military type black suit after the criticism for not wearing a suit at their first meeting in February. All I know is that the US has promised some sort of security protection but in exchange for what we do not know. Will Zelensky have to give up some of the territory Putin wants in order to reach a peace agreement? Sadly that is very probable.

In the US, importantly too, the top two seeds, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz were playing in the Tennis Master's final in Cincinnati. We were just about to watch it when after losing the first five games, the Italian retired owing to illness. It was a sad way to lose for Carlitos. I hope Sinner will be on form to play the US Open which starts today. 

On Tuesday we had lots to do before leaving on this year's anniversary trip. We have always celebrated our anniversaries but since 2020 we have gone away to celebrate. In 2020 we went to Nazaré in Portugal, in 2021 we went to La Rioja, in 2022 we went to A Guarda in Galicia and near Portugal, in 2023 we went to St. Jean de Luz in France. However in 2024 we didn't travel as Suzy was ill. Even so, we went out to celebrate and had dinner at La Finca, a superb gastronomic experience in Elche. For the record here is a photo of each anniversary since 2020.

Nazaré, Portugal 2020

 

 

La Rioja 2021

A Guarda 2022

Saint Jean de Luz 2023

La Finca, Elche 2024

For the record too here is a photo I post every year of our wedding day. 

 

Our wedding day on 21st August 1983 - 42 years ago this week.

Oh how young we were then with all our married life ahead of us.

This year we decided on Las Rias Bajas (estuaries or fjords) in Galicia again.  Galicia is in North West Spain and shares a southern border with Portugal. 

Galicia in North West Spain

We chose it to get away from the heat of central and southern Spain but also because we love the area. It is often called "Galifornia" because of the similar lifestyle and appeal of California. I think they are different in many ways but the beaches, scenery are just as beautiful or more. Galicia is more rugged and is not sophisticated with lots of old traditions which we love. The food is plentiful and delicious, both from the sea and the land.  Galicia is also part of Green Spain with wild coasts and green forests. Unlike California it has a strong Celtic heritage in its language and culture.  It has its own identity which sets it apart in a way from the rest of Spain. Don't forget either that Galicia is Camino de Santiago country too. It has its own magic which we love. Suzy came with us to make this year's anniversary even more special as she also loves Galicia. Who doesn't?

Just before we left I heard from the owner of our Airbnb in Sanabria (Zamora) that we couldn't stay because of a forest fire; another one. Amazing. Sanabria is a beautiful area known for its lake of the same name. There was nothing for it but to find somewhere else to stay to break the long journey to Sanxenxo. I found it in Verin, a small town in Orense near Portugal. But I was worried the A52 road to the Rias Bajas may be closed because of fire. Thankfully it wasn't but we saw a lot of scorched earth on our journey that it made the damage you see on TV real and frightening. 

Strong evidence of forest fires on our way to Galicia

Long before we saw this apocalyptic scenery, we stopped for a coffee at Villacastin, about 100km from Madrid. For the record, 3 coffees, 2 chocolate bars, 1 yoghurt and 1 croissant cost 15 euros vs 12 euros for 1 coffee and 1 croissant on a motorway in France. Unfortunately about 50km after we left the place, Eladio realised he had forgotten his phone. I rang insistently to no avail until, Eureka the cafe people rang to say they had it. We shall be picking it up on our way back today. That was a scare. My husband told me he has hardly missed his phone while we have been away. I would have gone back for mine but he didn't want to.

We took sandwiches with us and had a picnic on the way and here is a picture to show you.

Picnic on our way - sorry about the kitchen roll!

We got to Verin which was surrounded by scorched earth and soon found our little boutique hostel called A Morada do Cigarron right in the centre. It was dirt cheap, comfortable and well located next to the ubiquitous Plaza Mayor. This was it.

Our place for the night in Verin

Verin is a an unassuming but attractive Galician town near the Portuguese border famous only for its Monterrei wine. Luckily for us it's not a tourist town so was very quiet.  Eladio and I had been twice before when we stayed at the Parador but I'm afraid it was fully booked when I rang. As soon as we were settled in, Suzy and I went out to explore. We had a decaf and then searched the local boutiques for clothes which we found. I got two t-shirts and Suzy got some lovely tops. When we had had our full of shopping we went to collect Eladio for a drink and dinner somewhere. 

As we came out of the hotel we took some photos to share here.

In Verin about to hit town

We didn't have to go far to find a nice place for a drink. We tried the local wine and Albariño - more famous - at Vinoteca Gandaina which we loved. It was a great start to our anniversary holiday.

Wine at Vinoteca Gandainas in Verin on our stop off there. I love Suzy's new top.

The owner of our hotel also runs and owns a restaurant come tapas bar called A Peixeria and that's where we had  the best dinner of our trip. We were served delicious scallops, octopus, an incredible salad made with local tomatoes and mini scallops called "zamburriñas" in Spanish and which I adore. I ended up having them nearly every day here when they are a luxury in Madrid but as they are fished here they are on offer at most restaurants in the area.

A Peixeria in Verin served us the best meal of our trip

After all that wine and food I slept amazingly well at our modest Hostel. We had our own breakfast in the room as we had taken lots of provisions (as usual) and breakfast was not on offer.  On our journey to Sanxenxo we saw more scorched earth but thankfully the Rias Baixas has been spared. We stopped in this famous seaside town which was brimming with people and a bit too busy for our liking. But we walked on the promenade of the famous Silgar beach to remember our holiday there in 2012. Of note Sanxenxo is a place much loved by the disgraced former King of Spain and the not disgraced former PM Mariano Rajoy. 

Eladio and Suzy by the Silgar Beach in Sanxenxo

At about 2pm or so we set off to find our hotel which is a few kilometres away. Called Mar Azul it is on the road to O'Grove peninsula and opposite the Pregueira and Major beaches which is actually one beach with two names. It is cheap and cheerful too but we have been very happy here. Our rooms were big and both had views of the beach and the beautiful Island of Ons. 

View from our room

Suzy and I went down to the beach as soon as we had settled in. It was a bit windy that afternoon so we didn't stay long. But after that the weather has been marvelous, warm but not too hot. While there, we spied a place for dinner by the beach and also somewhere to have a drink before we went to eat. They served the best "Pulpo a feira" (octopus) we had on this trip. We came home to watch the sunset from our terrace. The sun sets later in this area as we are so far north. Just look.

Sunset on the beach from our hotel terrace. On the horizon the Island of Ons

Thursday came and it was 21st August, 42 years since our wedding. Eladio always counts our anniversary from the summer we met in 1980, which makes it 45 years together. That is certainly something to celebrate and it is amazing to think we are still in love. That's what holds everything together.  We could never have imagined when we first met that we would still be together 45 years later. I don't know how long we will live but as long as we do, we shall celebrate our wedding anniversary. 

The anniversary lunch was to be in the pretty town of Cambados, the capital of the Albariño wine region, but first for a walk on the beach which is quite a climb down from the top and down very steep dunes. Suzy took this week's feature photo and this year's anniversary photo. Here are some more of our time on the beach that morning.

Morning walk on the Playa Major on our anniversary

When I posted these photos on Facebook a friend called Eladio "grand seigneur" (gran señor in Spanish I suppose). The definition in French is "a man whose rank or position allows him to command others". I'm not sure that's true but he does look dignified. I'm sure when he was a young boy in humble Montrondo he could never have envisaged marrying me and travelling the world together. 

After our walk Suzy drove us to the pretty fishing town of Cambados where we had stayed at the Parador - again fully booked. It is such a pretty town. Here are some pics.

Enjoying Cambados

We had a wonderful drink at a very chic tavern - Albariño again and I wish I could remember the name.

Albariño wine with a tapa which we took home for dinner (haha) in Cambados

I had booked a table at a Michelin star restaurant called Yayo Daporta which did not go down very well with my husband who, although married to me, still maintains the taste for food he had as a child. He far prefers plain food. I do too but I love creative tasting menus at posh restaurants.  I loved every item on the tasting menu but my husband was not impressed. Here are some of the dishes we ate and which cost a fortune Eladio didn't think was worth the money and which made me feel terrible:-(

Some of the food at Yayo Daporta which didn't impress Eladio

I learned my lesson and next year I will choose a restaurant that serves plainer food.

In the afternoon Suzy and I spent time on the beach getting tanned but with lots of factor 50 sun screen lotion. We were eating the tapas from the tavern in Cambados for dinner when a catastrophe happened in El Cuetu. The guests who arrived that day sent me photos showing me the house had not been cleaned for them; not even the sheets. Once again, the cleaner, Rosa, had let me down. As usual she wouldn't pick up the phone but she did send garbled audio messages. In a nutshell she had forgotten to clean the house and I had to cancel the reservation on Booking. That was my first and hopefully last time. I felt awful for the guests. I have no other cleaner but this one and cannot find another one until we go in September after our last guests have left. I can only hope she doesn't let me down again before the end of the season which is close. That was not a good end to our anniversary but I suppose problems like this one go with the job and I refused to panic or lose sleep over the issue as there was nothing more I could do.

Despite the catastrophe, I didn't sleep too badly. Friday was a good day. Eladio and I had breakfast here which is not too bad. We then drove to San Vicente do Mar near O Grove where I wanted to take Eladio and Suzy on a wonderful coastal walk called "Sendeiro Pedras Negras" - the Pathway of Black Stones  although they are not very black. We had been on that walk when we came in 2012 after our friend Pili who has a house in San Vicente suggested it and I had forever remembered it for its beauty and stunning scenery. Let these pictures I took describe it for you.

The stunning walkway Pedras Negras in San Vicente do Mar

It was a walk to remember and I hope to go back again one day. After a coffee in San Vicente we drove to the Island of Toxa famous for its thermal waters and soap by a brand of the same name; Toja in Spanish. It's a very chic and upmarket place and we were impressed. We specially liked the church made of scallop shells and the park and soap museum.

La Toxa

Soon it was time for lunch and I had booked a table at El Pescador in nearby O Grove. I thought it was one we had been to before but my memory failed me and instead of going to La Posada del Mar which is now closed we went to El Pescador. O Grove is Spain's seafood capital and I was looking forward to more scallops and Eladio and Suzy to more octopus. We all enjoyed the food, especially the "mariscada" (seafood platter). Just look.

"Mariscada" at El Pescador in O Grove this time drowned by Ribeiro white local wine.

When we had had our fill of seafood which actually is not filling at all, we went in search of an ice cream for dessert and then it was time to come home to the hotel. It was very hot on Friday afternoon so Suzy and I went down to the beach at around 5.30 pm.  As usual we came back more tanned and in need of a shower after bathing in the sea.

Dinner was from our dwindling provisions in our room. I didn't need more than a piece of fruit a yoghurt and a date. 

And soon it was Saturday, our last day here. We chose Combarro as our main destination that day. It is often hailed as the prettiest village in Galicia and we had never been. I had read it was famous for its stone granaries (hórreos) of which there are more than 60 on the sea front. They were used not so much for grain as for drying fish and they are quite a spectacle. Combarro is a very picturesque fishing village with narrow cobbled streets and plenty of granite crosses too (cruzeiros) and is one of the stops on the so-called Spiritual Portuguese Camino. We loved it. But so did other people and thank goodness we went quite early and beat the crowds. Here are some photos I took in Combarros.

 

Combarros, hailed the prettiest village in Galica. We certainly loved it.

Before leaving we had a coffee on the sea front and then shopped for our picnic today at a local supermarket.  Lunch yesterday was by our beach at Al Mar restaurant where I, at least, tried to save my appetite for dinner last night with our friends Gerardo and Vicky. They were on holiday at their family summer home in San Vicente where Gerardo and his siblings have been coming since they were children. 

 

 After a siesta, Eladio joined Suzy and I at the beach - his first time and our last. We bathed together in the very cold water and came out out feeling invigorated. I shall miss that beach. Maybe we will come here again next year as this area is so lovely and the beach superb. After our showers, we got dressed up - well, I did and at 8.30 or so set off for dinner with our dear friends Gerardo, his wife Vicky and one of their 5 children, also named Gerardo who is actually now a strapping young man. Gerardo who I have known for 60 years when I was an au pair with his lovely family in Madrid and who drove me to my wedding, booked a table at a little tavern near O Grove. We got to Meson A Lareira do Lareixo first and sat on the splendid terrace enjoying our last glass of Albariño white wine. We took some photos before our friends arrived which I am happy to share here.

Dinner last night

Our friends were a bit late getting there which sparked the fury of the waiter. I couldn't believe how rude he was to us, shouting for everyone to hear him that being late had complicated the restaurant's logistics for that night. We would have left there and then as his behaviour was unacceptable but we would not have found anywhere else to have dinner on a Saturday night in August. Despite all this we had a good dinner as the food was excellent and of course enjoyed each other's company. It was great to coincide here in Galicia with what I always call "my Spanish family".

The night came to an end very late for us and we were in bed after 12pm. I slept well last night and woke up today at around 7 am. Soon it will be time to leave for the long trek back home to Madrid. As my father always used to say "all good things come to an end". Unfortunately they do. We have had a great time here and will remember this trip always.

That's it now for this week my friends. Have a good Sunday and cheers till next time,

Masha