May is for Azar
Have you ever been struck by an odour which instantly took you back to a place that you had completely forgotten about? This happens to me quite frequently. I can turn a corner and suddenly I am there as a …
Meet Spain’s (only) genuine Norwegian olive farmers
It is no secret that most Norwegians who live in Spain are pensioners who reside on the sunny Spanish coast. Which is why I admit to getting excited when I meet some of my fellow countrymen who are a tad …
A growing pleasure – 10 reasons to plant a tree
One of the greatest pleasures of spring is watching the budding leaves on the trees.
If you always have wanted to plant a tree in your garden, spring is also the best time of the year to do so. Planting …
Do you choose April?
“I choose April” my father would always announce in his booming baritone around this time of the year. He was quoting the first part of a Norwegian poem from the 1870s, though he never continued, so I doubt …
Progress vs Patrimony – Ronda’s eternal struggle to become a 21st Century town
Andalucía is one of Europe’s foremost travel destinations with a rich and diverse cultural past. One can hardly put a spade in the ground without bringing some more ruins to light. Roman, Visigoth or Arab treasures seem to be discovered …
Almond liqueur with an Andalusian twist
The almond tree, or el almendro as it is called in Spanish, can be found all over the Mediterranean region. Ever since the Phoenicians brought the fruit to these shores some 3000 years ago, they have been an important …
February is for …
A common expression often heard these days is Corona-fatigue. After a year of masks, disinfectants and almost exclusively pandemic-news (except the US election…), is it any wonder that we are starting to get fed up with the entire thing? I …
Women of rural Andalucía – From illiterate to university graduate in three generations
When we bought the ruin that eventually became our Spanish home, the former owner did not know how to write her name on the sales contract. Granted she was over 90, but I had not expected to find illiteracy amongst …
«We choose the Costa del Sol» Meet four young Scandinavian golf enthusiasts who are spending the pandemic in Southern Spain
The Costa del Sol has long been known as a golfer’s paradise. The coast is home to some of Europe’s most luxurious golf clubs and has more than
70 of Spain’s 400+ golf courses, with several more under construction. The …
…and then came the snow…
Visitors to Spain may have a few misconceptions about the weather on the Iberian Peninsula. Winter in southern Spain is not hot by any stretch of the imagination. Granted Spain is the closest one can be to Africa while still …