Mr & Mrs That's Not My Age have just spent a few days here. Montejaque, a beautiful mountain village in Spain where we stayed with some friends - which all sounds very grand till I tell you that we slept in a five-year-old's bed, flew Ryanair and the hole in the bottom of our suitcase got so big we had to stuff it with plastic bags to stop our clothes falling out. Sadly, the suitcase is on its last journey to that great big carousel in the sky, and now resides in a south London skip awaiting its final boarding call.
Anyway, enough of this maudlin talk, en España, we spent a fair amount of time embracing the local customs; drinking tinto verano (the red wine of summer, a refreshing blend of Rioja and Casera/soda or Fanta Limon) and eating tapas:
It took a day or so, to adjust to the Spanish way of life but soon we were taking siestas and eating out at ten o'clock at night. Fortunately, I'd packed my Aromatherapy Associates essential travel oils for bath & shower which meant we were able to relax in the afternoon with a splash of lavender and revive ourselves in the evening with a blend of geranium, patchouli and ylang ylang. No need for after-sun or eau de Cologne, these oils leave your skin feeling soft and moisturised and our friends commented more than once on how gorgeous we both smelled.
On the way back we stopped off in Seville. Which is beautiful, and hot! The temperature was still over 40 degrees the evening we got completely lost and spent over an hour trying to find a vegetarian restaurant - doubt we smelled so good then.
Early next morning we hired bikes and slowly pedalled over to CAAC, a contemporary art gallery set in a former 15th century monastery-cum-ceramics factory, which was well worth the sweaty cycle trip.
That's Not My Age may be in a bit of a post-holiday slump but at least I still have some essential oils to perk me up - and the news that Aromatherapy Associates goes on sale in the Bath & Body area at Liberty tomorrow. Yay!
I could just do with a nice break in Spain....and that wine combo sounds delicious. I'm also partial to a Rioja ;-)
ReplyDeleteHow did you think Spain was looking? Gripped as it is by recession.
I am getting very into the scent of lavender - I'll be heading for the Yardley counter next....
Ali x
You are very brave to come to my home land in the heat when most of us scape to cooler countries, he, he.
ReplyDeleteThe best time to visit Andalucía is autumn or spring.
I am glad that you enjoy your time here thou. I must get some of those oils...
I have just arrived from Berlin and it is still 39ºc in the shade here, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Such lovely pictures of Spain! I hope to visit there someday, though probably not in the height of summer. Those oils sound so nice, will look them up.
ReplyDeleteArghhhh, if anything's making me want to jump on a plane right now it's your blog.
ReplyDeleteUtterly fabulous photos. xxxx
Wouldn't mind being in Spain right now! Have to try the oils you mentioned... sounds fabulous!
ReplyDeletexo
Ali - Spain looked fine, no different to normal but I had been on the tinto verano! Steer clear of the Yardley counter.
ReplyDeleteSacramento - it was cooler in the mountains, we had a few cloudy/rainy days so Seville was a bit of a shock (though I've visited in summer before so knew what to expect). I love Spain any time of year.
VV & CP - wishing we were still there. Should've gone for longer!
Hi there-what a gorgeous trip, despite the mishaps you encountered it sounds like you saw and experienced the gorgeous side of Spain x
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful pictures, I have never been to mainland Spain, and right now with the rain hammering down outside it feels a very long way away!
ReplyDeleteWonderful. I want to splash oils on myself and make my way through the heat..
ReplyDeleteOh looks wonderful and can smell the deliciousness from here!
ReplyDeleteOkay does that mean you and Mr TNMA brought back the rain which normally falls on the plains.
Oh my. This is gorgeous! I wish I could take a vacation anywhere -- especially Spain! Looks like a great time.
ReplyDeleteOh I love Spain so much - tapas are my kind of food with a liberal dose of Fino!! Hope you got the oils on sale at Liberty... See my last post for a vineyard visit - think you would like it very much TNMA! x
ReplyDeleteDid you both sleep in the five year old's bed? The holiday sounds lovely and that sky looks gorgeous. Sorry you've back to rainy London. It's enough to give anyone a post holiday slump! xx
ReplyDeleteYour trip sounds idyllic (well, not the bed, maybe). I have never been to Spain, but you have inspired me to try it. Hope our suitcase holds out!
ReplyDeleteChristina - yes!
ReplyDeleteCatherine - you've got to go you'd love all the ceramics.