Rachel Webb

My son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter have just been confirmed positive, we´ve had tests and are on tenterhooks waiting a phone call. I´m trying to put it out of my mind while sitting outside keeping an eye on the dogs we´re having to dog sit as my son is not allowed out, not even to walk the dogs. Oh that all this is behind us and we can finally start planning trips to some of the lovely places we have lined up to visit and showcase here for you. We only managed to get to two last year Villa Andalucia B&B and Finca Gordo B&B both in lovely corners of Andalucia.

Or we would be celebrating and probably out on the road for this Bank Holiday weekend checking out great places to add to Only Spain. not just hotels and B&Bs but bars, restaurants, guides, activity providers and on the list goes….. After the death of Franco death in 1977 around one and a half million Andalucians held manifestations at their provincial capitals to demand autonomy. In alphabetical order here is a list of the provinces of Andalucia and one of our B&Bs and Hotels for each one (if we have both), except Almeria because we don´t have one there yet – in the waiting to visit, yes.

a vast area from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and between those two are huge swathes of olive groves and vast dramatic mountain Stargazing in rural Andalucia is pretty common, I can do so on my patio, but make the decision to really get away into one the many Starlight Reserves and you´ll be stunned at how many stars sprinkle our night sky. e have some beautiful hotels in stunning locations where you can stargaze from the roof terrace or grounds but many of these can also organise a stargazing experience. A visiting astronomer will go for couples or groups and bring the night sky even closer through telescope and information.

There are more than 40 criteria that each town has to have to be incorporated in this network of Spain´s Most Beautiful Towns, some of those include conservation of hertitage buildings, harmony of the town, cleanliness, conservation of property, flow of traffic, parks and green zones cared for, cultural programmes and attention to traditions as well as many others. The X-XIII century Cristòfol de Beget Church and its two medieval bridges seemingly merge with the stone cobbles and same warm stone-coloured fronted houses. The buildings in this hamlet of around 30 inhabitants in the Picos de Europa mountains almost merge with their background of grey stone offset with a reddish-brown clay tiled roof. , stone built houses with hanging chestnut balconies and outside staircases give a medieval feel to this small town on the edge of the Camino de Santiago.