Flamenco Dancing And Los Nietos Beach

On a cold and grey winter's day here in the UK, I thought I would write about my last trip to La Union in Spain, which was November/December time.  Rather different, obviously, to the summer time as the locals were sat outside cafes in coats, surrounded by heaters. I felt the weather though was lovely for the time of year, and I ventured outside with no coat to be seen!  There was even a flurry of flamenco dancing on the Calle Mayor, giving a summery feel to the place.

I went out with my friends one evening to Las Velas Cinema to see Bohemian Rhapsody.  It was brilliant, and at four euros, fifty for a ticket, the value was incredible.  We had lovely seats with cup holders; the film was awesome and my friends were a delight, as always.

I normally take the train into Cartegena but decided one day to travel in the opposite direction to Los Nietos Beach, some 13 minutes away.  Although deserted, it was lovely.

Yours truly on Los Nietos Beach

I found a new gem of a bar called Bar Museo Minero on Calle Real, 104, 30360 La Union, Murcia.  It was a bit like a Sports Bar, with cheap food and wine, showing lovely pictures on the wals of the old mines of the region.  Another place to go to on my travels whilst I walk of an evening.

Bar Museo Minero

On my next trip I will be travelling back to the UK from the new Corvera Airport, or Murcia International Airport as it will be known.  I am looking forward to seeing how easy it will be to commute to and from La Union, and I will provide an update and information on my next blog to assist people who will be thinking of travelling to this new airport.

Hasta luego until then!

Wood Fired Spanish Food - Wonderful!

I recently spent another few days in La Union.  The weather was mixed, with rain on two days, but it was sunny and bright for the rest of the time.

Sandy and Dianne's friends, Mateo and Veni, kindly invited me for lunch at their home.  Delicious open wood fired chicken and lamb, (pollos asados), home made bread, (sobrasada), and wonderful amounts of wine were consumed.  I was so honoured to have been invited into their home.  I tried my very best with my Spanish, and even though I am a total novice compared with Sandy and Dianne, I really enjoyed listening and trying to converse in Spanish, and I was so pleased to have had the opportunity to do that in a Spanish home.  Thank you Mateo, Veni, Sandy and Dianne.

On a totally different note, it does now appear that the lovely San Javier Murcia airport will definitely be moving to Corvera, 30kms away.  On a good note, Corvera's airport is brand new and can manage over 3 million passengers a year.  There will be good transport links and the new airport will be closer to the beaches around Puerto Mazarron and Bolnuevo.  I have always loved San Javier Murcia Airport, so let's see how I like Corvera Airport in the months to come.  I know my journey to La Union will be longer, but I will keep you posted on the new airport, its facilities and proximity.

General Best Selling Books For This Christmas

Roman Soldiers And More Food!

It was another fiesta week in Cartagena on my last visit, with men walking around dressed as Roman soldiers, and a lovely buzz throughout the city. 

As seems to be a wonderful recurrent theme, there was much eating and merriment, so here goes with my next round of places to visit in Cartagena and La Union, Murcia, with links to the restaurants mentioned.

Firstly, I went to an Indian Restaurant called Omkara in Cartagena with my friends, Sandy and Dianne. Had an offering of chicken madras and peshwari nan and wine, all for 20 euros, about the same price as the UK. Lovely food and staff, and I will definitely be going back again.

Still in Cartagena, I saw amazing cakes at Confiterias Marin and really unusual, but wonderful tapas at El Pincho De Castilla.  A truly gorgeous place, with hams hanging from the ceiling. I  had walked past this place on a number of occasions, but had never ventured inside. So pleased that I had been taken in to take a look.

Saw this lovely car in Cartagena, which wouldn't look out of place in Chicago!  Isn't it gorgeous?!

Going back nearer to home, I ventured up to the Calle Mayor one evening to have medallones de solimillo a la pimienta at one of my favourites in La Union, that being Cafe Mayor at 7.5 euros, including a glass of wine. This dish of pork covered in a pepper sauce literally melted in the mouth!

Rounded off the week with sausages and mash at Mel and Maria's, before flying back to the UK the next day.

On a separate note, I now have a copy of an English/Spanish mass book, so I can at least try to respond where I should in mass. Really happy about that.

Another lovely week. To be continued.....

Tip: Ryanair are changing their on board baggage terms and conditions again in November. Check on their website for more clarity on these changes.

Food Glorious Food!

After a week of lovely weather and seeing great friends, I seem to have done rather a lot of eating on my last trip out to La Union, Murcia and I am not complaining!  Here is a round up of the places I visited:-

Within two hours of arriving, I was dining at Los Churrascos in El Algar with my friends, Sandy and Dianne.  A beautiful restaurant within a 10 minute bus ride from La Union.  Although not cheap for this region at €30 a head, this price was for 3 courses, 2 bottles of wine and beers, and the food was top quality and divine.  One of the best restaurants I have ever visited.  We also saw the cyclists from the La Vuelta Cycling Race come past later in the day – a bit like the Spanish version of the Tour De France!!  It was a fantastic afternoon - great company and lovely places visited.

I was also introduced to a Chinese café in Cartagena just opposite the bus stop where I get off.  Three courses, wine and coffee for €8!  I was then shown by Sandy and Dianne where the Historical Military Museum and the Roman Amphitheatre were.  Amazing. I must have a better look at them on my next trip.  The Military Museum is free to look around too!

Rounded off the trip to Cartagena by dropping into the bar of the Los Habaneros Hotel on the way to catching the No.10 back to La Union.  A lovely hotel that is really good value to stay at.

The last day of my most recent trip saw me helping to celebrate another friend's Birthday, Linda, at Sierra Minera in La Union. I have been here before. Their Menu del Dia for €10 is amazing.  Every starter consisted of some sort of salad or fish, on this occasion, and as I don’t like either, they gave me an enormous plate of ham and melon – yum!!

Another fantastic trip. Can’t wait to come back again in a few weeks’ time.

Tip of the week:  When booking flights, book them really early in the year.  You will pay probably about 50% to 75% of what they will bump up to if you leave the booking to nearer the day of when you want to travel.

To be continued……..

Steeped In History

I thought you might like a little history on the place where I stay, La Union. La Union is a village located between Cartagena and La Manga del Mar Menor. The motorway is 10 minutes away and the airport of San Javier is about 20 minutes away.

Now when you think of Spain you think of sun, sangria, sea. Right? Well yes and no because La Union is well known for its former mines, the slag heaps of which still remain. Mining has shaped the local community, and added to the strange landscape of greys, blues, yellows and pinks. This all makes for a different kind of landscape.

Over the past 3000 years many riches have been mined here, sphalerite, pyrite, lead, zinc, silver and blue flurospar, to name but a few. It is said that mining took place here pre-Roman times.

The mines brought many people to the area to form La Union, aptly named for the merging of three small villages.

There is an impressive Tourist Office in the centre of La Union, which is a lovely building:-

I often walk past this building in the evening when wandering up to the Calle Mayor.

There are many eating places in La Union, shops, banks, many buses and trains to take you on cheap journeys out and about, glorious weather and friendly locals. What's not to like!!

The Joy Of Television!

It has been nearly three months since I took the lease on my apartment, and I have at last got a lovely television in my place! Hurrah! We have even managed to link it up to the satellite dish already provided on the terrace, and hey presto, English television! I no longer have a silence when I wake up in the morning, as I have something to listen to in the background. Even though I love the sounds of the birds when I wake up, it is still nice to have a familiar voice to listen to occasionally.

This isn't my television, but you get the gist!!

Out comes the remote to watch old favourites like Minder, The Professionals and Wheel of Fortune!!

It isn't long though before I realise that I miss hearing Spanish being spoken and I get ready and go down the Panaderia to mix with the locals. I am getting the best of both worlds!

I Was Hit By A Toy Plane!

I had a lovely week away recently at my apartment in La Union, including discovering new places around the marina in Cartagena, one of which was a place called Valor Restaurant near to the Town Hall and marina. It looks like lots of people come off the cruise ships and gravitate to this place, and I don't blame them! Churros, chocolate and coffee to die for!

I also found more wonderful places around the marina. I tend to come into Cartagena most days on the bus or train for a few hours out of the apartment and to people watch.

As the wonderful weather continued, I also went out to lunch on Sunday with friends, Sandy, Dianne, Donna and Paul to Borsalino, a wonderful French restaurant right on the beach in La Manga. We caught the Number 20 bus from La Union, for the princely sum of two euros, and fifty minutes later we were sat at our table enjoying a feast of lovely food and fine wine. If you look at the picture below, you will see how close to the beach we were. I was sat there enjoying a sip of wine, when all of a sudden a large, plastic plane came flying towards me, hitting me in the face! A small boy had thrown it to his friend, and the wind must have sent it flying over the wall towards our table! Wine glasses were smashed, my face was slightly bruised, and the poor boy's father came over and insisted the little boy said "lo siento" to apologise to me. Poor boy!

I love it here!

Next time - the joys of now having a television!