
And I am still trying to catch up! On Sunday, 24th May, we travelled to Granada with friends for a vacation. I am not usually a fan of cities, but I kept an open mind, and I’m glad I did. Granada was fantastic! No high-rise and we were pleasantly surprised by the diverse architecture, the cleanliness as we explored different areas, and the friendly staff in the bars and restaurants.
Ready to be photo bombed?



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Granada is well known for its tapas, and in one bar, where there were only tables in the form of barrels, and no seating, a waiter, probably noticing I was struggling, went and got me a chair. As he presented the chair, he apologised to my friend and said. ‘I’m sorry, but it is the only one we have‘. The same happened again the next time we went in there.
We decided to give the Alhambra Palace a swerve on this occasion as the entrance fee was not only expensive, but our friends had visited recently with their family. We did want to see the cathedral, but again we decided not to pay the exorbitant entrance fee to go inside a church. Churches should be free to enter; instead, visitors should make a donation.
We will definitely return!
Takeaway from Granada: Tinto de Verano
Tinto de Verano (“red wine of summer”) is a classic Spanish mixed drink made from red wine and lemon-lime soda or lemonade, served over ice. Lighter and simpler than sangria, it’s a staple across Spain’s bars and terraces during the hot season for its crisp, low-alcohol refreshment. It certainly was! WE drank gallons. But it’s worth checking the bar makes their own Tinto de Verano, opposed to the bottled version, which is decidedly unpleasant and VERY sweet. ug!
Ingredients
- 1 part red wine
- 1 part lemon soda (such as lemonade or a lemon-lime soft drink)
- Ice
- Lemon slices (optional)
Method
- Fill a glass with ice.
- Pour in equal amounts of red wine and lemon soda.
- Stir gently.
- Garnish with a slice of lemon if you like.
A traditional Spanish version is often made with red wine and a lemon-flavoured soda such as La Casera.
and Tapas.
I did take a photo, but our friend photo-bombed the pic, so AI created one LoL

My First Dip of the Year – 31st of May!

I was late using the pool this year due to the strong southerly winds that brought sand, which covered the pool’s surface in dust, creating havoc with the pH levels. The pool also needed a Spring clean after the long, wet winter. A big job for Mr P, especially as we’d been travelling over the previous two months, and he still manages our pool rather than hiring a pool man!
The rest of this week and next month seem quite tame as we look forward to a period of calm before our French family arrives in August.
Apologies for being tardy with my #WeekendCoffeeShare post
My thanks to Natalie our weekend coffee share host.
Have you stayed in Granada? What were your favourite experiences?

Granada looks like a fun place to explore. I love the sound of that drink, as someone who puts ice in my wine – right up my alley. What a perfect summer drink. Your pool and garden are looking fabulous. I’m impressed your husband still does the clean-up.
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Thanks, Tracy. If you get the opportunity to go I recommend it. Yes, the tinto verano is perfect. Suggest you add a slice of orange and use lemonade. :)
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I was up in Galicia around that time and it was beautiful. May/June is a good time to travel. We stayed in Granada one April, quite a while ago, and it was cold! But I still have lovely memories xx
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Hi Jo, I think the weather in Granada falls under the Continental banner. Freezing in winter and roasting in summer. We are looking forward to going back.
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Glad you had a great time in Granada. I like “tinto de verano” too. Your pool and backyard look inviting. I hope the nice weather continues so you’ll get to use the pool more often. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.
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Thanks, Natalie.
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Love the look of Granada, rustic small town provencal vibe…and that refreshing drink: YES! Glad you had a great time!
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John, you like to travel so I definitely recommend Granada, especially the Bibi suites where we stayed. You’d also enjoy the food :)
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Wonderful photos to take us there, Carole! It sounds like a fab vacation and congratulations on finally having nice enough weather to have a dip in the pool. May here was very windy also. Some days far above normal temps and some far below. It was truly a roller coaster here weather-wise.
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Hi Terry, I wanted to take a lot more photos but my phone’s camera kept jamming. I don’t know why. SO frustrating! The weather here was so variable in May.
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That drink looks delicious and refreshing! And Grenada looks like such an appealing city with its narrow streets.
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WE loved it, Laurie… and the drink was delicious. One we will definitely be making at home
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