Hello from Alhama de Granada

Hola everyone.
Linda is still typing up the next exciting installment. we are in Alhama de Granada which is west of Granada. We have been soaking in some thermal pools just out of town with the locals and a few tourists. Everyone heads down there to have a bath. This village doesnt make it into Lonely Planet but is definitely a highlight for us. Its a medieval town built on a cliff with many of the houses falling down. The thermal pools were discovered by the romans and there is a flash hotel there now which is only open in spring and summer. The water flows from the hotel into the river in a series of pools. Apparantly the hotel tried to empty the water straight into the river and not into the baths so the locals couldnt use it (they were an eyesore to their rich clients!) but the locals got pissed off and they had to leave it running into the baths.

We have worked out that the libraries here have free internet so i am waiting for linda to do her emailing.

We will head to Torreleminos (on the coast near Malaga) tommorow and hopefully catch up with Bill and Malcolm who we travelled a few days with and had new years with at Nerja. Then to Marbella for a few days then Ronda (which is inland). We will also check out Gibraltor (and get some tax free grog) and check out Morrocco for a few days. We pick up Jacki (our friend from Goulburn) in Seville on 2 Feb and leave her at Lisbon on 15 Feb before heading north to Paris then London.

Linda will post her next exciting update in a few days. Highlights will be xmass at Benidorm -jewell of the costa blanca (sarcasm) NYE at Nerja with Bill & Malcolm, Almeria where the camper nearly became a permanent fixture, Granada with Kris and Julie (Canadians we met in Germany) and Alhama de Granada (where we are now).

The development in Spain is unbelievable. Many of the roads are brand new and they confuse Jane (TOMTOM). Even the smallest village on the coast has half a dozen huge cranes towering over them building apartments. Real estate sales are slowing here like everywhere else and I am sure there will be tens of thousands of unfinished apartments that no one wants.

I had a very traumatic experience in Almeria when I made a wrong turn and was committed to driving on through ever narrowing streets. I had to take a very tight right hand corner and luckily had about 2mm clearance and a well placed gutter that slid the back wheels around without a building crashing through our kitchen window. A few spanish men helped get us out with the best help being an old man telling linda to be quiet as she was giving contradictory directions and freaking out. All the locals were leaning over their balconies watching the fun. I nearly kissed the guys that helped us - I was so relieved to get out. I dont think I would have made it if the van was 5mm longer or higher (the roof box had a few mm to spare under the first floor balconies). (Dont worry Nik the van came through without a scratch).

Anyway the library is closing (8.30pm here). I hope everyone had a good holiday.
Regards, Adios
John