British migrant, gypsy quarter, mid life adventure, exploring Almeria, Andalusia, Spain
I went away for a week back to England, and it feels as if I have been away for a year! It was an important trip to mark Dad's birthday, one year after he died, so maybe the milestone aspect made it seem longer. We did him proud, my mother, sisters and myself, celebrating his… Continue reading Back to La Chanca
La Chanca Life has mostly been La Working Life this week. With a glitch in La Cycling Life as my trusty steed had to go in for repairs. Almost everything was wrong with it, although apparently the transmission will last a little longer. Phew. I actually had no idea what the transmission was but the… Continue reading La Working Life
They say a leopard doesn't change its spots, and I guess the same can be said of me! After years of alternative pursuits – full time mother, piano teacher, journalist, to name a few – I have come back to my original profession of soliciting (and not on the street corners of La Chanca, I… Continue reading Back to the law!
Since pioneering Almerían photographer Carlos Pérez Siquier first captured his haunting images of La Chanca in all its poverty and beauty in the 1950s, the area has been somewhat of a mecca for photographers – and this month it has its very own photo competition. Photography is not one of my major talents, but I'm… Continue reading Calling all photographers!
Almeria city boasts hundreds of bars lining the cobbled boulevards and hidden away down side streets - and why only go to one when you can go to many on a tapas trail! A tapas trail is basically a more glamorous version of the good old pub crawl, with slightly less alcohol and slightly more… Continue reading On the tapas trail
...And this could be one of the reasons why! Twice this week my street has been completely blocked by lorries delivering building materials. Poor Vic had to squeeze past the latest cement truck on his crutches which was no mean feat! The whole street was out in force checking the overhead electricity cables which had… Continue reading Correos express doesn’t come here…
Not strictly speaking a bar, as it doesn't serve alcohol, this Morroccan teashop and restaurant is on my list as it's one of my most frequented places in town, and I love it. Just down the road from the Alcazaba, on Calle Paz, it is a little oasis among the closely packed buildings, with its… Continue reading Best bars in town: No 2 Teteria Almedina
Going out from La Chanca into the middle of town on a Friday night is like crossing a divide between two worlds. I get on my bike, make up done for a Friday night out, my attempt at glamour slightly undermined by my green cycle helmet (but I must be safe for the sake of… Continue reading Between worlds
This week La Chanca Life has mostly been La Cycling Life, as I got to grips with my power assisted mountain bike.For four days I cycled everywhere, developing an obsession with following the impressive network of cycle lanes (a brownie point to Almeria city council) to the stage where I could hardly bear to leave… Continue reading Castle, caves and cycling
If you're heading into Almeria city this weekend, chances are you are looking forward to sampling some tapas in one of its many bars. So to make your life easier, I thought I would start my series of bar reviews now (and yes I have been round quite a few, but not all in the… Continue reading Best Bars in Town: No.1 La Mala
La Chanca Life 