Buying a house in Spain 2021
Salobrena on the Costa Tropical in Granada
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| The house with its narrow streets in Salobrena 5 minutes walking from the beach 1 hour from the ski resort 5 miles from Motril |
Because of Brexit, many UK people who own properties in Spain decided to put them up for sale and move back to the UK or somewhere else. This was because the UK was no longer in the EU and there was no more free movement of people and people who had been living in Spain with British passports were restricted to 90 days in any 6 month period and were not allowed to have residence all year in Spain and be entitled to free medical treatment because we were no longer in the EU
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| The shower room |
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| The bathroom |
Because so many ex-pats were trying to sell their properties the asking prices dropped so it was a buyer`s market.
I never wanted to live in Spain all
year, but spend winters in southern Spain where the temperatures are higher,
there is more sunshine and the atmosphere is less damp and not gloomy and depressing
as the UK.
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| A view of the master bedroom |
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| The master bedroom |
My oldest son, Duncan lives in South Africa with his Spanish girlfriend. They also have a child called Chloe. My son runs a business but South Africa has become a dangerous place to live with so many murders so the family would like to move to Spain.
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| The second bedroom |
The Spanish girlfriend, Eli worked in property management when she lived in Spain so she knew what she was doing. The family found a house in the town of Salobrena in Granada on the Costa Tropical. The town was one hour drive from Malaga where there is an airport.
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| The roof terrace |
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| Lounge diner |
I will continue this blog when I`ve
seen the house and reached Costa Tropical. Leave the UK from Portsmouth on Brittany Ferries to Santander in northern Spain on 1st February then drive south for 600 miles to Salobrena
Continuation of buying a house in
Spain
We were supposed to travel to Spain on the 11th of January, but I accidentally broke the windscreen of Danielle`s car and Autoglass let us down in fixing it.
I amended the booking until the 1st of February, then Danielle was ill.
I amended the booking again until the 22nd of February which was successful. We are due to return on the 27th of March 2022.
I decided to buy a second-hand car in February. It was a Citron C3 Picasso diesel and a little more powerful than Danielle`s car. The first place to take the new car was Spain. Danielle wasn`t too happy about taking her car to Spain.
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| The Citron C3 Picassa |
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| Tea with Bill and Hillary |
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| Brittany Ferries`ship called Galicia |
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| Looking at the wake |
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| On board |
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| On the way south in Spain. Having a rest in a layby |
Wednesday 23rd February 2022 & 24th February
We docked in Santander
at about 2pm and were unloaded and began the 600-mile drive to Motril where we
had to pick up the keys from the lawyer's office. After a good road trip, we arrived
in Motril early (7am) on Thursday 24th February but found parking a
problem. As we were very early drove first to Salobrena about 5 miles away to
find the house. We were unsuccessful mainly due to tiredness. We drove back to
Motril and eventually found the lawyer's office with the help of an old man on a
stick who didn`t speak English. Lidia was at the office and gave us the three
new keys to the house then wrote a list of hotels in Motril. We were just
too tired to do any more and booked into a hotel for one night.
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| In the Motril Hotel |
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| Motril seafront |
25th
February 2022 (Friday)
Woke up after a good
night`s sleep. Felt better and had breakfast in the hotel and had a feeling I
would find the house without a problem. Left the hotel about 11 am and after
setting two satnavs found the house. Had thought of asking a taxi driver to
take me there, but it was unnecessary and also found a parking place for the
car. The property looked nice and I let myself in and had a quick look. I then
took Danielle to the house and she was impressed. I then started unloading the
car and made many journeys unloading suitcases and other items. This took me
most of the day and I also turned the water and electricity on. I tried to
operate the large slimline TV that I had brought from home but I couldn`t get
it to work although there was a huge satellite dish on the roof terrace. I
think the experts in satellite systems need to be brought in to get it running.
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| Road outside the house |
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| The name of the street |
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| Salobrena |
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| Salobrena |
Saturday 26th February 2022
Spent a quiet day and
took the car to Lidl`s and did a big shop, then just chilled out in the house
until evening then ventured out again. The area goes very quiet about 2.20pm
until 4pm. Think it must be siesta time. Found out later that the siesta starts
at 2pm and finishes at 5pm
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| Salobrena |
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| Salobrena. The tree is near the house |
Sunday 27th
February 2022
It seems to get dark from about 7.30 to 8.00 pm and light in the morning at about 8.00 am. Spain is about an
hour ahead of the UK this time of the year. The weather is pleasant, but we had
some rain and a thunderstorm at night, but during the day there was little wind
and hazy sunshine. I`ve only worn tee shirts during the day and sometimes a
jacket in the evening.
Time goes quickly but
life here is much slower. We walked to the seafront and it took fifteen
minutes. There was a large rock sticking out into the sea. Danielle bought
walking shoes in a bizarre shop. We entered a cafe where they had Wifi and
caught up with messages. Duncan said Georgina would contact us about installing
WiFi in the house tomorrow.
Monday 28th
February
Had another quiet day,
Georgina didn`t make contact as promised. Assumed Spain was like the Isle of
Wight in regard to tradespeople not turning up to do jobs after appointments
had been made. We went for a walk to the top of the town and saw a fun fare in
operation and there was a band marching through the town and music until 2 am
but not too sure what the festival was all about. Later found out it was
Andalucia Day on the 28th of February. (region we are staying in)
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| The old town of Salobrena is built on a rock |
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| Looking down towards the sea from Salobrena |
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| View of the Arab castle at Salobrena |
Tuesday 1st
March 2022
Another late start to
the day. Life is just so laid back here. There was brilliant sunshine and a
temperature of 21C which felt like summer. Eventually walked to the beach went
into a cafe. I had a glass of wine and Danielle had a coke. I was brought a
Tapas which you always get if you buy wine, then a cheese omelette. Afterwards, I took photographs of the seafront area and then both of us scrambled up the
big rock and took more photographs.
We walked back to the
house during siesta time then I had a phone call from Georgina and we made an
appointment for the internet to be installed the next day between 12 and 3 pm.
I also asked Georgina about the satellite system and she offered to get someone
to ring me the next day.
Wednesday 2nd
March 2022
I finished putting the
bikes together after visiting the bizarre shop and buying some Allen keys. I
also had a call from the TV satellite man who told me once I get the internet
he will provide me with a top box which will give me UK TV.
At about 12 three
Spanish men came to connect me to the internet, but after a while told me in
Spanish they couldn`t do it because of my neighbour and left. I had to find out
the reason. It appears the fibre box was on the neighbour`s property and the
neighbour refused to allow the cable to be run across his property. This means
that not only me but other houses can`t have the internet. Not very nice of him
and my son Duncan was very annoyed, but when Eli my son`s partner visits she
will try to talk sense in Spanish to him in her sweet way. It`s very difficult
to communicate as I don`t speak Spanish, very few people talk English in
Salobrena, so it`s a stalemate if there`s a problem.
I tried my electric
bike out in the afternoon. I had forgotten my tools and pump so didn`t want to
get stuck too far from the house. So cycled to the seafront at Salobrena, then
east towards Motril along the very quiet roads (Eurovelo 8). The bike worked
well except the steering was slightly tight. Did about 13 miles and then rang
Danielle to see if the phones work like they do at home. They did so I was
pleased and UW sent me texts saying the prices are the same in Spain as in the
UK.
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| A bike ride along the seafront |
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| I took Danielle`s electric bike out to try |
Thursday 3rd
March 2022
The car had been parked
in the same place for a while. It was easy walking distance from the house. We
decided to go for a drive into the mountains. We headed for Orjiva where there
was a five-star tea garden. It was about sixteen miles, but when we got there
via the sat nav it appeared closed, in fact, it was just a piece of open ground.
We drove into the town of Orjiva where there was a market and cafe and looked
around and had a drink. The place was in the mountains so the scenery was
excellent.
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| There was supposed to be a 5-star tea garden but couldn`t find it. |
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| Lemons growing in March |
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| The town of Orjiva |
On our return, my
parking place had gone so we bought a few items from Lidl and I found another parking
place fairly close to the house. Parking is a problem in Spain, so many cars,
but no parking fees.
Friday 4th
March 2022
At a late start, Danielle
didn`t feel too well. I think as the day progressed she felt a little better. I
walked up to the castle at the top of Salobrena. It was a steep climb. I took
some photographs of the area from high up. I found there was a restaurant up
there. I found the castle but I had forgotten my mask and had no money. It was
a beautiful sunny, warm day. I later found out to enter the castle it was 4 Euros.
I must revisit sometime.
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| View of the Mediterranean |
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| View from high up in the old town of Salobrena |
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| Looking down the narrow streets of Salobrena |
Later I went out on the
bike with a battery on the carrier at the back. I cycled again to Motril hoping
to find a tennis club. I found some tennis courts by the beach, but the nets
were not up. The golf club seemed active with people playing. Later on the way
back to Salobrena I stopped off at the cafe on the seafront and used WhatsApp
but had to buy a coffee.
Saturday 5th
March 2022
Got up quite late and
eventually walked to the bizarre shops with Danielle but didn`t buy much. Later
we visited the local cafe/bar which runs the hostel close to the house (Hostel
Mary Tere). We had a meal there and a glass of red wine. Liaised with Duncan via
WhatsApp and tried to find the property that stopped us from having the internet.
They don`t seem to be our immediate neighbours from the photographs that Duncan
sent me. However couldn`t identify the property with the fibre box from the
photographs, but will have another look.
Sunday 6th
March 2022
I had a quick look
around the area and for the fibre Optic box. Identified it and took some
photographs. It is not our immediate neighbours but in the street behind. I
looked at the run of cable and it appeared easy to run cable. It must be the
owner of the house where the box is who has said no (can he do that?) When Eli
arrives on the 19th of March she must talk to him in Spanish, perhaps
offer him some money (corruption) and perhaps visit the local council to ask if
one person can stop others from getting a phone line.
Danielle and I went to
the local cafe for a drink and used their internet. Afterwards, we went for a
walk and Danielle bought another pair of shoes for walking that happen to be
very comfortable for her feet.
I went for a walk on my
own. I discovered that Salobrena is built on a huge rock with an Arab castle at
the top. Behind the castle on the seaward side, was a sheer drop. I was able
to walk around the rock and town, then back to the house.
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| Salobrena |
Monday 7th
March 2022
Went over to the Mary
Tere Hostel bar/restaurant and used their internet to communicate with Duncan
and Eli. I took the laptop over there and published my blog on the internet. We
then walked to a satellite shop in Salobrena, but when we got there it was
closed for siesta. We walked back and had food and drink in a bar. I liked my
hamburger, but Danielle didn`t like her one as she said it was too oily. I had
to point out the Mediterranian diet is more healthy than ours with our sugars
and starches Later on I walked back to the Satelite shop, but no one spoke
English only a small boy who became my interpreter. The man offered me a
receiver box but another man said it would not work. I was worried I would not
be able to take it back if it failed to work. So I decided to leave it and
contact another place where they speak English.
Tuesday 8th
March 2022
I found an English
magazine called The Sentinella. It was all written in English and quite
interesting. I found an advert for Costa Tropical about installing the internet and fixing satellite TV to pick up BBC and ITV and English was spoken.
I gave them a ring and discovered that they didn`t provide internet in
Salobrena as there was no demand, They were, however, able to fix the satellite
TV. He asked me to send pictures on WhatsApp. Try as I might I could not do
this as he wasn`t on my contact list.
We then drove to Nerja
along the coast towards Malaga. It was about 30 miles. It was a seaside resort
and very pretty but the season had not started, it was too early. We had some
food and drink, a walk along the beach then drove back to Salobrena and bought
a little shopping from Lidl`s shop. I found a good parking place very close to
the house.
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| In Nerja along the coast |
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| Nerja |
Wednesday 9th March 2022
Went out for a bike
ride and cycled east to Porto Motril where the boats sail to North Africa. It
was very quiet and never saw any ships. I then cycled into town. I was amazed
at the number of cycle paths. They kept crossing roads. I was surprised by how
Spanish motorists treat cyclists. They just stop for you to cross, very unusual
and something UK cyclists are not used to. Car drivers in Spain seem highly civilised.
I did about 23 miles
but when I got back to the house I found Danielle wandering in the street. She
had locked herself out and didn`t have a key, no money or knitting. All the
Spanish neighbours were trying to help but there was a big language barrier.
The only way I could access the house was to take out and break a piece of
glass, then open the door. It was a relief for Danielle as she had been
wandering around for over three hours, but neighbours had been kind to her giving her lots of hugs.
Thursday 10th
March 2022
Just an ordinary day.
Went over to the internet bar and was able to publish some more of my blog and
check my WhatsApp. Afterwards came back then wandered around the shops with
Danielle. We walked to the seafront and had a meal in a beachside restaurant.
Most things in Spain are more expensive than in the UK and that includes meals
out. After eating went and lay down on the beach in the sunshine for a while.
Very relaxing and lay back. I had a letter from the UK delivered with my
Spanish address on it. My tenant kindly sent it as an experiment to see how long
it took and cost. It took four days and cost £1.70 by airmail.
Friday 11th
March 2022
Woke up dressed and had
a shower, then took the rubbish to the big rubbish containers in the town. I
then walked up to the castle again with a mask and 4 Euros. It was an Arab
castle and the Spanish names Ferdinand and Isabella kept appearing. I must do
some research and find out more about them. ( I believe they started the Spanish inquisition and tried to expel the Jews from Spain )The views from the castle were
fabulous of the town`s rooftops, sea and surrounds. Between the town and the
sea is some very flat land used for growing crops. It was like a flood plain.
It was obvious thousands of years ago sea levels were much higher and the sea
came up to the rock on which the town is now built. The soil is Alluvian
deposits and highly fertile for horticulture.
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| The soil is very fertile in Salobrena. The main commercial crop is sugar cane |
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| The beach at Salobrena |
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| The old town of Salobrena build on a rock |
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| Salobrena |
Saturday 12th
March 2022
I woke up to a sunny
warm day, shirt sleeve weather. Went for a walk around town and visited a few bizarre
shops. I left Danielle in a cafe and went to look for tennis courts which I`d
seen coming off the main road in the car to the north of Salobrena. I found 4
good courts which were part of a club. Unfortunately, the gates were locked
although I saw some people playing tennis. At least I know the place to
investigate. Walked back to the cafe and collected Danielle and we walked back
to the hotel bar where they have WiFi. I ordered a burger each for lunch and a
drink, then afterwards returned to the house for siesta. (one soon becomes like
the people around one) The day turned very windy which it does quite often. It
seems to start out sunny and then gets very windy towards evening.
Sunday 13th
March 2022
I woke up at 4am this
morning because of the most horrendous shouting and car hooters. I had never
heard a row like it. It went on for ages and seemed to be two women shouting at
each other. Then it gradually subsided but someone seemed to be beating a metal
door or car for ages. I actually went out to see if my car was alright and it
was.
I wanted to test
Danielle`s bike. She doesn`t use it but my intention is to leave it at the
house in Spain together with my bike for use by anyone who comes to house stay.
I walked with it to the seafront and adjusted the saddle for myself and used it
with the battery along the cycle paths. It was perfect so was very pleased.
Later went to the
hostel bar with Danielle and had a burger and a glass of red wine (Vino Tinto)
then returned to the house for a siesta.
Monday 14th
March 2022
After breakfast, I had
to get a piece of glass cut to replace the piece I had broken to gain access to
the house when Danielle had locked herself out. An easy operation in England,
but in Spain much more difficult. I had found out the name of a glazier and was
told along the road just over there by hand signals. I looked around but could
not see the place. The only thing I could do was use a programme called
`translate` on my phone. I could put in the English sentence and it would
translate the words into Spanish. I then copied the Spanish onto a piece of
paper and showed it to people who in Spanish would tell me the way with hand
signals. After asking about three people I found the place. I gave the size in
millimetres and it was cut. I went to the office to pay with my card, but the
lady in the office wanted cash. She trusted me to come back with the cash,
which I did and the glass was 12 Euros and it fitted perfectly. The house was
secure once more.
Tuesday 15th
March 2022
Seemed unusually dull
this morning and when I looked out of the window the whole atmosphere was
yellow. You couldn`t see the mountains or sea from the roof terrace. Everywhere
was coved in the sand. It was sand from the Sahara Desert that had blown across the
Mediterranean Sea and deposited itself everywhere. I cleaned up the roof
terrace, but more sand was soon deposited. It remained like this all day.
I decided to go for a
cycle ride. It wasn`t too cold but miserably dull. I suppose I did about 15
miles on the bike before returning to the house. Danielle had the door open and
was knitting. A Spanish lady passed by who Danielle knew from when she was
locked out a few days ago. They exchanged a greeting and the lady gave Danielle
a present of a hat. Danielle was over the moon and gave the lady a big hug.
It`s a pity they both speak different languages.
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| The atmosphere was yellow with sand |
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| Salobrena |
Wednesday 16th March 2022
During the night and
morning it rained heavily and gradually brought down the sand in the atmosphere
and gradually the mountains came into view again. The phenomenon was well-reported and only happens occasionally. Sand dust from the Sahara arrived in the UK we heard on the news and could be seen on cars left in the open. People were advised not to spend too
long outdoors as it was bad for lung conditions. The rest of the day was fairly
dull. Where is the sunshine that I came to Spain for?
Thursday 17th
March 2022
It turned out to be a
much better day. Eventually, the sun shone and it was warm. The sand had
dissipated from the air although it was everywhere on the paths and buildings.
I walked to Carrefour Market and spent just under 5 Euros on essentials then we
had coffee at the hostel bar, afterwards going for a walk around town. I wanted
some information from the tourist board about tennis and cycling groups, but
they were always closed, although the internet said they were open up to 11.30
am. The big sports complex on the outskirts of Salobrena where they had three
tennis courts were also deserted. Rather a mystery to us who wanted information.
Must wait until Eli comes on Saturday when the Spanish language will help
enormously.
Friday 18th
March 2022
It was a normal start
to the day. Eventually, the sun came out and Danielle and I walked to the
seafront and had a coffee. We then walked to Carrefour Market and spent 20
Euros on food. Later after the supplies had been put away in the house I went
out on my bike. I headed towards Motril along the usual route. The weather had
turned slightly wet and there were black clouds over the mountains. The roads
in Motril were wet. I came to a roundabout and went round it slowly but the
bike skidded and I fell off. Something I seem to do every 2 years on average. I
was so surprised when it happened and I blamed the camber of the road, plus the
road was slippery with the layer of sand and clay. I picked myself up and two
cars stopped on the roundabout behind me and a lady driver got out of one car
and handed me my camera and hat that had fallen out of my pocket and off my
head. I thanked her in English and sorted my bike before continuing. I was
lucky as some car drivers would have just driven over my possessions.
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| The cycle paths in Motril |
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| The distant mountains have snow |
Saturday 19th
March 2022
It was a special day as
Eli and Chloe were visiting Spain. Eli is my son`s partner and lives in South
Africa. Chloe is my granddaughter and is 11 years old. They had been to the UK
for a week and now they were spending time in Spain. It was wonderful to have
a Spanish person with us as communications were paramount. We left the house at about 11 am and drove the car to the garage where I bought some diesel and then
cleaned the car with a hosepipe. I tried to get all the sand off the car but it
was in every nook and cranny and the more I hosed down the bodywork the more sand
appeared. We then drove to Granada and found the bus station and parked the car
and sat in the cafe at the bus station and waited for the coach from Madrid to
arrive. Eli and Chloe got off the bus and after greeting them we drove back to
Salobrena. Later Eli talked to our neighbour, viewed the cable run for the
internet and we had something to eat at the hostel bar before returning to the
house.
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| Chloe aged 11 |
Sunday 20th
March 2022
Today we all went out
in the car to the Sierra Nevada which is one of the highest ski resorts in Europe. We drove along Spain`s
marvellous roads and drove up to the resort to over 2700 metres. Eli wanted to
view an apartment to let once Duncan and her move to Spain. We also admired the
scenery of the snow-covered ski resort and we all went on the chair lift and
viewed the snow, something we haven`t seen much of for a while.
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| On the slopes |
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| On the chair lift |
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| Looking down at the car from the chair lift |
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| Sierra Navada |
Monday 21st
March 2022
It was a working day. Eli and I decided to clean the sand off the house. It was a problem all over Salobrena. The sand from the Sahara that was blown over was mixed with clay and it made a complete mess of the white buildings. We bought a hosepipe and brush and washed the outside of the building, but it was so difficult to get the sand completely off. I think we will have to have the outside painted. The man in town who sells paint will do a roaring trade. So pleased that sand being blown from the Sahara is a rarity and only happens occasionally.
On the roof terrace the lady next door, Rosario appeared and explained some history of the house to Eli in Spanish. Apparently, it was occupied by gipsies many years ago when it was just a shack. It was sold several times and was built to its present three stories by an Englishman who then sold it to Patrick, the previous owner for 160K in 2003. Patrick used it for a holiday home but then wanted to help his daughter buy a house in Ireland so sold it to us and lost a great deal of money on the sale.
Eli and Chloe went to see the people with the
fibre box on their wall to talk to them about running a cable to give us the
internet. The lady`s name was Fatima and she was adamant that no other people
should use the box for their phone lines. She was educated and feared the
electric field would be unhealthy for her family. Apparently, other people had
wanted to use the box on her wall and she had refused them a phone line. So she
wasn`t prepared to make an exception in our case.
Tuesday 22nd March 2022
We had a good start to
the day. Breakfast at the hostel/Bar then we finished washing down the white
walls of the house, trying to get rid of the Sahara sand deposits. I must say
the house looked much better when we had finished washing the building.
We then got in the car
and drove to Orgiva as Eli wanted to see if the place was a suitable area to buy a property. She decided it
was not and in the middle of nowhere and away from the sea.
We then drove to Pampaneira
high up in the mountains. Very difficult road to drive along because of the
hairpin bends. We easily found a place to park and then wandered around the
village and looked in a few shops. Danielle, Eli and Chloe bought stuff. It
was an interesting place as the Moors who were Arab Muslims and came to Spain
via Morocco many hundreds of years ago because the water was more plentiful. They hid in the
mountains when the Spanish who had already converted to the Christian faith were
trying to convert the Muslim Arabs to the Christian religion. They hid in that
region as it was then a very difficult place to access with no roads. The Moors
built villages in the mountains whilst there and Pampaneira was one of those
villages. The Moors occupied Spain for over 800 years and most indigenous Spaniards
have Moorish blood, except for those living in Catalonia in northern Spain who
are looking for independence from the rest of Spain.
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| Beautiful artwork |
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| A loom where the rugs on sale are made |
Wednesday 23rd
March 2022
It was waiting around
day as Duncan and Eli had arranged for the internet to be installed. The
neighbours who refused any more lines to be connected to their fibre box came
around to apologise and give their reasons which seemed valid. Eli had found another
fibre box very close to the house and when the installer arrived cable was run
from this box to the house. We soon had the internet working in the house.
Unfortunately, we have to leave the house by Friday so will only have a short
time to enjoy having WiFi in the house. The next step is to get the British TV set
up and Eli and Chloe who were leaving tomorrow to see their family in Spain are
having the receiver box sent to them. Later they will come back to the house to
fit it before flying back to South Africa.
Thursday 24th
March 2022
A very dull yellow day.
I think the sand had returned to the atmosphere, but it felt warm. There was
certainly sand on the car again. Eli and Chloe decided to take the coach to
Eli`s parent's village. I took them and Danielle to the bus station
It was sad
to see them leave but they wanted to see Eli`s parents before returning to
South Africa on the 9th of April. Eli and Chloe intended to come
back to the house in Salobrena before they finally leave for Spain.
I filled up the car with diesel and gave it a
wash all ready to leave the next day heading towards Santander and the ferry back
to Portsmouth.
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| Danielle and Chloe |
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| Chloe and Grandad David |
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| At the bus station |
Friday 25th
March 2022 & Saturday 26th March 2022
We had to leave the
house and make our way back to Santander in the north of Spain. We loaded the
car and left the house and set the sat nav for the port over 600 miles away. It
was a smooth run back except when we left Salobrena the sky was full of sand which
had settled and covered the car during the night, so we had to give it a wash
at the garage before setting off. On Friday night and Saturday morning it was
obvious that we were going to arrive in Santander too early, so we made many
stops. It rained nearly all the way but after Burgos, the sun came out and it
was hot. We couldn`t find a reasonably priced hotel in Santander so we went out
of town and found the Hosteria De Boo where they had a room at a good price. It
was so lovely to have a room after a night in the car. In northern Spain, there
was no sign of any sand and the cars all looked clean. We eventually left the
hotel to get some nibbles at Carrefour Express which was only a short distance
away. Then try as we might we couldn`t find the location of the hotel which was
only 3km away. We tried everywhere for two hours and asked several people but the language
barrier was a big problem. At one stage I went into a gay bar by mistake to ask. It was hopeless as all the men wanted to do was dance with me. In the end, I asked a taxi driver to lead us there.
It was such a relief to be escorted so I gave him 20 Euro when he had only asked
for 10. I was so grateful and relieved to get back. Danielle was surprisingly
calm about the whole episode considering we had left all our luggage and
passports in the hotel room.
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| The hotel where we stayed on the last night |
Sunday 27th
March 2022
We left the hotel after
a good night`s sleep. I thought it would be a good idea to leave fairly early
in case I had a problem finding the ferry terminal. I suddenly found out that
in Spain the clocks went forward 1 hour. I had a sudden burst of panic but
there was still time to get there. I set the sat nav and it took me to the
terminal and there I waited to board the ferry together with many other
vehicles.
Eventually, we boarded
and the ship set sail for Portsmouth. I had removed the headlight deflectors
which must have worked well as I had no angry lorry drivers flashing me. The
rest of the day was spent looking at the sea for whales and dolphins, drinking
and having a meal in the restaurant onboard.
Monday 28th
March 2022
Today is reaching home
day. The Brittany Ferry after a smooth crossing docked at about 5.30 pm and we
eventually drove off the ferry but had to queue for over an hour to show our
passports at UK border control. The passports had already been shown twice before in
Spain before boarding the ferry. Eventually, we were free to leave and travelled
to Southampton in about 30 minutes and caught the 7.30 pm ferry to East Cowes.
Suddenly it felt like we had never been away, but we were pleased to be safely
back home. The trip distance was about1400 miles
THE
END
Hope everything is well with you
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