Tag Archives: #spain

The ITV

If you own a car that is registered in Spain, it needs to be checked for roadworthiness and safety by the Spanish authorities on a regular basis. New cars are exempt for the first few years. But after that, they are expected to be checked either annually or every other year. This system, and the checks performed, are quite similar in most (all?) European countries such as the MOT (UK), APK II (NL), and Kontrollbesiktning (SE).

In Spain, this check is better known as the ITV, the Inspección Técnica de Vehículos. 

In this post, we’ll have a look at what will be checked at the ITV and what you can do yourself to prepare your car for the ITV.

Continue reading →

Discovering the Charm of Mojácar Pueblo: A Hidden Moorish Gem

I had seen it in travel brochures, read about it in guidebooks, but never actually visited. Mojácar Pueblo always intrigued me—one of those quaint Moorish towns with whitewashed houses perched on a hilltop, full of history and charm. When my sister and brother-in-law, Paul, came to stay with us for a week, I found myself racking my brain for ideas of places they hadn’t already seen. That’s when Mojácar Pueblo sprang to mind—just about an hour and forty minutes by car, roughly 150 kilometers down the AP-7. Continue reading →

Why No Holiday Feels Complete Without a Boat Trip: Exploring the Beauty of Mar Menor

For us, no holiday ever feels truly complete without at least one boat trip. There’s something uniquely relaxing and thrilling about being out on the water, whether it’s exploring hidden coves or watching a magical sunset. Here in Los Alcázares, we’re fortunate to have Cruceros Mar Menor, a company that has been offering scenic boat tours since the 1980s. Their boat, the Joven Ana Belen, is an iconic wooden vessel designed for shallow, calm waters like those found in the Mar Menor. With a capacity for 120 passengers and a cruising speed of around 8 knots, this boat provides an unforgettable experience for everyone on board. Continue reading →

Discovering Murcia by Trike: A Must-Do Adventure!

When I first saw the advert for Murcia Trike Tours, I knew right away it was something I had to experience. The idea of cruising through beautiful Spanish towns on a three-wheeled trike seemed like an adventure not to be missed. My only challenge? Convincing my husband Tom. He’s always been more of a four-wheel fan, preferring the comfort of cars over bikes—or in this case, trikes. Continue reading →

LA Wall Art Festival 6

Abstract or figurative, that’s the question

Art can be figurative: you recognize real-life objects and can see what it is or what it is supposed to be. In contrast, art can also be abstract, in which case you might be able to figure out what you think it is or what it resembles. Or you have no clue what it looks like, that’s probably abstract as well.

And, for simplicity’s sake, it can be both abstract and figurative in any blend you can think of.

Nope, this ain’t no art class. I’m an art novice myself and art of not, I either like something arty or I don’t. Most Rembrandt’s I certainly do not like, most Van Gogh’s I do like – but not all of them. Why? I got no clue. a matter of different taste I guess. It sure would be boring if we all had the same taste don’t you agree? So I’m not treating y’all to a free art class. Instead of me giving a free art class, you can click some of the links on this page and learn more about the items. But I do have a question for you to consider… Continue reading →

LA Wall Art Festival 5

The final results of the hard work on Artwork in LA

It’s been a week since the festival ended and LA was enhanced by some fine artists with some fine art. In this post, I’ll give you an impression of what has been done. Be aware, the photo work was done by me with a cellphone camera – by no means a professional job. For the best impression: go and visit all of them yourself using the map published here. Continue reading →

LA Torre del Rame

What’s that, the Torre del Rame?

The southern part of our town is called Las Lomas del Rame, or The Hills of Rame. It’s named after the small towered fortress Torre del Rame. When driving the N332 to or from southern LA, you’d probably never see it as there are some building and a lot of palm trees blocking the sight. I’m not propagating to cutting the palm trees down, instead I encourage you to take the small detour and have a look at the Torre. Continue reading →

LA Wall Art festival 3

Hard work on Artwork in Los Alcazares!

Art needs work, a lot of it. All the artists I visited earlier this weekend (see previously posted pages on this subject here) were still cracking on from Saturday morning to late saturday night. I’ll restrict this post to some impressions on hard work on artwork: Continue reading →

Wall art vs Graffiti

What is art and what is graffiti?

The eternal question on wall art is that it is deemed graffiti (by some). Obviously I do not agree with that. Yes, there is graffiti, and there is wall art that I do not like, but wall art per se is not graffiti. For me, the difference between graffiti and mural art is clear by looking at it. If the difference is unclear to you, then I’d recommend to visit some of the murals in progress today, or some created earlier. Continue reading →