Any Excuse to Travel

Stories from travels in

Spain

The kiss of death

The origins of words and phrases are as fascinating as the words themselves. Some say the term the kiss of death grew from Mafia lore

Where’s Gaudí gone?

Mention Barcelona and the first person to come to mind, if you’re not a football fan, is most likely Antoni Gaudí. Any fridge magnet collection

Market mecca

Barcelona is a veritable mecca for shoppers. The city is big on leather, big on recycling, and big on style. It more than makes up

The separation of person and passport

My greatest fear, as a traveller, was realised last week. For years, I’ve broken out in a cold sweat when hotel receptionists ask me for

Spanish humour

When I don’t have anyone to talk to, except myself, and having nothing good to read either, I tend to eavesdrop on other people’s conversations. 

Selling body parts on the steps of the Basilica

Saturday in Las Palmas was spent trying to find a pub that was showing the Ireland/Wales match. The first Irish pub I found looked as

Las Palmas

A while back, taking  a rare full day off when in Malta, I tried my damndest to relax. I went down to the pool and

Built for the sun

If ever a city was built for the sun, Las Palmas was. The locals will tell you that it only rains 10 days a year

It’s all about the emphasis

Isn’t it odd how, when for all your reasoning life, you’ve heard a word pronounced in one way, and then you hear it, from a

Real Madrid

And, no, I’ve not gone over the other side. But even I had to respect the greatness that is Real Madrid and pay homage when