Preparing for the holiday

As I sit here writing this blog, we are just three days away from our holiday.

I mentioned in my last blog about the fact that we have a house and pet sitter coming to stay to look after Luca. As Luca is fully vaccinated, we had the option of putting him in a pet hotel. However, he has only been with us for just over six weeks and, though we are not sure of his start in life, we know he was in the state pound, then in a rescue centre, so John said that he did not want to put Luca into a hotel as he may think he has been dumped again, and that we are not coming back to collect him. At least with a house and pet sitter, he is in his home environment, and I know he will be happier for it.

Now, a bit about our upcoming holiday. It's strange when we talk to prospective pet sitters as they always assume we are going back to the UK to visit family, but no, we stay in Spain.

This time, as well, we are staying in Andalusia. Last year, we thoroughly enjoyed visiting Castilla La Mancha and the land of Don Quixote, and we may venture further again one day but, this time, it is back to some old favourites with some new towns in between.

We shall start in Jaen, which we have been to before but, it is a good starting point, not too far to travel on the first day and there is a particular bar we like with a fantastic range of tapas.

From there we go to Córdoba, which we first visited on our honeymoon. However, I was waiting for a knee operation at that time and therefore could not walk far. So, this time we are going to do some exploring of Córdoba, including a planned visit to the Mezquita Catedral de Córdoba, for which we have already obtained tickets.

Similarly, we have arranged visits to the Cathedral and to the Alcázar of Jerez, the distillery of the gin Puerto de Indias in Carmona, a bodega in Cómpeta and the delayed balloon trip from our Christmas holiday in Sevilla.

Already, our trip looks interesting and full of things to see and do. Both John and I look at our route and decide where to go, and the smaller towns we see if they have anything interesting to do and if not, we look at other places.

This holiday looks really good, and I am so looking forward to it, not only for the things we are going to do and the places we are going to see, but for the chance to rest and recuperate after a hard couple of months, building the kitchen, finishing book 3 and getting a new dog!

Ah yes, I slipped that little fact in the middle of the sentence, didn't I?

Yes book 3 is finished, and currently in edit mode, and I hope it will be available to you, my loyal readers, in September.

So now, I am going to sort the packing, look for some nice tapas bars to visit while we are away, and spend time with Luca, before we leave him in the very capable hands of our pet sitter Joan.

I will take loads of photos and be sure to note all the interesting facts I learn to tell you in the next blog. It will be a little late, not halfway through the month, as we do not get back until the 18^th. However, as soon as we are back, whilst dealing with all the washing, I shall tell you all about our holiday. Do you have plans to travel anywhere? do let me know!