Tips for Getting rid of Ants

Around this time very year in Spain we seem to get inundated with ants, tiny ones, normal ones, huge ones, they are everywhere, in the house, in the garden, crawling over our plants and fruit trees, crawling over us! This week I decided to try to find a good way to get rid of ants, preferably without killing them, as I am not that sort of chap. I wanted to know if there was a natural product that would deter ants, Doing a quick search on the internet found all sorts of wild and wacky ideas, but the most commonly occurring suggested cider vinegar, chalk, mint, cinnamon and talcum powder. Great so off we go, plenty of vinegar in the cupboard (well its white wine vinegar but the ants won’t notice!), so find some ants to get rid of and give tham vinegar. Well I have to tell you my ants must be different from other peoples ants because they were drinking the vinegar and coming back for more (maybe they died later who knows). I moved on to chalk (they won’t cross a chalk line), blimey my little blighters were running all over it, they seemed to think it was the finishing line for some high speed race, try cinnamon then – they took no notice. What next? Blow it give em a kettle of boiling water, haven’t seem the damn things since.

Majorca Places – Manacor, Felanitx, Santanyi and Cala Rajarda

Some inland towns in the east of Majorca in the Balearic Islands, Spain, include the second largest town on the island, Manacor, an industrial town which is renowned for its artificial pearls. The pearl factories are a major tourist attraction for the town and thousands of visitors arrive each week to watch the pearls in production, the pearls are made from glass beads, covered in resin and fish scales, they are hard to tell from the real thing. Another small inland town is the charming Felanitx, famous for its ceramics, it is worth visiting for its 13th century church of Sant Miguel. Further south is the honey-coloured Santanyi, built from the same stone as Palma cathedral, Santanyi is a former fortified town, with much remaining of its fortifications, its coastal are Cala Santanyi is a popular holiday resort. Ending with another little coastal resort to the north near Capdepera, Cala Rajarda is a pretty little resort in an area of rugged coastline, this former fishing village has become popular with holidaymakers seeking a quieter holiday.

Towns of Andalucia – Almunecar

One of the more interesting towns on the Costa Tropical section of the Costa del Sol coastline of southern Spain, is the ancient town of Almunecar, a settlement since it was founded by the Phoenicians in 800 BC, it was formerly known as “Sexi”, and in Roman times as “Firmium Julium Sexi”, and was a significant port and commercial town, especially known for fish salting and related industries. The Romans thought Almunecar important enough to construct five aqueducts in the region, all of which still stand today and four of which are still used to this day. In the mid-twentieth century the writer Laurie Lee wrote about the town in his well read books and soon after it began to develop as a holiday resort and tourist destination. These days it is a busy coastal resort with a decent range of facilities, it enjoys a typical Costa del Sol climate with long, hot summers and mild winters, Almunecar weather is perfect for family holidays from May to October and also ideal for winter breaks when the climate is warmer than northern Europe. During the Arab occupation of Spain, Almunecar was the final town to fall to the Christians before the fall of Granada. Almunecar has a good range of holiday accommodation and some excellent hotels such as the 4 Star Almunecar Playa Hotel, situated right beside the beautiful Playa de San Cristobal, other beaches include the Puerta del Mar, El Tesorillo, Cantarrijan, and Velilla beach. Map of Almunecar.

Vega Baja Villages – Hurchillo

One of the Vega Baja villages of the Costa Blanca, Spain, Hurchillo is a charming little village with a population of less than one thousand. A chance to see a piece of the real Spain away from the busy Costa Blanca coastline, Hurchillo is reached via the road from Orihuela, and is a bout 9 kilometres from that town. A maze of charming cobbled streets welcomes visitors, together with the smiling faces of its people who are very friendly. Not to be out gunned by its bigger and better known neighbours, Hurchillo has its own village square and church and also its own feast day and fiestas during which it honours the Patrona Nuestra Señora de Montserrat. Damaged like so many other villages in the earthquake of 1829, Hurchillo relies mostly on citrus farming for its economic survival. Other villages worth visiting around Hurchillo include Bigastro, Beniel, Jacarilla and Cox.

Towns of Galicia – Vigo

Well worth a visit if you are travelling in the Galicia region of north-western Spain, the city of Vigo is one of the biggest fishing ports in Europe and is situated in an attractive location on the Ria de Vigo just 20 kilometres north of the Portuguese border with Spain. Built on a former hill-fort and parts of an ancient Roman settlement Vigo did not really become established until the 15th century, its significance as a port was obviously recognised by Francis Drake as he felt it important enough to attack and occupy during the 16th century. Further attacks by Turks led to the building of city walls and defences by order of Felipe IV, parts of which can still be seen today. Although having the look of a modern industrial city, you can explore the old quarter and travel back in time, strolling through its narrow winding streets and lanes. Vigo Map.

Our Trip to Granada Spain

Our recent to trip to Granada Spain was somewhat spoiled by the poor weather conditions which we experienced while we were there. A reasonable day on Tuesday, while we were travelling was followed by torrential rain on Wednesday, our only full day there. It was of course the day we booked to visit the Alhambra Palace, and we got pretty wet, although we got to see most of what we wanted to see. The highlight of the trip was a visit to the cathedral on the first day, we enjoyed the breathtaking architecture and beauty of the place, we also enjoyed the Capilla Real, the La Cartuja Monastery and the gypsy dancing. Visits to the Archaeological Museum and the Museo de San Juan de Dios were also excellent. Granada Map.

Inland Towns of Valencia – Onda

One of the lesser known towns in the Valencia region of Spain, Onda is located just inland from the Costa del Azahar coastline and is approximately seventeen kilometres from Castellon de la Plana. Onda is overlooked by a ruined castle which was built by the Moors during their time in Spain. Onda is well worth a visit if only to take a look at its Natural Sciences Museum, which was founded and filled by a group of Carmelite monks and now has on show many thousands of creatures of all types and from all continents, forming an amazing and interesting exhibition. Also worth a look in Onda is the old town, which still has a medieval feel, and comprises many winding alleys and streets. Onda Map.

Towns of Valencia – Vilafames

The medieval Spanish town of Vilafames climbs a hill to its restored Moorish castle some 25 kilometres north of Castellon de la Plana in the region of Valencia. The old upper part of the town is a maze of narrow streets and alleys, lined with white-washed houses. Apart from the castle which offers a fine panorama of the area, you can visit the museum of contemporary art, with works by such artists as Miro, situated within a fifteenth century palace in the town, you could also visit the 18th century Iglesia de la Asunción church. Map of Vilafames.

A Brief History of Sagunt Spain

An important ancient city in the Comunitat de Valencia, Spain, Sagunt (Sagunto) is located in the fertile region of Camp de Morvedre. Built on a raised hill site approximately 25 km north of Valencia, Sagunt was founded as a fortified settlement by the ancient Iberians (early Spanish peoples) in the fifth century BC, some of the original settlement remains, notably limestone slabs from the Temple of Diana. The year 219 BC is the most notable for Sagunt, as it was then that Hannibal and his Carthaginian troops put the town under a siege which lasted some months and ended with the town being severely damaged and its people put to death. This directly led to the Second Punic War between Rome and Carthage, leading to the defeat of the Carthaginians and the occupation of Spain by the Romans. Sagunt Map.

Valencian Towns – Alcossebre

One of the tranquil coastal resorts of the Costa del Azahar, Spain, Alcossebre lies to the south of the Sierra de Irta Natural Park, a protected area of seafront and hinterland in the Comunitat de Valencia. A great place for a peaceful holiday, or for trekking along this beautiful stretch of coast, Alcossebre is a also a good spot for a beach holiday, with plenty of uncrowded, sandy beaches, and relatively safe bathing waters. Alcossebre and its neighbouring Les Fonts have around 5 ‘Blue Flag’ beaches in all, so you should certainly find one to suit. Culture lovers can head for the nearby town of Alcala de Xivert, with its 13th century Moorish castle, it has a long and interesting history. Sports lovers are also well catered for in Alcossebre, as there are golf facilities nearby, and of course water sports are readily available, hikers and cyclists will be in their element with a wide choice of attractive routes on offer. As for the climate, it is mostly sunny and dry, with well over 300 sunny days each year, Alcossebre weather can generally be expected to be pleasant, whenever you visit. Easily reached from the A-7 motorway, which runs close to the town, Alcossebre is also only 90 kilometres from Valencia airport. Map of Alcossebre.