Jack Frost in Andalucía
It has been a very cold winter in the Serranía de Ronda. Paul Whitelock was inspired to write about Jack Frost by the continuing icy mornings he is experiencing where he lives
High-speed rail route through Ronda shelved?
Is it possible that the controversial plans for a high-speed rail freight route through a beautiful valley near Ronda are about to be dropped? If so, it will be great news for
Help, help me, Ronda!
Paul Whitelock reckons an extract from the lyric of the Beach Boys 1965 hit resonates with lots of people who have come to Ronda to live. But why is this stunning city
Doppelgängers in Andalucía
You’ve all heard the rather wacky theory that John F Kennedy, Elvis, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Princess Diana et al aren’t dead at all and are living on a remote island somewhere
Review of 2011… from the mountains
Here’s Paul Whitelock’s personal review of the year – of events which have affected Spain in general and the Serranía de Ronda, where he lives, in particular
Wet, wet, wet!
Paul Whitelock has had enough of water lately - flooded houses and gardens, rising damp, sewage, a drowned horse and dirty well water. What else could go wrong?
My Top 10 places to visit around Ronda
Following a request from a reader, Paul Whitelock chooses his Top 10 places to visit around Ronda having already shared his Top 10 places in Spain and in Andalucía and his Top
AVE high speed trains coming to Ronda
After years of waiting, it was announced this week that the proposed high speed rail link between Antequera and Ronda is to go ahead. The proposals are now out to public consultation
Spanish irrigation unravelled
Paul Whitelock has recently found out all about Spanish irrigation systems – the hard way
My Top 10 places in Ronda
Paul Whitelock selects his favourite places in Ronda, the town where he has made his home
My Top 10 places to visit in Spain
Recently Paul Whitelock wrote about his Top 10 places in Andalucía. Here he selects his Top 10 in the whole of Spain
My Top 10 places to visit in Andalucía
Which are your top 10 places to visit in Andalucía?
The geography and politics of Spain
Whilst the history of Spain is long and complicated, the geography and political set-up are fairly straightforward. Paul Whitelock takes a look.
Spanish police
Paul Whitelock has become a bit of an expert on the Spanish police lately
The accent, smoking, beer and red tape
When Paul Whitelock moved to live in the Serranía de Ronda there were just three things he did not like about the place. The acento andaluz, smoking in bars and the beer.
More and more Spanish noise
Having written recently about how noisy Spain is Paul Whitelock has discovered some interesting new noises that have recently added themselves to the local repertoire
Taste of India comes to Ronda
An evening of entertainment and Indian food which, the organisers claim, will fill our hearts with an unforgettable experience
Beating the Spanish tax man … or not?
It used to be standard practice when buying and selling property in Spain to under-declare the value in the escritura, or deed, in order to avoid tax
What is a guiri?
We all know the term guiri, or, if not, we should - it’s what the Spanish call us foreigners
… de Rodríguez
For the last three weeks, Paul Whitelock has been 'de Rodríguez'
Four Spanish weddings …
Paul Whitelock has had the good fortune to have been invited to four weddings on Spanish territory
Spanish noise
Many a writer on Spain has commented on what a noisy country it is. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Spain is the second noisiest country in the world after Japan
Rejas or burglar alarm?
After a spate of local burglaries, Paul Whitelock decided to upgrade the security on his house. But what to do? Install rejas or go for a modern burglar alarm?
Inheritance Tax scrapped in Catalunya
Paul Whitelock looks at the detail of the decision and provides further information about this potentially punitive tax for residents and non-residents with assets in Spain
In a Spanish country garden
After a gap of a few years Paul Whitelock has a garden again
The most stunning place in Spain?
Two cities which have recently become official “sisters”, Ronda (Málaga) and Cuenca (Castilla–La Mancha), are arguably two of the most stunning locations in Spain