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Paul Whitelock's View From The Mountains

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 10 favourite spots in Ronda itself

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

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

Tropical fruits in Andalucía – Mmmm!

Paul Whitelock tucks into chirimoya, mango, kaki, níspero, papaya, guayaba and avocado

Spanish irrigation unravelled

Paul Whitelock has recently found out all about Spanish irrigation systems – the hard way

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. Oh, and the bureaucracy ...!

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

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

The house that Paco built!

Bad winters expose the frailties of building methods in Andalucía

Spanish police

Paul Whitelock has become a bit of an expert on the Spanish police lately

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 so special?

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.

… de Rodríguez

For the last three weeks, Paul Whitelock has been 'de Rodríguez'

Ronda – City of Dreams

Ciudad Soñada (City of Dreams) was the nickname given to Ronda by the Prague-born poet Rilke who, enchanted by the mountain town, lived here for several months in 1912. Equally enchanted, Paul Whitelock offers a walking tour of the town and highlights the main sites

Diary of a paper boy in Andalucia

Paul Whitelock gave up his part-time job as a paper boy in Devon when he was just 14. Little did he think he would become one again in Andalucía 45 years later!

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 in the campo outside Ronda

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

From North Devon to South Spain in six decades – Part One

Well, it took nearly 60 years but I made it in the end! When I was born in 1950 I didn’t yet know that Spain was my destiny; when I was 17 I didn’t know that Spain was my destiny either. But by the age of 20, I knew.

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

Four Spanish weddings …

Paul Whitelock has had the good fortune to have been invited to four weddings on Spanish territory

Spätzle auf Spanisch!

Montejaque and neighbour Benaoján, in the Serranía de Ronda, featured on German TV’s SWR channel this week

Al, Sal and Big Mo

Not a bunch of mafia hoods, but the main towns on the Costa Tropical in Granada province - Almuñécar, Salobreña and Motril. And if you're looking for a short (or long) winter break, this sub-tropical micro-climate could be just the place to go

Wir sprechen Deutsch in Montejaque!

I was spending my first Christmas in Montejaque. When we went out for a few drinks, we got a proper linguistic shock - everyone was speaking German!

Fish for Christmas and no gifts?

Paul Whitelock checks out the Christmas scene in Spain in general and Andalucía in particular

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