have arrived in spain for a few days to glorious blue skies, and although it is warmer than london, there is still a breeze. it was lovely to see that the local street market in Vejer is still on, its the first sunday of the month, and basically is a way of clearing out your cupboards. they have had a lot of rain here, much more than they are used to, and as these old houses are not built for this wetter climate, we have had a lot of damp, so over the winter we had to change a lot of windows and doors , but sadly its a never ending battle to keep out the water. apparently we had so much rain in march, more than ever before, but thank goodness its stopped and its beautiful and sunny here.
Vejer de la Frontera, declared a site of great historic and artistic interest in 1976, is one of the most beautiful villages, not only in Andalusia, but in Spain. In 1978 it won fist prize in the national competition of beautiful towns, and was awarded the title of “Area of Great Tourist Importance”. Due to its strategic hilltop position, this town has been controlled and inhabited by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, and finally the Arabs. Arabs conquered Vejer at the battle of La Janda, and the village remained in Arab hands for more than five centuries. The name “de la Frontera” came about due to the fact that this town was on the frontier between Christian and Muslim Spain. The presence of these past inhabitants and their customs are still felt in this village today which is why this place is such a unique and special place to visit in Spain.
The first thing a traveler should do upon arriving in Vejer is to wander around and explore the maze of narrow streets and squares that make up the old medieval town. In some places you can still see the fortress walls that were carefully constructed by the Muslims in the eleventh century. As the streets zigzag up and down, it is easy to lose your way, but don’t worry – all streets tend to lead back to the main square. Some interesting places to visit include the Palace of the Marquess of Tamarón, now used as a tourist office, or the famous Segur Gate, located next to the Church of the Divine Saviour. On the other side of the village, you will run into several narrow streets that lead to the Convent, where interesting paintings and sculptures are often exhibited. A final stop should be to the castle where you can enjoy some interesting festivals and cultural performances during the summer.
christina wilson sweet nothings 