Family Travel Spain: Photo Andalusia

Family travel or a "family holiday" as the British say,  in southern Spain means visiting beautiful sugar cube villages perched on verdant hills near the sea. The center of these villages metaphorically speaking, is the big square around the church.

This is  a photo of the 15th century church and square in our little village in Andalusia. In summer it is a great place to hang out and eat at the restaurants. All the holidays like Easter week (Semana Santa) , 3 Kings ( Los Reyes Magos) , Carnival, New Years Eve ( nochevieja) and more are centered here.

Weddings take place here. First Communions are a very big deal in Spain and done differently ( and older) in Spain. Mozart enjoyed attending her classmates "Primera Comunion" at this church and square . When someone dies they do a procession by walking through the whole villlage, starting at this church and ending at the cemetary at the opposite end.

I must say we really miss village life when we are in Asia as it is one of the joys of life in Spain for us. Have you been to Andalusia?

Comments

[Betty]

Jeanne. I have been enjoying your blog for some time. My husband is with USAID so we have spent quite a lot of time living over seas but usually in an official capacity and pretty much locked in to the available International school schedule. The one time we were on our own living for a time in Switzerland we tried our boys in the local school but they insisted that we commit to their five and a half day school week and the full school year so we ended up home schooling instead. How difficult was it for you to find a school in Spain that would allow your daughter to attend a partial school year? Have you been able to negotiate a similar arrangement in Asia?

Love your blog. Betty

[Ryan]

This is the real Spain, I'm guessing most Brits will never experience this side of this beautiful country. Tragedy really.

[Jeanne @soultravelers3]

Betty- It was real easy in Spain at the school we were at. We didn't really ask, we just did it. I suppose it also helped that my daughter is an extremely good student, so was never behind. It was also a very small school and community...and friendly.

Asia was not a problem either and they have been amazingly helpful doing work with her online so she can stay with her class ( 3x week).

That said, I think we will do a full year this one in Asia because we want her to get her Mandarin up as quickly as possible while she is still young enough to make it easy.

Also it was harder to find a school in Asia, but we eventually did. The primary schools are all public and they do not allow non-residents.

Despite lots of people trying to help me, I couldn't really get the full scoop in either place until I was on the ground.

[Jeanne @soultravelers3]

Good point Ryan! I know German and Brit expats that have lived in Spain for decades and still don't speak Spanish or know anything about the culture.

That said, there are some Brits and other expats that do know and love Spain for what it is and not just for the sun. ;)

[Gigi]

Maybe you've hit on one small difference between the Swiss and the Spanish. In The Geography of Bliss, Eric Weiner profiled the Swiss as...well, you should read what the self-described "Grouch" wrote. Sadly, Weiner did not profile the Spanish. But his chapter on Bhutan is fascinating! Weiner makes me smile LARGE, just like SoulTravelers3.

[Marlana]

Beatiful pictures!!!! Village life is very important in Asia, usually centered around the temples. I'm not sure if you are comparing to city life?

I am planning on traveling Europe next summer. Do you have any ideas how clostly Spanish lessons are there, or did you not look into them?

[martin ray]

Soon i will plan my trip to travel Spain. Will it be good to hire a car for my trip..?

[miruna]

Discovering you, people, was a truly pleasure for me, I admire the way you chose to live your lives, I admire your freedom and your passion for that kind of things.
About Andalusia, I agree with you, it's awesome!I spent 2 weeks there and I've learn so many things about people who live in, I saw beautiful and unique places and I enjoyed every single moment in Marbella and around the city. The countryside was also my favorite, the traditions, the spirit, the beaches, everything was amazing!

[Jan]

Hi Jeanne, I'm loving reading about your family's travel lifestyle and amazing experiences. I stumbled across your site while preparing for a 4 month sojourn with my 11 yo daughter. We arrive in Spain in December 2012 and I hope to rent for a month in a village like the one you visit each winter. I know you don't publish its name but I was hoping you might PM me and let me know. If not your village, another similar where we can live simply like a local, engage in the community and explore the area. I'm finding all the info on the net overwhelming and would love to get your opinion. I think you're doing an amazing job with your daughter and can only imagine how exciting it must be for her....and for you watching her develop with such broad and varied life experience. I too was an older mum when I had my daughter and am now ready to slow down a bit and show her there's a big, wide world out there!
Cheers, Jan