Transglobe Blog The World in a Blog

Carol Byrne is an English teacher and writer.

Hola! I'm Carol and I am Irish, and for the past 5 years have lived in Granada province, Andalucía, Spain. Together with my husband and 2 kids we live in a tiny village set high up a mountain in the Alpujarras....it's extremely hot in Summer, and freezing in winter when the pervading smell of Almond smoke wraps the mountain and heats the old Moorish Berber houses.

Our children attend the local Spanish public school, where there are just 5 in my daughters class!  I teach English there also.  We rent out a house which we converted ourselves, during the Summer months and I also write - generally tales from the pueblo, amusing anecdotal stories, and recipes from the friendly neighbours.

A typical day..... is an early start for Insulin injections for my son, breakfast before 6.30am and once the kids are both off it's time to water the vegetables before the sun climbs over the mountain and reflects on the Mediterranean sea....with views to the Rif mountain range in Africa, it's not a bad office!

Internet work takes up much of our day as employment is a little scarce here when 1114m up a mountain! But even typing is accompanied by the sound of Swallows and Swifts, and the clumpity hooves of the Mule passing the door, laden with produce.

Meals are made with either locally grown or our own produce, meat and fish in season, the fish van honks daily from the main square. A healthy lifestyle and no take-aways!

We eat late, the locals have their main evening meal sometimes as late as midnight!

Summer evening bring everyone into the street where we barbecue fish, whole sardines rubbed with olive oil and salt, and drink locally made wine from the Tempranillo grape.

Sitting out late on the terrace in search of a cooling breeze, watching the bats swoop and hunt completes my day...

You can read more of Carol’s work on her blog: http://www.furthersouthofgranada.blogspot.com and have a look at this fabulous restored Moroccan house in the Alpujarras:  http://www.andalucia-holiday.weebly.com