>>Never been to Alicante - too many Brits ;-)
>>
>>LOL!!! Sounds like Agios Nikolaos in Crete. All you see are signs for full English breakfast and Fish and Chips <g>. Well, that's not all. That is the thing with Brits - they don't really want to leave home. All they want is some sun.
>
>I've always said that one of the great determining factors in world history was the Brits accidentally creating an empire while just looking for sun and decent food :-)
>
>>
>>I fantasize about living in Barcelona - but of course that isn't Spain - that's Catalunya.
>>
>>I did not like Barcelona much at all - it is my least favorite place in Spain that I have been to. Las Ramblas was cute and the Gaudi architecture was interesting, but that was it. As a matter of fact, it is the only place that we have traveled that someone actually tried to rob us.
>
>Gotta be careful speaking Spanish there :-) The better your Spanish is the less likely the locals are to admit they understand you. If they know your not Spanish, they will overlook it. Kind of like speaking English in Quebec if they think you are Anglophone Canadian :-)
>
>I actually love all of Spain. If you haven't been up to the hill country around Ronda I really recommend it. Also, have you ever stayed in one of the paradors? The Spanish government has converted some historical sites into hotels. The paradors in Ubeda and Ronda are particularly cool.
>
>http://www.parador.es/en/parador-de-ubeda
>
>http://www.parador.es/en/parador-de-ronda

Stayed in this one

http://www.paradores-spain.com/spain/pgranada.html?gclid=CMXZvcuszrkCFW_HtAod5lAAhg

very lucky . We just turned up and they had a room.