A Happy New Year from John and Judy at vivasiesta!

And a very warm welcome to our new newsletter, which we hope you´ll enjoy. We aim to put out four a year with news from our small corner of Andalucía. If you like it, please forward it to your friends, if you don't, please let us know why - and do let us know if you have any ideas for what we might include.
This year we've been lucky enough to long let the house and the little cottage til the end of March, so if you want to come for Semana Santa (that's the wierdy Catholic Easter fest with all night processions, exotic costumes and band music out of the "Godfather") the two bedroom cottage is still free.
After that we still have vacancies, so if you or anyone you know would like to visit, the choice is yours.Come for the spring flowers - Bermuda buttercup, poppy and wild pea, plus accompanying wildlife. Or come in June when you are guaranteed at least three months of unabated sunshine. Or come for the autumn walking weather when those dusty old river beds turn torrential. Or what about Christmas? Sit on a terrace in short sleeves with a gin in one hand and a cigar in the other (yes, you can still find ways to smoke here in Spain) and watch Mount Maroma turn pink in the winter sunset? 

What do you think of our new website?
Yes we've finally gone template. "Drag and drop as you like" was OK but as our expertise grew over the last ten years, the site became increasingly unwieldy  Anyway, last year Judy looked it over and remarked  "Tis an unweeded garden that grows to seed. Things gross and rank in nature possess it merely". Good, eh?
So we've changed it.
We think its better, neater, cleaner and easier to find your way round. And its got a shop - at the moment with a wide range of books and DVD´s - from local guides and culture to history and novels about the area.
We´d really like to know what you think, and especially what else you'd like to find in the holiday shop.
See it atwww.vivasiesta.com and email your feedback to john.jude@vivasiesta.com

Great home cooking - the best lunch in the Axarquía
When we first came to Almáchar, Paco López (pictured) was the only lunchtime opportunity in town. Now there are three good bars in the top square alone - yet his remains the best, and in our view the best anywhere. Like Fats Waller, Paco puts his success down to "Righteous living and good home cooking". Actually he didn't mention righteousness. It's the traditional cooking by the López family that marks this bar out from the competition. Paco's wife and sister in law cook - the Friday paella is made in his mum's kitchen and bought to the bar at a run through the streets. Paco himself presides, supported by his three sons if he can catch them. This totally traditional family affair delivers a huge three course lunch including salad, bread and a drink for €7.50. 

Cútar, village of culture 2013
Cútar´s new art gallery is "probably the best in Andalucia" and that's a genuine quote. It´s run by a small group of local artists -  encouraged by the mayor and supported by the villagers often under the influence of opening night crisps and local wine. The most highbrow event so far was an exhibition of Paolozzi prints, described by Snr. Paco Ruíz Lozano as "Better than anything the Tate has put up". By contrast, the "History of Fashion in Cútar" was a community event, featuring a whole floor of intricately decorated underwear. It emerges that the husbands and lovers of the village ladies used to take a special interest in their cross stitch and needle point.  By the way, the picture at the top is "David" by Judy. Good, eh? It's already been sold. Visit while you´re here (seewww.cutarte.com)

Málaga's new marina
This used to be the old waterside brothel area, where Picasso drank and "La Argentinita" danced flamenco to piano accompaniment by Federico García Lorca. Cleaned up and pristine, it is now the jewel in the crown of the new Málaga. Boasting waterside bars, restaurants, shops, sculpture play parks, children´s areas and trips in glass bottomed boats, it genuinely has something for everyone.
You can sit by the fancy yachts under the palm trees on a sultry evening and just have a coffee, or if you happen to be a fine diner you can try the Restaurante Muelle Una - run by Málaga´s own Michelin starred chef José Carlos García. Find him on www.rcafedeparis.com/eng/.
Ah Málaga! It must be the best kept secret in Andaluciía. Next to the docks is the fine old city, patronised by Spaniards who hold it in high regard and ignored by foreigners.

The farm in December
We have a couple of hectares of steep rocky land to raise food for ourselves, and we take the extra to market or give it to guests and friends. So depending when you come, you could find yourself presented with more oranges than you can squeeze or some of the best lettuces in the area.This photo shows the veg garden in December. We are now picking Málaga and Lollo lettuce, broccoli, white and Lombard cabbage, cauliflower,Chinese lettuce, green and Spanish onions, Pak Choi and endless broad beans. We can sow beans from the first autumn rains right through til March. Orange, mandarin, lemons and grapefruit are in fruit, almonds are in flower, mangoes and muscatel grape asleep or just breaking their new buds. Unlike the lazy north, where everything sleeps through the winter, nothing gets to rest for long down here!