Barcelona: The City That Brought Me Back to Life

I went to Barcelona the year after I never went anywhere. That was the year I suffered two prolapsed discs in my lower back, condemning me to four months stuck at home on a cocktail of painkillers and daytime television.

It's strange how being housebound can affect you. As someone who loves to travel, I still struggle to get my head around how fearful I became of leaving my own front door. 

The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona,where I managed to forget about being in pain.

When you're getting over the type of physical pain that people tell you they can actually see on your face, it's easy to become frightened of simply bumping in to someone when you're out and about. You worry that the slightest thing will hurt you all over again. In my case, it meant that the real me went into hibernation. And despite being inactive for such a long time, somehow I managed to lose a lot of weight, because I just couldn't sit up to eat a meal.

Eventually boarding a plane and taking off on a trip to Barcelona, somewhere I'd always wanted to visit, was an unbelievable feeling. And it was there, in Barcelona, that the travel bug bit me again.

Feeling happy to be back out in the world. It might have been too cold for a dip in that pool, but I didn't care.

My lower back pain has never completely gone away, but I don't complain. Things can always be a lot worse. And it doesn't stop me travelling. I won't let it. Those flights can get uncomfortable, but a rolled up scarf tucked in to the small of my back (my fashion/ function saviour), works wonders.

Nothing will stop me from seeing the world. 

Not since Barcelona brought me back to life.

Has an injury or illness ever stopped you from travelling? Has any one place really made a difference to you, or brought you back from something? If you'd like to, please share your story in the comments.

Andalucia: Don't forget Jerez de la Frontera

Jerez de la Frontera was my first taste of real Spain.

And it tasted like Sherry.

Until Jerez, I’d only ever seen sherry in a dusty bottle, at the back of my parents drinks cabinet in our old family home. Occasionally that bottle was opened for a wee Christmas tipple.

Could I have imagined where this drink had its origins? Not likely.

There were also bottles of spirits with exotic sounding names in that cupboard. These were the drinks my childhood self imagined had come from far away places in my parents’ bid to bring the holiday home with them. I always liked the idea of that; being in your living room on a winter’s day and pouring yourself a glass of something that could instantly transport you back to somewhere fabulous.

These days, that’s how I feel about Sherry.

Visiting Jerez was a happy accident brought about by my sister’s year abroad whilst studying for a degree in Spanish. I remember her telling us where home for the next eight months was to be, much to our confusion. We knew about the Costa Brava and the Balearics but I have to admit we had no idea about Andalucia. 

A view of  Jerez

I visited Jerez twice while my sister lived there. First, I stayed in a rented apartment in the gypsy quarter of town. It was an atmospheric place to be, and I have a vivid memory of walking in the late morning, hearing the sounds of a Spanish guitar and catching a glimpse of a dancing silhouette through a curtain in one of the areas Flamenco schools.

This was the Spain I always wanted to know.

And that recollection still gives me goosebumps.

On my second visit, I stayed in my sister's Spanish home and got to sample genuine local life, off the tourist track. It was an excellent week in authentic Andalucia.

Jerez de la Frontera is the fifth largest city in Andalucia and is well worth a visit should you be staying in nearby Seville (it’s a convenient bus or train ride and a journey of about 55 miles). It’s rich in beautiful architecture and has a wonderfully strong identity.  Influences can be seen all around reflecting the city’s history as a town on the frontier between the Moorish and Christian regions of the country. And the sweet smell of Sherry stimulates the senses as it wafts gently around the city.

Things you should do in Jerez de la Frontera:

• Visit the 17^th century Cathedral. A stunning fusion of architectural styles
• See the Alcazar, a Moorish fortress with gorgeous gardens
• Get a 360 degree view of the city from the Camera Obscura
• Explore the Museum of Equestrian Arts where you can learn about the history of the famous Andalusian horses
• Go Sherry tasting. Open your eyes to the many different varieties and find your favourite; from dry and pale, to rich and nutty. Visit a Bodega such as Sandeman for a tour and a lesson in the making of this Spanish wine

A Jerez memory, on my living room wall

Of all the places I’ve visited, Jerez is one I long to go back to more than most. Perhaps that’s because I never planned to go there in the first place, unlike Venice or Rome or Barcelona. It was such a surprise discovery and a jewel that got hold of me in a way I’ll never forget.

There’s much more for me to say about Andalucia, with posts to come about Seville and Cadiz too. In the meantime, I hope I’ve got you interested in Jerez de la Frontera. If you’ve already been there, please share your thoughts with me…

We stayed in the self catering Riad on our first trip and some of our party stayed in Hotel Casa Grande – I’d recommend both; these opinions are purely my own