What to do in the rain

 Yes! It's raining..

Here in Vejer, we don't mind too much if it rains. Our Atlantic climate is what makes the surrounding countryside green in the spring. We need the rain to feed the wheat and make the grass grow.

From May to October we have little or no rain and most of us remember the awful dry winter of 2011/2012 when young cattle died because poisons accumulated in the new grass. So if you're reading this, it's probably either autumn or spring. Most of Vejer's museums, such as the Castle and the Museum of Rural Life close when summer is over. Nevertheless, if you're staying in Vejer, the rain needn't stop you having a good time.

Like most places, we have three types of rain: drizzly, splashy-sploshy and extreme, when it's coming down in stair rods or as my Welsh granny would say 'mae'n bwrw hen wragedd a fyn' - it's raining old women with sticks. 

You can pass a rainy day very pleasantly by heading to one of our lovely restaurants and taking a leisurely lunch or dinner, after which with any luck, the weather will have changed. More information in earlier blogs.

If you want to make use of the time by using the internet, cafes have free wifi as does the new library. La Bodequita, the Cafeteria at the Convento San Francisco, Paslelería Galván and most other cafes and bars also offer free wifi.

You might want to take a trip to somewhere where it isn't raining, as inland towns sometimes have different weather. Check the weather on http://www.weather.com to see what's it's like in Arcos de la Frontera, Jerez or Seville.

Visit Vejer's indoor swimming pool

http://www.piscinavejer.es/)

 or the gym at C/Pintor Prieto 1b

http://vejer.costasur.com/

sites/gimnasio-gym-center/es/index.html

 Head for La Bombonera (Carretera de Los Militares; turn right at the top of Avenida de Andalucía - it's about 150 yards up on the right; parking available.) This spacious and well-designed café bar offers billiards, table football and other diversions as well as food and drink. It's the idea spot to while away a rainy day.

Photo by Kelly Lawlor

 If you get the extreme type of rain,  you might prefer to pull up the drawbridge, eat in the hotel restaurant or order a pizza from Il Macinino (666-380946.) ttp://ilmacinino.com/ or Cafeteria Da Pino (956451244). 

If you have internet in your accommodation, you can learn Spanish - international language company Babbel (http://www.babbel.com) offers a Spanish language course at 33 euros for 6 months, so you can continue to study after you return home; or keep in contact with Spanish culture by watching a film on YouTube - search for 'Spanish movies with English sub-titles.'

If you know in advance that the weather won't be great, consider a Spanish course at La Janda Language School  (http://lajanda.org/)  or a cookery course at Annie B's Spanish Kitchen ( http://www.anniebspain.com/)

Whatever happens, the rain won't last long, and Spring isn't far away!