Review of 2014's blog posts

JANUARY - SPAIN IS No 3 TOURIST DESTINATION IN WORLD

We started the year with the exciting announcement that Spain is now the world's third-most popular tourist destination, with 60.6 million visitors in 2013, after France and the US. We await with interest the figures for 2014; Andalucia's are certainly looking healthy.

FEBRUARY - THE WORLD'S TOP WINE PRODUCER IS NOW SPAIN; FAREWELL TO PACO DE LUCIA

And the next month, we heard that Spain has become the world's top wine-producing country for the first time ever, taking over from Italy and France. Production levels were up by a staggering 40% in 2013, and by 20% in Andalucia. This month we lost one of Andalucia's most respected and enduring flamenco legends: guitarist Paco de Lucia, who came from Algeciras.

Legendary guitarist, Paco de Lucia, who died in February. Photo: Tony Bryant

 

MARCH - BUILDING AN OPEN-AIR THEATRE IN THE ALPUJARRA

Going hyper-local, we talked to a dynamic British script editor and long-term expat who is building an outdoor theatre in the Alpujarra. Since we spoke to her for the blog, Anna Kemp's fantastic mountainside project in the remote village of Laroles, Un Teatro Entre Todos, has won several awards, and next season will be welcoming renowned international theatre and dance companies.

Anna Kemp, the woman behind Un Teatro Entre Todos - A Theatre For All - in the Alpujarran village of Laroles.

 

APRIL - ANDALUCIA HAS HALF OF TRIP ADVISOR'S TOP SPAIN DESTINATIONS

The ever-influential Trip Advisor reported that half of Spain's ten most popular cities with visitors, as voted by the millions of users of the travel review website, were in Andalucia. The famous five were (in order): Seville, Granada, Malaga, Marbella, and Cordoba.

MAY - PLENTY OF "HAPPY" PEOPLE IN ANDALUCIA

Videos to the tune of Pharrell Williams' global mega-hit song Happy were shot in all corners of the region, providing some great showcases for Andalucia's most interesting and stunning people and places.

JUNE - JEREZ WINE TAKES CENTRE STAGE; THE KING ABDICATES

King Juan Carlos abdicated in June this year.

King Juan Carlos announced his abdication, and his son Felipe took over as monarch of Spain.

He was succeeded by his son, who became King Felipe VI of Spain.

 

JULY - IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF LAURIE LEE; GAME OF THRONES IN SEVILLE

English writer Paul Murphy retraced the fabled journey across Spain as recounted in As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning, discovering how much - and in some cases how little - the country has changed in the near-century since the much-loved poetically-penned adventures.

HBO confirmed that they would be filming part of the fifth season of phenomenally successful fantasy drama Game of Thrones in Seville and Osuna. The shooting took place in October amid scenes of high excitement, with fans waiting at the entrance to the Alcazar to see their favourite characters, and actors in the series being regularly stopped for photographs in the street.

The Alcazar of Seville, which was used as a location for filming season five of Game of Thrones in October.

 

AUGUST - KEEP IT DOWN IN SEVILLE

A new law in the region's capital city means diners cannot talking while standing outside a bar at night.

SEPTEMBER - LA VENDIMIA

The grape harvest in Andalucia is an important time of year for agriculture, tradition - and drinking wine!

OCTOBER - SPANISH GUNS IN ANDALUCIA

Anew documentary about Joe Strummer looks at the time spent in Spain by the Clash's lead singer.

Nick Hall's film about Joe Strummer, seen here with the Alhambra behind him.

 

NOVEMBER - BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES OF FLAMENCO

The most avant-garde artists of the flamenco world are featured in Javier Vila's superb new documentary filmed at Sadlers Wells in London, shown at the Seville Film Festival.

Rocio Molina in new documentary Beyond Flamenco.

 

DECEMBER - CELEBRATE WITH ANDALUCIAN BUBBLY - AND HERE'S TO 2015!

Andalucian sparkling wines - celebrate Noche Vieja (New Year's Eve) with your 12 grapes and some fizz from Andalucia.

We at Andalucia.com would like to wish all our readers a very Happy New Year - may 2015 see all your wishes fulfilled and plans realised.

Burnarj is Cordoban sparkling wine made from oranges - an original tipple to welcome the New Year.