Being on holiday means being away from the daily stresses and strains. It's a great opportunity to also get some sun, enjoy some good food and knit (of course).
The area between Granada and Cordóba was just full of olive groves. All that green made me want to work on something green too, so I started on a pair of retro ribs for me, using the koigu that I brought along with me.
By the time, that I got to Carmona, all I had to show was just a bit of the cuff. I didn't have the pattern with me so I re-created it from memory. This is from the top of the city walls.
Did I mention that one of the best things about Spain, are the Paradors? They are generally in gorgeous locations
and comparable to private hotels. This particular parador was a Palace belonging to Pedro El Just Cruel. Clearly, all attempts to re-spin his reputation were not successful, because most of the guidebooks called him Cruel whilst only 1 flyer by the Tourist Bureau called him the 'Just'.
Just getting into and out of the hotel courtyard was a bit of a tight squeeze. (I knew we should had insisted on getting the Nissan Micra, instead of the {ahem}rather large suburban Saab stationwagon that they insisted on upgrading us to.)
Here's a shot of the retro ribs from the hotel pool in Carmona.
By the end of the our stay here, sock #1 was complete. (I had to go back to the room to get the needle for the grafting) See those olives? they're huge and were absolutely delicious.
Yes, I was knitting in the hotel salon and I got a few of odd looks. It was too dark in the room and very agreeable to knit over drinks at the end of the day.
I finished most of the leg of sock #2 whilst queuing in the Malaga airport for the flight back to the UK. We were on line for what seemed like ages (check-in queues opened 2 hours before the flight and we got to the airport about 3.5 hours before the flight). I wasn't entirely sure if I would be able to knit on the flight but didn't want to chance it, especially as it was a short flight. (I did manage to accidentally get needles through security.)
Interestingly enough, the patterned section of the sock
and the stocking stitch section highlighted the variegation differently. After getting home, I looked up the retro rib instructions and found that I didn't reproduce it in its entirety correctly, but that's OK, because I still like them.
and the socks look pretty harmonious to me.
and will always remind of me the olive groves of spain
I love how knitting projects can remind you of the music you were listening to or where you were when you knitted them. What a lovely memory for you of Spain.
Posted by: Jeanne at January 3, 2007 02:27 AMWe've just come back from Malaga & I saw a twisted crochet fur trimmed scarf in the window of a wool shop. Went to ask for the pattern but don't think they sold them. Took a photo but can't post it.
Malaga was wonderful - so many people just go for the airport but I loved the old town, beach was great too. Glad you enjoyed your holiday and yes, the whole of Spain is being dug up! (well, the Costas anyway).
I love the combination of travelogue and knitting diary!
Went to a local knitting group last night. I just keep meeting fans of yours! I should've gotten autographed copies of your patterns before I left England. They'd be worth a mint over here! :o)
Bravo on your sock in the Knitty Surprises! Kew is definately on my list to knit. I'll have to finish the Kiri that I have on the needles right now first though!
Posted by: Kirsten at October 19, 2006 05:12 PMHi, I drove along the same route in Andalusia last winter, and had a great meal in Carmona! I was knitting a stockinette vest, and the pictures of the olive trees and the landscape brought so many memories back! Thanks. The socks are beautiful.
Posted by: desiknitter at October 18, 2006 04:36 PMThe light and the sox look lovely!
Have you ever found yourself buying souvenir yarns when you are on a trip? Although I hardly ever finish a garment on a trip.
Absolutely beautiful socks, olives and photos!
Posted by: michelle at October 17, 2006 02:41 PMI cannot believe that you did not go to spain and go yarn shopping. when are you planning to show the yarn shopping photos?
Posted by: mary at October 16, 2006 11:46 PMA beautiful story with gorgeous socks to boot!
Posted by: NORA at October 16, 2006 08:49 PMI love your koigu socks, such lovely colours. Those huge olives are picked out in the socks, so clever, and what a wonderful memento of your holidays.
Posted by: Louise at October 16, 2006 01:15 AMNice socks =) and it's certainly the perfect reminder of a great vacation!
Posted by: Rain at October 15, 2006 07:06 PMThe socks look perfect to me, and they do match those olives very well. You must be having a wonderful time - I love the photos of the old archictecture.
Posted by: say at October 15, 2006 02:22 PMYour holiday destination looks wonderful and sounds so relaxing. Pity you had to come back home, but I am glad that you did so you could post about your great socks. I love variegated yarn and the colors are so nice.
Posted by: Sue at October 14, 2006 11:54 PMGreat socks, and a great souvenir of your trip! :0)
Posted by: Charity at October 14, 2006 06:44 PMSounds like a wonderful holiday. Hope you have some knitting planned to combat the post holiday blues!
Posted by: Mary at October 14, 2006 12:01 AMI love your olive socks and your pics, as always, are wonderful! Those olives are so big they look more like apples :)
Posted by: Debi at October 13, 2006 10:01 PMHi Polly, welcome home. We did a holiday once, staying at six different paradors, they were wonderful. They have the same thing (can't recall the name) in Portugal, consider that for next year! Hope you are feeling all relaxed.......
Posted by: Jill at October 13, 2006 08:41 PMThe socks look great, and it's wonderful that they will remind you of your trip to Spain. I envy you that trip; it sounds like you had a wonderful time. I've been in England in January; it will be nice to put your socks on then and think of sunny olive groves.
Posted by: Brenda at October 13, 2006 08:11 PM