"I have made a point of escaping Christmas for as long as I can remember. Not escaping for Christmas, but avoiding it altogether the stressful buildup, consumer chaos, panic buying, the enforced jollity and parties. When the first festive gifts start appearing in the shops in September, it's time to confirm my travel plans, ideally to include New Year's Eve as well."
"My favourite Spanish city of Granada is a regular escape for Christmas, for despite the surprisingly cold temperatures compared with the Costa del Sol, the skies are always a dazzling blue, so I never tire of a stroll up to the Alhambra. I always stay high up in the Albaicin, the old Moorish quarter, where a walk along the winding, narrow, cobbled streets feels as it might have during the middle ages."
"I like the fact that even on Christmas Eve the squares are full of locals eating and drinking, wrapped up well in blankets and coats. The Spanish do love eating outside in all weathers. Granada in Andalucia, Spain, is a particular winter favourite for Kitty. Photograph: Allard Schager/Alamy Nor is it a case of bah humbug! I still send 80-plus Christmas cards by post and enjoy buying gifts for family and friends."
Kitty deliberately avoids the home-based Christmas season to escape stress, consumer frenzy and obligatory festivities by travelling abroad, often around late November and December. Travel plans are confirmed as soon as seasonal merchandise appears in shops, sometimes including New Year's Eve. Favourite winter destinations include Granada, where clear skies, the Alhambra and the Albaicin’s medieval streets provide solace, and places offering outdoor dining culture. Traditions persist through sending many Christmas cards and buying gifts. A family tragedy in 1990 intensified the urge to travel, and memorable international Christmases include encounters such as receptionists in Myanmar wearing Santa hats.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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