My own personal politics are diametrically opposed to those of former Conservative cabinet minister Michael Portillo so it was going to take something special to encourage me to watch any programme fronted by him. But credit to him, although he still offers his opinions on politically-themed programmes on satellite channels, he's also managed to reinvent himself as a genial and engaging travel show host. This series he did in 2023 on the Spanish region of Andalusia caught my attention as my wife and I have been living in that region for the last six years.
Over six episodes, Portillo, whose name I now know to pronounce in the Spanish way, journeys around a number of the interesting places here, frequently meeting up with locals where his command of the language serves him well. He and his researchers do a good job of seeking out these people and places, with Mikey wholeheartedly joining in on local occupations and crafts. He also gets to stay in some fine hotels, the likes of which are probably beyond the budget of you and me.
Malaga apart, he avoids the well-known Costa Del Sol resorts and among the other places he takes in are Ronda, Cordoba, Grenada, Cadiz, Jerez and Seville, with each place having its own cultural or historical tale to tell, before ending up back at his own home in the small town of Carmona where he holds a party for his local friends and neighbours.
I had no idea that his father was a prominent Nationalist poet who was caught up in the Spanish Civil War before emigrating to England where his right-wing motivated son was born and came to prominence. Putting politics aside however, my wife and I really enjoyed this informative and entertaining trek of his around this lovely part of southern Spain. We've yet to really spread our own wings and explore some of the neighbouring towns and cities, but thanks to this series, our appetites have definitely been whetted and I'm sure we'll be hitting the road to explore them for ourselves, hopefully enjoying some Portillo moments of our own along the way.
Over six episodes, Portillo, whose name I now know to pronounce in the Spanish way, journeys around a number of the interesting places here, frequently meeting up with locals where his command of the language serves him well. He and his researchers do a good job of seeking out these people and places, with Mikey wholeheartedly joining in on local occupations and crafts. He also gets to stay in some fine hotels, the likes of which are probably beyond the budget of you and me.
Malaga apart, he avoids the well-known Costa Del Sol resorts and among the other places he takes in are Ronda, Cordoba, Grenada, Cadiz, Jerez and Seville, with each place having its own cultural or historical tale to tell, before ending up back at his own home in the small town of Carmona where he holds a party for his local friends and neighbours.
I had no idea that his father was a prominent Nationalist poet who was caught up in the Spanish Civil War before emigrating to England where his right-wing motivated son was born and came to prominence. Putting politics aside however, my wife and I really enjoyed this informative and entertaining trek of his around this lovely part of southern Spain. We've yet to really spread our own wings and explore some of the neighbouring towns and cities, but thanks to this series, our appetites have definitely been whetted and I'm sure we'll be hitting the road to explore them for ourselves, hopefully enjoying some Portillo moments of our own along the way.