Shopping over here is slightly more difficult than in the UK.

For a start, the selection of shops available in Olula, are limited.

Most are small family run affairs, usually clothes shops and shoe shops, offering a small selection of items.

Hardware stores are always confusing, with items that should go together, being shelved miles apart.

So, every now and again, we make our trip to Almeria city and enjoy a Burger King prior to visiting stores we liked in the UK.

Our journey yesterday however, didn't go quite as we had planned, or come to expect!

First of all, it was a very overcast morning.

Our trip across the mountains was horrendous. The scenery had disappeared behind a thick veil of morning mist.

Visibility was down to about ten yards.

The highest point we pass is just 150 metres less than the peak of Ben Nevis, so as you can imagine it was a pretty hairy journey.

As we descended the mist cleared and the sun came out.

Knowing that the mist would be gone on the return journey we all looked forward to a busy mornings shopping. How wrong could we have been!

Almeria was unusually quiet.

We knew it was fiesta time, and often the villages near us are quiet during these periods. We made our way to the huge basement car park.

We stood at the doors amongst quite a number of Spanish shoppers.

Apparently it was a later opening time due to the previous nights' activities.

We went up the escalator and walked toward the supermarket.

A security guard stood blocking the way.

He explained to everyone that the shopping centre was closed, smiled and then continued chatting to the girl at the side of him.

So there you have it.

And it wasn't just the shopping centre that was closed.

The whole city was closed. As we drove around, we realised it resembled a ghost town.

Not a single shop was open, even necessities like the chemists, was closed.

That's Spain for you.

Not a sign, or any indication, that on a Saturday, surely the busiest day of the week, the whole city was closed.

We ended up driving to the next large town, Roquetas de Mar.

It wasn't the best choice of shops, but at least we found fish food, and we won't starve for a couple of days!