Tinsel and Tapas: Solo in Andalucia Searching for Christmas

by Paula Rooney

What happens when your children have flown the nest and Christmas loses it's magic?
How do you fill that void that is left behind?
How do you find a new way to enjoy Christmas?
Paula decides to avoid an English Christmas altogether and explore the warmth and beauty of Andalucia, Spain.
This journal captures Paula's month in Andalucia where she experiences the culture, and the festive traditions of Spain, visiting Seville, Cordoba, Granada as well as Setenil de Las Bodegas, Ronda and Sacromonte.

Genres: Nonfiction

204 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 16, 2025

About the author

Paula Rooney was born in 1965 in Harlow, Essex, then spent several years in Ipswich, Suffolk before settling in St Austell Cornwall in 2001 to raise her family.
Journaling holidays started with the first family holiday to Cornwall when she was ten, followed by a trip to Scotland and another trip to Cornwall. When she was thirteen, her dad left the family for good, taking the car with him.
Then aged sixteen, her mum took them on a holiday to a caravan park at Burnham on Sea. Paula, her sister, her brother and her brother's friend, all went by bus, as her mother didn't drive. It was a big adventure and lots of fun.
This might have ignited her passion for travel and instilled a sense of adventure. If you don't have a car, you get the bus, if you don’t know where you are, you look at a map.

Reviews

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a real treat to finish this book on christmas eve.

I really enjoyed hearing about Paula's travels and her changing thoughts/ reflections on Christmas as a parent whose kids have all moved away from home.

As always it was fun to travel along on this journey and learn about a new part of the world, it's got me wondering where I could travel to next :)

[Karen O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gobbled this story up, loving every bite, in just about 18 hours and some of that I slept a good night. Many of the thoughts the author has about how the Christmas experience changes as the family grows were thoughts with which I could easily relate. I loved following her adventure and I would have loved to run into her for a chat along the way. Some of the places she visited are places I also have visited and some of her perceptions matched mine.

Now I want to visit some of the places I have not yet seen, as she described them so well. With a month until Christmas as I read this, it was a perfect opener to the holidays and one that will be on my mind through the coming season. Since I have never been to Spain at this time of year, it was a delightful peek into December in Andalusia. Frankly, I may have to plan a December visit now!

Well done! I was there step by step so much of the time. For me personally, this is one of the rare books where I would gladly award more than five stars.

[Patricia Ruiz Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

A breathless VIAJE through Spain

I am always tempted to read books by authors enjoying the wonders of Spain. I fell in love with Spain several years ago and enjoy traveling solo. For me, this book was like riding a bike downhill, smiling all the way. The author’s constant mind chatter felt like she wasn’t traveling solo at all; I was right there too. Since I have been to all of the places she enjoyed, it was sensory overload that I couldn’t get enough of. Now, after reading this lovely book, I will add Carmona, Setenil de Las Bodegas and Prieto de Córdoba to my next trip. Her thoughts mirrored my own as she traipsed through the villages and watched her budget. I felt her emotional pain leaving Granada…and kept thinking good thoughts. I won’t ruin it by telling her secrets, but I LOVED this book. Now, I must get her first two books!

[Paul White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paula's best book to date, and I am pleased to see more description. I know it can be a challenge documenting your travels whilst trying to enjoy the culture, ambiance and feel of somewhere new at the same time. Perhaps that's why her journalist style comes across in the way that it does. Plus, it's not easy deciding what to include and the theme. That's why I think Paula had done a a good job in capturing how she feels about the places she visits, how feels about herself, and making it travel journal all in one.

[Tammy Horvath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas in Spain—what’s not to love? This was another fabulously entertaining book by the talented and brave solo traveler Paula Rooney. I loved reading about the many unique festivals, delicious food, and beautiful scenery she saw while traveling in Spain. What’s not to love? Especially during the lovely Christmas season with decorated trees. Now I want to visit the country, especially to see the castles and palaces.

[Linda Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting and entertaining account of four weeks around Christmas in Andalusia. Paula travels to inland Spain to discover how Christmas is celebrated there.
She describes the beautiful scenery and delicious food, and the unique festivals she encounters. She has mostly planned her itinerary in advance, but with some leeway to experience the unexpected opportunity to do something unusual, or discover an unknown village.
NB. At the back of the book there’s a section on what to avoid, and her detailed daily spending throughout the trip.

[Dawn White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Paula's travel books and thought this was her best one yet. She has a way of pulling you in so you feel like you're right there with her. Paula also wears her heart on her sleeve and doesn't hesitate to describe her fears and thoughts and mishaps along the way, which all add to her storytelling. As usual, I'm looking forward to her next book, whatever that may be.

[Cathy Ferris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another well written book from Paula. This time she spent Christmas in Spain and a very different experience to a British Xmas. A great read, felt like I was there with her. I like the way she recalls the things she wouldn't do again and the things she would. I also like the fact that she puts all her expenses down just in case you were thinking of doing the same. Looking forward to the next one.

[Anna McLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book

I have read the other 2 books by this author and this one didn't disappoint. I especially like how she describes the highs (and lows) of travel, the beauty of a cathedral or landscape, as well as the lows when things don't go to plan. Highly recommend for anyone travelling to Andalusia or travelling solo.😊

[Ciara Rooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved hearing what Paula got up to on her travels around the south of Spain at Christmas time. it felt like I was going on all the adventures with her and her descriptions of the places made you feel like we were there with her.

Excited for the next adventure ☺️

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow ... In the meantime, another one of Paula Rooney's fabulous travel books which is honest and relatable.

[Rachel Wakeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and enlightening book about solo travel. Lots of highs and a few lows although Paula has a great time and is a great writer. Her description of things makes you feel like you are there and she has a website to view her photos. Good description of what things cost. Throughout the journey, we also are given background detail on her life. She keeps things real and tells it like it is which makes it more interesting.