From Granada we went back down to the coast and drove east towards Almería. In this area you drive miles and miles through an endless sea of plastic tent farms. The tents are really just everywhere and it feels like they never runs out. It looks rather sad, but is of course an important production from an economic point of view.
Millions of tonnes of vegetables
According to Wikipedia, millions of tonnes of vegetables are exported to Europe and other parts of the world from this area every year. Apparently cucumbers, tomatoes, aubergines, courgettes, peppers and melons are grown here.
Complex
One gets the impression of a productive industry involving lots of companies and workers. But as usual, reality is complex and activities that involve money often include many other aspects as well.
I'm not an expert, but when I google, I come across discussions ranging from land exploitation leading to the spread of the desert to the underpayment of workers, often immigrants from Africa. As usual, there are several sides to the coin, right? We have now reached a campsite by the sea. We'll tell you more when we have time to look around!

El puerto de Santa Maria - on the Spanish coastline
Today we left Seville and rolled towards El puerto de Santa Maria, just north of Cadiz....
Mancor de la Vall in Mallorca - holidays in a rented house
Guest writer: Pernilla Mallorca is an island that many people have visited and that I have returned to several times....
Tarragona - among history and charming neighbourhoods
We will soon tell you about the Easter celebrations here in Tarragona, Spain, but first we need to tell you...
Catalan food - we've tested and cooked it
Last night we were invited to a gourmet experience by the Tourist Board of Catalonia. This kind of press conference...
A few relaxing days in Mallorca with a visit to a vineyard
Writer: Jonathan Gharbi de Maré Here are some ideas for a short holiday in Spain...
Beautiful Ibiza - which we must visit
Beautiful Ibiza has grown up. The party island that all young people went to in the 60s and 70s has...
Peniscola, Spain - for the holiday worshipper
Finally there was enough of a break in the rain that we could go outside the motorhome and...
Spain vs Portugal - what is it like to go on holiday?
Now we've spent about a month in Portugal and about a month and a half in...
A trip to Nerja in winter: sun, adventure and magical views?
Guest writer: Miss Lopez Hello dear travellers! I want to share with you my amazing winter trip to...
Santiago de Compostela - a pilgrimage to the soul
Guest Writer: Miss Lopez Not long ago, I walked the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, and...
The hunt for LPG in Spain
Firstly, a big THANK YOU to all you wonderful readers who have shared your experiences...
Plan your golf holiday to Málaga
Today we present a guest article Málaga is a destination that really has it all for golf enthusiasts. With...
Roquetas de Mar - Spanish south coast
Now we have come to Roquetas de Mar, located on the Spanish coast just west of...
Camping in Tarragona - on a Spanish sandy beach
Today we have found a campsite in Tarragona in Spain. The campsite is really nice and is ...
Zarautz in Spain - Gran camping with a panoramic view
Today the sun is shining on Gran camping Zarautz in Spain. We took a walk down to the beach...
El Templo del Sol - Naturist Camping Deluxe
After a hectic festival week and a week in the pouring rain, we felt a little more luxurious and...
Tough journey to Barcelona - and on board the Freedom of the Seas!
After Robin's party, we didn't sleep for many hours, and then it was time to go...
Cruise around the Canary Islands - a week in the sun with MSC Opera
Guest writer: Björn Erik Gustavsson A cruise holiday can seem paradoxical. Most of the time you find yourself...
Easter in Spain - a mighty display!
Easter in Spain is very different from Easter in Sweden. Easter is celebrated for the same religious reason as...
Mallorca's hidden gems
In partnership with interhome Mallorca is one of the most popular destinations in the Mediterranean, and it is...
Tapas: a flavourful journey through Spain
Guest Writer: Miss Lopez Spain, a country associated with sun, sand and a passionate way of...
Parade through Valencia - Spain
The Las Fallas festival continues here in Valencia, and every day something new happens! Today it was...
What to do in Barcelona - 13 tips for experiences
Looking for tips on things to do in Barcelona on holiday? Then you've found...
RV park in Valencia, Spain
We are now at a site in Valencia here in Spain, the Valencia Camper Park. We...
Boquerones - Spanish-style anchovies
We have tried to cook boquerones, anchovies or sardines the Spanish way. As you may know...
Exciting trips to Madrid: a family connection to the Matador costumes
Guest writer: Miss Lopez Did you know that I always go to Madrid several times a year regardless of...
Guest of the Week: Annika Elwing, expatriate in Spain
During a Spanish course in Spain, Annika Elwing fell in love with music teacher Jesús. Annika stayed in Spain...
The marina of Aguadulce in southern Spain
Not far from Roquetas de Mar is Aguadulce, with its beautiful marina. We took a trip...
Inner peace in the Sierra de Madrid - Kadampa Buddhist Centre in Mataelpino
Guest Writer: Miss Lopez Sierra de Madrid, a peaceful and beautiful place that welcomes the Kadampa Buddhist Centre in...
At the camping shop during siesta times in Spain
Today we checked out of the campsite in Granada and looked for a camping shop we had been told about. We...

Ditte says:
There are probably many thoughts about this. But on the other hand, jobs are offered and the export of these products is important for other EU countries further north. Hope you soon get to see all the beautiful almond trees, lemon and orange trees because they are more invigorating.
27 February 2015 - 11:48
BP says:
Yes, these plastic farms are everywhere on the Costa Blanca too. Better get used to it!
27 February 2015 - 16:55
Role o Carina says:
There you can say that it looks like it's just canvas!
But it's good that we get healthy vegetables up in the north:-)
Take care........
27 February 2015 - 17:46
Henny says:
Recognise the greenhouses from Tenerife, from above they actually looked like a sea. But it is not beautiful, perhaps necessary anyway to get the best possible harvest.
27 February 2015 - 18:14
Matts Torebring says:
This is disgusting to say the least. SVT has made a documentary on TV about this particular area. I found it on SVT Play when we came home from our trip. We would stay a few nights at a Camping San José. Then we drove through this area and along the coast.
Miles and miles of plastic roof and this was in the middle of summer.
After a night at the campsite, we literally ran away from there. When we had dinner, I killed "500" flies. The whole air was full of flies. We drove early in the morning and some people walked with a fly swatter in their hands, just to keep the flies away from their faces.
Probably all the flies are formed from decaying fruits that are just tipped out into the open. TV showed black slaves working under roofs in 50-60 degree heat. Twenty men ate food from a communal pot with a spoon. The slaves were not allowed to leave the crops and were not well seen outside the plastic roofs.
It was terrible to see this documentary on TV.
27 February 2015 - 20:17
Marianne Halvarsson says:
What are the names of films, etc.
30 September 2017 - 8:00
Anonymous says:
I agree.No more vegetables that are not when grown.Think of all the life in the sea that dies because of the plastic.And people work as slaves.Then I take care of the beautiful readership etc.as someone mentioned.
27 August 2021 - 13:46
Janet scott says:
I agree.No more vegetables from Spain for me.Think of the sea and especially people working as slaves.
27 August 2021 - 13:51
admin says:
Ditte, lemon and orange trees sound nicer!
🙂
BP, ok we are getting used to it... both this and the siesta!
😉
Rolle o Carina, a bit ironic that we are looking for tents... and we see tents everywhere.
😉
Henny, I understand that this is available in many places!
Matts, it sounds awful what you're talking about! It is always difficult to judge what reality looks like, but it sounds scary! Everything about money has a downside... Flies don't sound fun either...
27 February 2015 - 20:28
Lena & Jan says:
No, the flies do not originate from rotten vegetables/fruit, it is removed daily, otherwise you get unhealthy diseases in your crops!
Rather think that fly eggs ripen in the sand at the beaches and they do not hatch until it has been really hot for some time, then the campsite is close to the beach there is a lot of good for the flies if Spaniards and tourists do not empty / pack their garbage properly!
27 February 2015 - 21:33