'World's oldest blogger' dead at 97

MUXIA, Spain, May 22 (UPI) -- A Spanish woman who gained Internet fame as the "world's oldest blogger" has died at the age of 97, her grandson said.

Maria Amelia Lopez's grandson posted on her blog, which had marked more than 1.5 million visitors, that his grandmother, who called herself the "world's oldest blogger," died Wednesday at her home in Muxia, Spain, on the Gallic coast.

Lopez, who began posting to amis95.blogspot.com on Dec. 23, 2006, filled the blog with anecdotes and musings about old age, health issues, current events and what life was like under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, The Daily Telegraph reported Friday.

"When I'm on the Internet, I forget about my illness. The distraction is good for you -- being able to communicate with people. It wakes up the brain, and gives you great strength," Lopez wrote in one of her final blog postings in February.

Lopez's grandson wrote the final entry on the blog to inform readers of Lopez's death and encourage them to embrace life in the way touted by his grandmother.

"Enjoy life and grandparents," he wrote.