The leaving of Finca Manolo

We set off for northern Spain at 10.00am.   As we expected, SatNav directed us up the A45 which was the start of our usual route.   However, the signs started to tell us we were getting closer and closer to Seville.   I checked the shadows of the traffic and sure enough we were heading west.   Eventually we actually drove into part of Seville on normal unban roads which led to another motorway.   We then turned north and headed towards our intermediate destination of Trujillo and its Parador.

Trujillo is an ancient town in a great defensive position on a hillside.   SatNav took us right to the door!   We checked in and were taken to our room which was their accessible room on level 1.   However we had come in on Level 2 and I got lost, trying to find my way back out to get the luggage!   The parking was on the old cobbled street outside.   That night we ordered cod in the restaurant hoping it would taste better than at home.   It did not but it was pleasant enough.   I can't remember what I had as a dessert but Pauline chose mango sorbet in yoghurt with sesame seeds and loved it.

Next morning we had breakfast and then left for Santander.   When I started the car there was a warning that brake fluid was very low.   I consulted SatNav for the nearest filling station and went there.   before I went in I input brake fluid into the translator and got it in Spanish.   I could not find brake fluid.   I asked the assistant and she looked but could not find it either.   I went back to the car and started keying in to SatNav to locate the next nearest filling station.   As I did this the assistant came out, holding a container of brake fluid and saved the day!!!

It was then a journey of about five and a half hours to Santander.   When we arrived we found that the restaurant in the hotel was closed to us.   Thankfully the receptionist was Beatriz who speaks good English.   She tried to help us find an alternative but every one was closed - it was Sunday!   We ended up eating crisps and chocolates to avoid empty stomachs.   Of the three receptionists, Beatriz and Sonia speak good English, but our favourite, Marisa speaks no English at all.   But she is brilliant at body language that makes you fall about laughing.   The manager said Marisa had worked with her for 25 years and never learned English.   But we love her.

Next morning we had breakfast but, this time, did not drive to Comillas for a short break before parking up for the ferry.   We had planned, as in other years, to go there but it was raining steadily.   So we went down early to the port.   We boarded the ferry and I then waited 2 hours in a queue to book a table in the A La Carte restaurant.   Luckily I had a large beer in my hand which got lighter as time passed!

Our meal was for 8.30pm and we thoroughly enjoyed it.   The main course was Monkfish and it was lovely.   The meals here are to die for.   We washed it all down with a nice Sancerre white wine.

Next morning we were very late rising and didn't get breakfast till after 11.00am.   It worked well as it meant we didn't have to get any more food before we disembarked.   We came in to Portsmouth 15 minutes late and getting off the ship was amazingly slow.   Then we had the customary delays at Border Control.   4.00pm saw us setting off for Solihull where we were to stay the night with my cousin and his wife.   We always enjoy getting together with Brian and Heather.   9.00am saw us leave for home.   How good it was to arrive back home with a wonderful holiday behind us.   We hope to go back in 2018.

Last day at Finca Manolo

The last day always arrives and it is here.   Yesterday's weather was a mix of sun and cloud but warm enough to enjoy, which we did.   I actually forgot to take my medication, which, at home would have slowed me down with tight chest and slightly difficult breathing.   It was 3.30pm before we got back from final shopping and I didn't notice any change at all.   I took my treatment and continued as normal.

The rest of the afternoon was spent by or in the pool.   It has been the best hydrotherapy Pauline could have.   She has really enjoyed her stay here and that is so pleasing.   When Pauline is happy it means I am too.   It has been a great time of rest and recuperation for both of us.   We looked forward to it for such a long time and it worked out just right.

This is now the longest period the mains water has been off and it has made no difference.   I think Trevor is going to have to pay for a tanker to top up the reserve tanks for the people that follow us.   

Last night I cooked whole chicken breasts - first in the oven and then in the sauce.   I stuffed the breasts with mozzarella and the taste was good.   However, we decided the filling would be better if I had chosen soft cheese like Philadelphia.   Our dessert was a chocolate mousse that went down well.

This year we shall bring home two cases of wine plus a few extras to enjoy.   One is a Rioja that is a Gran Reserva of 1994 vintage.   That will be drunk with the very best Welsh Black Beef!

Tomorrow we drive north west to Trujillo which we have not visited before.   We stay one night and then head for Santander and our good friends at Hotel Chateau La Roca.   On Monday we sail for Portsmouth.

Finally, it came

Today began with total cloud and at lunchtime it was raining.   Although we have not used the pool, once the rain stopped I cooked lunch and we ate under the verandah  on the south side of the house.   It was fresh pasta - Ravioli with a basil pasata.   It was good and gave me ideas for lunches at home.

This afternoon I found an icon on my smartphone that allows me to do things using voice control.   It was fascinating as I tried different applications.   I have had this Samsung model for about 4 years and only now have I tried some of the standard apps.   I shall never change from PAYG though.

Sue rang today and requested some things we could get for her so tomorrow will see me going on the trek to Eroski Hypermarket again.   It keeps me out of mischief, though.

After coming here since 2010, with a gap in 2014 when we chose France, I have actually found one of the original routes, provided by the owners, bypassing Colmenar centre to get here.   Because the road we have usually used is closed for repairs, I have found a number of new ways through the village.   Previously we knew one way up and one way down!   The world is growing!!!!!

Tonight we shall be eating Lubina again.   It tastes far better here than at home.   But then, so does San Miguel beer.   Now that the owners have installed a new (LPG) cooker I find it easier to use and it gets to boiling point much faster than the old one.   In fact, the old one didn't seem to have the energy to produce a boil.   It has certainly meant I have used the BBQ a lot less which gave us more variety of taste.

Speak soon.

Funny how things turn out

Yes, today we drove down the motorways past Malaga to Puerto Banus near Marbella.   This is where many very rich people live and come for a holiday in the sun.   We drove into the town and drove round the central streets looking for a useful parking spot.   From here we could then take a walk round the exclusive shops and people-watch.   We could not find a single parking spot as they were all taken by Porsches, Mercs, BMWs, Jaguars etc.   So we left and headed back east!

As lunchtime was upon us we decided to take the motorway back towards Torre del Mar to find somewhere we could eat.   Along the way I remembered that we once drove along the coast road between Rincon de la Victoria and Torre del Mar and there were places to eat along the way.   By doing this we spotted a small bar and restaurant by the long beach and stopped.   Not only were there parking spots but also a number of disabled parking slots free.   One was right outside the restaurant.

We went inside and had an amazing fish lunch.   They specialised in seafood and fish so we chose the dish that contained all the fish caught locally.   It was piled up on our plates.   I fought my way through but Pauline capitulated at the two thirds point.   In addition we got a glass of water, bread and two small beers.   The cost was 25 euros!   Not bad at all!

Afterwards we headed for the Eroski Hypermarket to get our final food needs for our last week here.   Pauline bought gifts in a nearby shop and we had ice cream before leaving.   We got back and I took the food indoors and we read our Kindles until 9.00pm when I did some toast.   We were still quite full from lunchtime.

We had a lovely day!

Another day by the pool

The weather today was perfect.   It did get too hot to sit by the pool but we can always sit in the shade on the patio.   We had planned to visit Marbella and Puerto Banus to see how the others live but Pauline had a stomach upset so we stayed put.   Our plan is to go there tomorrow.

Once her stomach settled Pauline was able to swim and benefit from hydrotherapy.   As for me I went in the pool alone until Pauline felt better.   It was lovely and I really enjoyed it.   We enjoyed lunch which was cut short by the number of wasps attracted by serrano ham and Manchego cheese.   It was such a relaxing day.   

In the evening, once the wasps had gone to bed we had an enjoyable dinner with barbecued brochettes of pork accompanied by Caesar Salad.   The wine was a Marques de Riscal and was enjoyable.   We really enjoyed the meal which was ended with a special sort of profiteroles.   I love cooking.

As we sat by the pool we considered the view.   To the east Mount Maroma was in mist and to the south we saw Comares sitting on top of the mountain.   W e thought about days long gone by when Comares must have been the classical citadel on a mountain top, repelling all who invaded.   It really s the most impregnable position I have ever seen.

Four Candles

You will remember that we had difficulty originally in finding a shop selling pottery.   We called at a shop in Velez-Malaga with "Ceramics" on its sign.   It had some but nothing we liked.   However, we did buy a set of candles which eventually we lit one evening ready for dinner.   So, here they are - FOUR CANDLES without the Two Ronnies:

You should have seen the mess after they had burned out!   There was the most amazing wax sculpture and it flowed down and over the able.   It took quite a while to remove it from the table top!

Today was a very lazy day indeed.   Our lunch was a prawn based salad and it tasted wonderful.   The downside was that it attracted many wasps.   They seem to love seafood because our lunch with mussels ended up with the same experience.   Worth remembering if you come out self catering.

We have agreed that this holiday really is the pinnacle of the year and that we shall be returning next September.   We hope to travel via Salamanca next time to see what is said to be a beautiful city.   It is also possible that we shall include more visiting historic places than we have done so far.

Tomorrow we are setting out to watch the wealthy folk who stay in Marbella.   A report will be forthcoming!

Recuperation today

We have been rising early (for us that is!) and having a cup of tea in the peace of a fresh morning before the strength of the sun changes the mood.   It has been peaceful in a unique way.   last night I agreed to get Pauline out of bed for another peaceful time.   I rose today to find Mount Maroma was invisible as she was covered in cloud.   Much of the sky overhead was cloud and the outlook was not good.   I left Pauline asleep.

Later on the sun burned off some of the cloud, including a black and threatening one.   The morning improved and the day got better and better.   It was good because we had decided to get our strength up after the trip to Frigiliana for pottery yesterday.   We sat till we were getting too hot and then took to the pool and that was how the day went on.

As usual we did a lot of reading on our Kindles which can be read in bright light.   Every so often we would raise our heads and enjoy the view surrounding us.   This is what we came for - to soak up this lovely view.

Tonight we had our usual glass of Manzanilla and eventually I cooked some Dorada for dinner.   Dorada is the Spanish name for Gilt Head Bream which looks and tastes like Sea Bream.   The taste was excellent.   Food always tastes so good when eaten in the open air.   This is certainly the place to do it.

We have been at Finca Manolo for 2 weeks with a further week to go..   All that time we have been on reserve water supply.   Trevor says this is the longest the place has been without mains water.   I closed down reserve tank 1 yesterday and started to use water from number 2.   If the weather does not change I can see Trevor having to order a tanker to drop a load.

I understand the weather back home has not been that friendly.   What a contrast!