Now that we are back home I feel it is appropriate to appraise the holiday and make a comparison with our experience in Spain. Of one thing there is no doubt, we have had an excellent holiday in France. But we are certain that we don't wish to return there over the next few years. So why do we want to go to Spain and stay at Finca Manolo again in 2015?
Let's make a comparison and see what we can learn about the matter.
In Spain we arrive after the harvest of cereal crops as borne out by the seemingly endless fields of golden stubble as we drive south. The only part where we see greenery is in the northern mountains just after we leave Santander. The mountain scenery there resembles that in Switzerland with the classic chalets and log cabins. Once we have left this behind on our journey south we encounter the Spanish plains that stretch forever to the horizon. Here no grass remains green. All is gold or brown. When we have driven to Toledo along the motorway we have spotted the famous windmills along the mountain ridge. They appear in just about every travelogue picture of Spain. Around them everything is barren and nothing seems able to grow there.
Of course, in certain areas we suddenly see mile after mile of olive trees in long lines. We have remarked that we have never seen so much potential olive oil in the landscape. A favourite visit is to Zuheros, a village on a steep mountain side. When you stand up there and look across the wide valley you see many thousands of olive trees and understand why Spain is a big producer of the oil. In some areas, which are not huge in acreage, we have seen the vines of Montilla and other Spanish wines. But these are relatively small areas compared to the olive groves.
From Finca Manolo in El Romo, a community in Axarquia, we have a 360 degrees view of mountains with huge craggy rock faces. The view is breath-taking. Sitting atop one of these mountains is the ancient stronghold of Comares where you could imagine capture by soldiers below would have been impossible. We have been able to drive along the mountain sides and see the valleys open up below. In some of the mountain areas we have seen the famous white villages clinging to steep slopes.
When we were considering our first holiday there we were told it was rather like Greece. This is quite true for in Greece the September visitor is no longer treated to the sight of green grass for the summer sun has burned it brown. So it is with Spain.
Then we have to consider the property where we stay. Finca Manolo is an old farmhouse that has been restored to the traditional style of such places. It has an old stone sink which I hate! But it has a marvellous swimming pool and a hot tub too. These are things that really help Pauline's spinal stenosis. The swimming can help reduce her weight as she swims up and down each day. I would describe the house as quirky. There is even part of it locked up and out of use! But we have a love affair with it!
This year, in France, we have seen a totally different landscape. Once we left the motorways and began to use the D roads we saw a new landscape. North of our base were square mile after square mile of vines growing the grapes that are used to make Cognac and a sweet wine called Pineau. Another crop is maize and it grows so tall for mile after mile. Go further south and you see another surprising crop, the sunflower. In September we witnessed endless fields of sunflowers that had gone black! They are grown there for their seeds that make sunflower oil. We used to sit each day when we were based at our temporary home, La Belle Aube, and watch the farmer next door harvesting the sunflowers with a huge machine. All over the Charente, today, there will be other farmers working like mad to get the sunflowers harvested. The numbers are in multi millions.
On the day we decided to drive to Saint-Emilion in the Bordeaux wine growing area we saw lush dark green vines in endless perfect rows with huge bunches of black grapes hanging below. Once you are in Bordeaux the sight of the vines takes your breath away. There are so many individual vineyards with a multitude of names where signs invite you buy direct after a degustation. The vines can be seen growing right up to the town borders with just a single road separating them from the buildings.
Apart from the crops awaiting harvest, France is very green indeed - and beautiful too. The rivers all seem to have huge lush vegetation and huge trees growing over their banks and there are even beaches too. The famous tall tree lined avenues abound and beg that you photograph them. From each bridge there is a beautiful vista of a riverside. There are old towns with medieval buildings in their centres. It seems each town or village has immense pride in its heritage and flaunts it all the while. Then there are the weekly markets held in the main streets of these towns and villages. You can buy cheese, meat, fish, seafood, tools for home and garden, fashionable tops and tee shirts and even corsets! These markets are truly viable, unlike those here at home.
Compared to home, the motorways of France are very quiet and driving is less stressful. The French seem to drive considerately too. The D roads are mostly in good condition and a pleasure to use. the speed limits on roads other than motorways are less than in the UK. A country road in Anglesey has a speed limit of 60mph usually whereas in France it is 55mph. The Spanish motorways are fast and even less used than in France so driving gets to be a real pleasure. But watch out for the police and their speed traps in Spain! I know - I was once caught and paid an on-the-spot fine of 150 euros!
Finally let's compare the swimming pools. Finca Manolo wins, hands down! It is of traditional build with real Roman style steps that Pauline can safely use. At La Belle Aube the pool is a one-piece affair in what seems to be GRP. The steps are moulded within the design and the top step is almost impossible for Pauline to use. Getting out of the pool was quite scary. I had to place a chair there for her to grab to pull herself up once she had achieved a hands and knees position on the pool side. Without me pressing down on the chair she would still be there, trying to get up.
But there is Hotel Chateau La Roca outside Santander where our journey south in Spain begins. This has to be mentioned too. Whilst the staff, in the main, speak no English, they are most welcoming and attentive. Reyes, the manager, is a wonderful lady, and she goes out of her way to look after us each time we stay there. We love staying there. As we prepare to go south we visit the filling station next door and fill up with Spain's cheapest petrol!
There is so much more I could say about these two countries but the one that calls us back is Spain. In earlier years I used to long to visit the Spanish interior and the experience was worth the wait.
No comments:
Post a Comment