Santander and home

This final report from our 2013 holiday is written after our arrival home last night.   The drive from Toledo to Santander was uneventful and we returned to our favourite hotel to be greeted by Marisa, the receptionist.   Having read reviews on Tripadvisor, I knew that Marisa was popular.   But was really amused by her antics to try to get past her lack of English.   Her body language was suited to the stage!   She is a natural comedienne.   However, she had bad news for us - the restaurant was closed for two nights.   I therefore set up my laptop and searched for a Santander restaurant that was open that night.   In Spain a lot of shops, restaurants etc. close on Sunday.   Eventually I located Restaurante Chiqui in Santander.   I booked the table and later we drove there.  
Using Satnav I got onto the correct Avenida but could not find the restaurant.   Eventually I spotted the sign and drove towards it.   The road continued across a roundabout.   I parked the car and we went in.   You could tell immediately that quality was the watchword.   In a review of the place we read that the service was slow but we like slow service as it tends to be very good in terms of quality.   We were given Spanish menus to begin with and then the head waiter located English versions.   It turned out we had found a restaurant which specialised in fish and seafood.   That pleased us.
We had a special lobster dish for starters.   For the main course Pauline chose hake stuffed with seafood and I opted for Sea Bass.   Pauline waxed poetic about her hake and I confirmed that my huge piece of bass was cooked perfectly and tasted wonderful.   After our meal we declared it excellent and drove back to Hotel Chateau La Roca.
Next day we drove over to Comillas, a small old village we had visited two years before.   The scenery in Cantabria is very like the Alpine scenery with houses tending to emulate the Swiss properties.   We tried to find the way to the mansion that had a Gaudi exhibition but failed.   As time was ebbing away we decided to head back to Santander to join the ferry queues.   This was when the Satnav fell off the windscreen!   Having set it up and removed a few times the windscreen was dirty and the device would not keep good suction.   I decided I would just follow the road signs for Santander and then look out for the Puerto and Ferry signs.   It worked!
Once on the ship we found our cabin and I went to book a table in the restaurant.   The meal that evening was excellent, as  usual.   I chose a crab salad starter and Pauline chose ravioli.   Pauline chose chicken for a main course and my choice was lamb.   I have never known such thick pieces of lamb to be cooked so well.   We both decided on soufflé with Grand Marnier to finish and were not disappointed.
Next day we were back in the restaurant for a cooked breakfast.   I had only one complaint - I did not care for the mushrooms which I think were cooked in milk.   After this we stayed in our cabin and read our Kindles till lunchtime when I went in search of sandwiches.   Soon we were gliding into Portsmouth harbour with the strangest looking warships I could imagine around us.   How warship design has changed!   Once the vehicles started from the ship it took only 8 minutes for us to emerge.   There was a few minutes to wait at the Border Control and then we were out on the motorway system and heading home.
The Satnav fell out with us when we made a diversion at junction 18 on the M6.   We had already decided to have a break from fast driving and take the route through Sandiway in Cheshire that leads eventually to the A55 (Chester bypass) and home.   We arrived at 8.35pm and popped a pizza in the oven before retiring to bed.
Now we begin the long preparation for Christmas.   This year I am making my first Christmas cake, following Marry Berry for a recipe.   Whilst in Spain I received details of the Circuit Plan by email and discovered I am leading worship at Amlwch on Christmas Day.   That is a special treat to anticipate.
So this year's holiday blog is completed and we can both say the break has been important and has relaxed us greatly.   100% success!

Back to Toledo Part 2

To say that Toledo is an amazing place is an understatement.   Everywhere you go there are narrow winding ancient streets.   If you like history you must go to see it.   Our hotel was near the Bisagra Gate which is the most solid construction I can imagine.   Each time I see it I marvel at its show of strength for an invading army.

To fit in with ferry sailings from Santander we have to spend a day in Toledo.   It's roughly half way from Malaga to Santander in Northern Spain.   Victoria, our hotel receptionist is so welcoming, helpful and entertaining.   We missed her last year as she was recovering from a broken leg.   Where have I heard that before?  

Our Toledo day began with a visit to the Synagoga de Transito which is next door to the El Greco museum that we visited last year.   It is a great place to consider the life of the old Jews of the city before they were thrown out after 400 years of peaceful co-existence with Muslims and Christians.   We managed to make it upstairs to the Women's Gallery where there were many interesting exhibits like the Magem Davids, various menorahs, phalacteries and even a set of circumcision instruments.   The garden was peaceful and contained a number of ancient Jewish tombstones.   Someone had placed a stone on one - a Jewish tradition.

Next we visited the Santo Domingo Convent where we saw, through a glass opening in the floor above the crypt, the coffin of El Greco, some of whose works were on the walls.   It is still a convent and we were greeted by a nun acting as greeter and cash receiver.   They had a sculpture of the head of John the Baptist on a plate.   Now that was really gruesome!

We came out and discovered a small restaurant close by.   It was lunchtime, so we gave it a try.   It turned out to be the best lunch we had had.   We shared a smoked salmon salad with tomatoes and balsamic vinegar and some potatoes stuffed with stuffed peppers.   It was wonderful.

Our next visit was to the Museum of Santa Cruz.   It was a huge former church with a crossing, lantern tower and long transepts.   The most interesting exhibits were huge tapestries of Flemish design.   Some of these were difficult to appreciate because they had deteriorated somewhat.   The view from the approach to the loos was over the rooftops of Toledo and I found it interesting.   Something to enjoy whilst you wait for your wife answering the call!

The last visit was the tiny mosque dating from 1,000 CE (AD to you).   It was small when you allowed for the apse built later for Christian worship.   The young woman at the desk was very helpful and called us a taxi after our visit.   You get a better response in Spain when you are a wheelchair user than at home in the UK.

Now we are staying overnight in a hotel on the outskirts of Santander ready for our sail home tomorrow.   The hotel restaurant is closed so I had to go online to find a restaurant in Santander that was open on a Sunday.   I solved the problem and keyed the details into the Satnav for later.   We are now looking forward to our 24 hours cruise home.

Back to Toledo

Just a short blog to confirm we have now left Finca Manolo in the Malaga mountains.   After lugging all our bags and baggage to the car which had been parked at the far side of the swimming pool, we set off at 9.56am local time.   It was lovely to slowly drive through the hills and mountains of Axarquia to link up with the motorway system.

The drive north was, as always, a mixture of vastly different landscapes.   At first we passed through many hills with olives growing on their slopes.   Later we saw other landscapes with rolling "fields of gold" where cereal crops were grown.   Passing through Valdepenas we saw countless vineyards with the workers just starting the grape picking season.   Eventually, as we turned towards Toledo there were barren slopes with castles and ancient windmills.   There is a famous line of old windmills on the hilltop as the motorway begins its way towards Toledo.   Next to them is an ancient fortress which has a resident tower crane engaged in restoration work.

Once I turned off the road into Toledo I discovered the authorities had made a significant change at the junction where we turn for our hotel.   There were road works two weeks ago when we drove south.   Today there is a roundabout in construction!   It was all a bit daunting so I went further along to pick up another route I knew that brought us to the hotel.   What a good thing we have been here a few times!

The sunshine continues

Yesterday was truly a day of rest.   In the morning I drove over to Colmenar to buy some bits of food and top up on barbecue fuel.   In 40 minutes I was back and helped Pauline laze by the pool.   The best part of the property we have here is the pool.   It is 10 metres by 5 metres and good for swimming lengths.   It's ideal for Pauline as it has steps for access rather than a ladder which she would not be able to use.   One unusual feature is that you cannot describe the shallow end as shallow.   There is a very small difference between deep and shallow ends.   At the so called deep end there is a wall sculpture of Neptune that looks like he is smoking a cigar!   Actually this is a pipe to take water if linked up to the supply.
Trevor, joint owner of the property, keeps the pool equipment under lock and key.   When he comes to do a pool clean he attaches a vacuum device which then drags along the bottom of the pool.   It takes literally minutes to complete the job.   He's a friendly guy and we always have an enjoyable chat when he comes.
When we go on holiday we always take our Kindles topped up with books we want to read.   This is how we pass the time between swims!   As we have Wifi this year we have been able to download during our stay - very useful.
Last night I barbecued chicken wings and sausages and did a rice salad.   It was washed down with Faustino V white Rioja.   This is a lovely wine and soon we are off to the hypermarket to get a supply for home.   This is our final day after which we shall be travelling back to Northern Spain to catch the ferry to the UK on Monday afternoon at Santander.   On Saturday we shall be spending a whole day in Toledo, our favourite city in Spain.

Phew, it's hot!

Yesterday we spotted two aircraft flying together.   They were the type that swoops on the sea or a lake to get water and then drop it on a forest fire.   We've not heard anything but it tells the story of a hot and dry countryside.

Last night saw us tucking into barbecued chicken wings and  salad - very acceptable.   The cats enjoyed what was left too.  

Sue Brown, the house owner went over to Torremolinos yesterday for cataract operation.   The operation took 15 minutes and she stayed for an hour to make sure all was well.   She was due to go back today for a check up.   Next week she goes through the same routine for her other eye.   You get quick turn rounds with private medicine!

Today the temperature under the shade outside the kitchen door rose to 33.5 degrees Celsius.   I decided it was time to use the hot tub.   We had 20 minutes of sheer bliss!   Straight after that we had a swim in the pool to cool off!   It's all action, I can tell you!

Tonight I am cooking pork steaks on the barbecue and cooking courgettes in butter.   What a decadent life!   This afternoon I received an email from the Witness Care Unit in Colwyn Bay to say that the case I was due to be a witness in was being moved to Mold Crown Court and could I be there tomorrow.   I explained in my reply that I had been excused from attending as I was on holiday.   That case haunts me!

As I write this blog it is 5.00pm (4.00pm in the UK) and the day has just drifted by.   I really hope we can remain as laid back as this once we are back home.   I have been so stressed unnecessarily this year that I would like to spend a no pressure period for a while.   My problem has been that I have invented things to worry about and that is not sensible.

I can now report that Pauline's leg is very much better and it is obviously due to the regular swimming.   When we get back we are due to renew our Leisure Centre memberships so I hope she will be there in the water once more.

Cracking the flags - again!

The hot weather has returned.   Swimming in the pool is the only way to cool off.   Regular swimming is taking away Pauline's pain in her femur.   It must be healing.   Mind you, it is now obvious she has a return of the spinal stenosis, but that pain can be treated once she is over her leg pain.

Last night I barbecued some lamb chops and fried some left over potatoes.   They were very tasty!   This must sound dreadful to those at home and experiencing gales.   It is good news that, at long last, there is progress with Pauline's leg.   After all she broke it nearly 18 months ago.   Today is a special day.   It is our granddaughter Isabel's 15th birthday and also exactly 9 years since we moved to Anglesey.   In a short time (1st October) we celebrate our 47th wedding anniversary.

Today we have been swimming/reading/swimming/reading.   I was so wound up at the long journey we were making and now we are getting the benefit of rest.   Of course, there will be the journey home starting on Friday and ending Tuesday evening.  

I went to the shop in Colmenar this morning and got what was needed in food terms to last the week out.   Guess what I forgot - bbq fuel!!!   The Spanish call it simply carbon.  I shall have to make another trip to Colmenar tomorrow to ensure we don't run out of fuel. Lunches usually consist of good bread with butter, Serrano ham, cheese and tomatoes washed down with San Miguel.   This beer might be rubbish, Kevin , but it lubricates the throat.   For breakfast we have discovered a new cereal from Eroski hypermarket - flakes with dried fruit including strawberries.   But we don't forget our boiled eggs and toast!

Can't spend any more time chatting - the pool is calling!!!

Trip to Cordoba

Yesterday's weather locally was cloudy all day so we decided to drive to Cordoba where the weather forecast was good and there was an attraction we wanted to see.   Last year we visited the Mezquita in Cordoba which is an amazing place.   Not far away is the Alcazar de los Reyes Christianos which is the old castle and gardens.   Having heard that the Alcazar was not great we were only interested in visiting the gardens.   I had found a photo or two on the web that looked interesting, but the real thing was so much better.   The woman in the pay office spoke in Spanish whilst pointing to the wheelchair but we said we would go in anyway.   There were a considerable number of steps in the nearer part of the gardens and then it was all virtually level.   I scouted around and found the ways down that involved the least steps.   Pauline can manage steps and it is the distance walking that she can't manage.   Where we had a few steps she got out of the chair and I carried it whilst she did the steps.

Much of the gardens comprised water features - mainly long canals of water with fountains along the sides playing across the water.   One canal was bordered with what resembled marigolds and these made a great statement.   There were shady avenues of orange trees which helped your intrepid wheelchair pusher to recover from the effort in the sunshine!

One very unusual feature was the avenues of conifers clipped to resemble wide pillars and occasional sculptures to add to the interest.   There were many formal gardens with geometric shapes and walkways to explore.   It was a peaceful garden full of beauty.   By this time, however, the dahlias were well past their best.   We came out of the garden thrilled to have been there.   Admission was a mere 4.50 euros each.

It was then time for a spot of lunch so we popped in a nearby bar where we had beer and sandwiches.   As the food was being prepared the owner brought us a small plate of home made crisps.   We knew they were home made because they were still warm and didn't conform to the usual shapes that come in packets.   When the sandwiches arrived they were the equivalent of baps but with crunchy crusts.   We think they were also home made.   What lovely sandwiches!

Outside, we took a taxi back to the car park on the Avenida de Los Custodios and drove back to El Romo and Finca Manolo.   On arrival we discovered that it had rained whilst we were away so this made the trip even more worth the effort.   The day was complete once I had barbecued some Sea Bass I bought the previous day. 

Today has returned to wall to wall sunshine and we are swimming to cool off.   Our local weather forecast for the remainder of our stay is sun, sun and sun.   Wednesday is supposed to be a scorcher with a maximum of 37 degrees Celsius!