So the sitch is that we’re driving back to Marbella! Not all the way, just backtracking a ways because we move on to Ronda today. It’s another stunning drive over glorious mountain ranges and plains. We make a sort of figure eight so there’s small section when we’re going the same way on the same road again as two days ago, before taking the other fork towards Ronda.
I'm so organised ... I've done some work, written this up to date and prepared photos whilst enjoying another Verdejo, so before we descend for dinner I'll upload then update later!
Dinner was on the terrace facing out to sunset - at first quite a painful experience, but after a few minutes one adjusted to the brightness. The restaurant is quite small, it's only a small hotel, with about 32 covers. The staff are very friendly and quite boisterous, which is somehow acceptable tonight.
We go for oxtail ravioli and salmon tartar to start, then sucking pig and "fillet steak" for mains. I'm apostrophising this as in my opinion it's rib-eye, but perfectly pleasant so no problem anyway! The theme extends to pudding, we both order the chocolate soufflé but really it's chocolate fondant pudding - I should know I've made enough of each - but again we'd still have ordered it so no argument here either. No quibble about the wine, we have a local CS and Merlot blend which is great and very reasonably priced - I can see more of that arriving over the next few days!!
Arriving just after midday our room isn’t ready so we dump the bags and the car keys and go for our first wander, round the corner and into one of the most incredible views in the world. It’s like the first time one walks through the Grand Canyon Hotel right onto the rim - almost rendering one speechless! Although we have a plan (of course we do) the Montelirio receptionist has given us a more comprehensive map, so we sit down for tapas and over a nice Verdejo and some undercooked chicken and squid cross reference both maps, and the set off on our walking tour.
By heading away from the hoards of sightseers we find the Palacio de Mondragon, a converted palace, now council offices and regional museum, which is really fascinating, they have made a fabulous effort to bring the story of the area to life. Next is one of the towns gateways, this one dates back to C13. Opposite is a great statue but absolutely no reference either physical or on Google, so we're going to guess he is St Francis, he certainly looks familiar!
Moving on we drop down the side of the rock, to the Arabic Baths, the most well preserved example in Iberia. It’s very interesting, build on Roman ideas, indeed even with a few old bits of Roman columns, it has hot, temperate and cold zones and is fascinating. We then head up via the 23 level Jardines de Cuenca which is sadly a bit run down, and then on to Saint Cecilia church, which of course is closed. Our final call this afternoon is the bridge experience. The last time I went in the workings of a bridge I threw myself off it - attached to a quarter kilometre elastic band - this time it’s a more calm experience, but there’s a hole bored through and one can just about see the rocks below.
The hotel’s tiny pool area beckons, as does a pitcher of sangria, so after changing we descend five floors for a little bit of R&R.
I'm so organised ... I've done some work, written this up to date and prepared photos whilst enjoying another Verdejo, so before we descend for dinner I'll upload then update later!
Dinner was on the terrace facing out to sunset - at first quite a painful experience, but after a few minutes one adjusted to the brightness. The restaurant is quite small, it's only a small hotel, with about 32 covers. The staff are very friendly and quite boisterous, which is somehow acceptable tonight.
We go for oxtail ravioli and salmon tartar to start, then sucking pig and "fillet steak" for mains. I'm apostrophising this as in my opinion it's rib-eye, but perfectly pleasant so no problem anyway! The theme extends to pudding, we both order the chocolate soufflé but really it's chocolate fondant pudding - I should know I've made enough of each - but again we'd still have ordered it so no argument here either. No quibble about the wine, we have a local CS and Merlot blend which is great and very reasonably priced - I can see more of that arriving over the next few days!!
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