This last week spent in Los Alcazares was a quiet week in terms of new adventures as we knew it would be.
That said it was great to spend time with family and D was of course able to play golf and a few birdies were actually managed by him. Unfortunately, the elusive hole in one remained just that-elusive.
As ever the hospitality shown by Auntie and Uncle was tremendous and beautiful inventive salads were partaken for lunch. Curry and confit duck being a couple of the home cooked evening specialities. Restaurants too were visited and as ever the standard was beyond good with prices being perhaps a bit dearer than days of old but still value for money for us overseas visitors.
Of course, the main event of the week for us was the solar/battery work being undertaken by Costa Caravans. Buster was left with them bright and early on the Thursday and having one of the family cars on loan made our day easier as we pottered around after a lovely tostada. The work was to take the full day, as it was a combination of new solar panel, booster along with big fat wiring to allow all the lovely sun and power to flow through, along with a monitor so we can see where the power is being used and if it drops too much. Apart from one unexpected incident on Costa’s part the job went to plan, and we picked Buster up at the close of their working day.
I, of course was filled with trepidation but David within minutes of arriving and looking at the various dials and control was super happy. So we drove Buster home, very very slowly as solar panels are glued to roofs and needless to say to did not want to lose part of our new investment on the roads just hours after it had been installed.
With a May golf deadline looming we left Los Alcazares, family and friends on the Friday and headed inland to the region of Andalusia driving up the motorway running through, up and down the Sierra Nevada. We have driven this road many a time, but the scenery still is breath taken, even though you are often dicing driving wise with very slow moving lorries going uphill who then love to scare the life out of you when they’re on a downhill run. We arrived safely at a small hillside village called Beas de Granada, the clue is in the name and it sits in the Sierra about 20k’s east of Granada. The Aire we chose is relatively new and despite a quite nasty sharp turn into the road leading to it (which after 3 hours of driving, I bottled it) the actual site is a joy. Clean, well run, helpful owners, loo’s, paid for showers, but close to the town and with views you often only can wish for.
Buster was parked up, happy with his lot. Solar, batteries at full capacity we headed into the mountain town in search of food. Following a gas hunt in Cartagena we actually arrived at Beas in the gap between lunch and dinner so we had to partake in a couple of drinks before discovering that a few of the restaurants did open at 6. Strange for Spain given that they usually are closing lunch service then and dining before 9pm is a complete No No. We made our choice, Envero and boy what a choice. First in the doors at 6 we took the chef by surprise, drinks arrived and while we were looking at the menu a stunning selection of ‘dressed’ cheese arrived and were soon devoured. While still making our choice from what I might sat was not a typical traditional Spanish menu, another tapa arrived of warm tender pork. Both given knowing that we were actually going to order food as well. By the end of the meal we were both of the opinion that this restaurant was Michelin standard in terms of the actual food but also in presentation. Another hit for Spanish food.
With temperatures in this region hoovering at about 30 degrees, spag bol was cooked in the cool temperature of the morning for dinner. We then headed into the hills, mountains call them what you will resulting in a stunning 10k walk, with a climb of some 52 floors according to google and thankfully due to Wiki walks we never got lost, apart from taking the wrong turn to start with out of the café after our café con leche. It’s a birdie was seen many times and although lacking photographic proof we were convinced we saw an eagle at the dizzy heights of the Sierra.
Sunday sees us returning to Córdoba before heading to what the Spanish themselves call the frying pan of Andalusia. So that should see us and our solar, batteries cooking nicely!
Spends: given up this week due to irregularities!! Can say that 8 nights as Parking Los Narejos was a bargain €75.