MANILVA AND THE ROMAN BATHS.

MONDAY/TUESDAY 24TH/25TH MAY 2010.

Monday was a good news day; during last week we received some paperwork from the Inland Revenue to do with Pension Annuity’s that we have paid back in England into our Ac.in Colwyn Bay; we then made contact with the banking support and after various checks we arranged for them to send us all the necessary documents; they arrived on Monday morning, which is very fast, so we made contact again and asked them to make a transfer to our Spanish AC.We were then very surprised when the transfer arrived in our account on Tuesday morning as it usually takes 4/5 days at least ! I then called the Inland Revenue and sorted out the currant situation with them; as I was in this frame of mind I then contacted the International Pension’s Claims Department as I am now in the four months to commence date for my pension starting, they are sending all the paperwork to finalize the process!!

On Tuesday we met Mano and Anna up in Bar Rojas at lunchtime; Mano is on holiday for a week, so we then decided to go out for a Menu Del Dia up in Casares; on the way Mano took us down to the Roman Baths in the Hedionda valley below the village, we have not been to them as the track to get there is not good for the Smart car; “ Los Banos Romano ” date back to the 1st.century BC. when Julius Caesar regularly took the waters and cured himself of a skin complaint, during his period as Governor of Southern Spain in the middle of that century. The waters have high sulphur content and the source is a number of springs which originate in the huge limestone ridge of the Sierra Ultera which runs behind the village. The baths original Roman construction can be plainly be seen, but a modern dome has been installed as well as a basking area where you can take in the sun in between plunges! On the way along the track you pass the very old small church of “ Ermito San Adolpho ” which is used by the village for religious ceremonies at this time of the year similar to the El Rocio.

We then headed up to Casares,named after Julius Caesar, to the Venta Curro which overlooks the white village; it is always very good and when we have guests staying with us we take them there; as soon as you sit down they place a large salad on the table with local hard bread, the menu is three courses so we had Gazpacho, Macaroni in a wonderful Tomato sauce and Potaje Gallego which is a thick soup with white Kidney Beans, Cabbage and Pork to start, Brenda had pan fried Dorada,Sea Bream, Anna had pan fried Chicken Breast, Mano had a wonderful Goat Stew and I had a Entrecote steak, all served with fresh Patatas Fritas !! For a sweet there are various choices and you finish off with strong Carajillo’s. On the table we had to drink the best thing at this time of the year,Tinto de Verano made with the red house wine,Casara lemonade and lots of ice! It is a family run bar and fills up with local workers during the week. One not to be missed so I am sorry that there are no pictures to show of the Baths and the Venta as it was a spur of the moment decision to go ! The picture shows Brenda with her new best friend, she comes calling every day, this started after we came home and the rains stopped, her owner at the bottom of our street, lets her out as it goes quiet and she is just gorgeous, she always has a different coloured bow in her hair every day,just like somebody typing this now! We don’t know her name yet; she has also made friends with Anna’s very small terrier Derek!

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