MANILVA SABINILLAS AND CASARES OVER THE WEEKEND.

FRIDAY/MONDAY 30^th/ 3^RD SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011.

Well the sisters visit is well and truly on the way, this morning Friday, after a light breakfast the three girls caught the bus down to Sabinillas to check the shops out, dip their feet in the sea, the sand was too hot to walk on and have a spot of lunch in the square; they also bought a new kettle as the current one has given up the ghost ! It must be because it has never been off since they arrived, the sisters love their tea early morning,breakfast,mid morning,lunchtime,afternoon,early evening and later in the evening and the odd one in between !! Meanwhile I caught up with the blog and e-mails, Anna called in for a chat and gossip and when the came back they all went upstairs on the roof terrace for chat.In the evening we went up to Bar Rojas for supper, Brenda and Norah had the Gallo Frito with salad and frits and Jenny and I had the Carne Marchada with Patatas Fritas,it was nice evening under the Sonbrajo taking in the tranquility of Manilva as the wine flowed to end another perfect day.

On Saturday morning we had a day at home taking things easy, at lunchtime I did a light Brunch of English homemade Pork Sauages,Spanish crispy streaked Bacon and local Campo fried Eggs with lots of tea and toast; I had got up early to watch the England v Scotland Rugby match from New Zealand, England won, just, 16-12 but did not play well and face France in the next round. The sisters lazed around reading and taking things easy in the afternoon and in the evening we had our usual Steak and Chips with fine Green Beans for dinner with a bottle of a unusual named light Rioja which you can see in the picture above, it translates as ‘ Shh ! ’

After Breakfast on Sunday morning we got the roast dinner on the way, Chicken with all the usual trimmings and vegetables with one differenc,Chestnut stuffing, as they have just come into season, in fact the hot Chestnut man was in Calle Mar the night before as we went for a evening stroll. I caught up with all the weekend sport as the girls gassed away, football here and in England, Motor Cycling from Japan and Rugby highlights as well as watching on the IPlayer the weeks edition of Saturday Morning Kitchen. After dinner we had game of Trivial Pursuits, the traveling pocket edition, which got a little bit out of hand near the end !

Monday morning was another fine day, the best so far for the sisters visit; after breakfast we set off up into the hills to check out Casares, it is something that we have never done in the past, we have taken the pictures and eat out above the village but have never explored the village. After parking the car at the entrance to Casares,you can’t drive in, we set off to trek our way into the center and up to the castle above the village; we came across the house of ‘ Blas Infante Perez’ who was born in Casares and was the leading light in the fight to establish Andalucia at the start of the last century. As we made our way up the steep narrow streets past the Town Hall we stopped for a coffee break at an old bar next to the church as you can see in the pictures below, when we reached the ruined castle at the top we then came back down by a different route through the very narrow and steep streets; it is like going back in time to another era with the smells of the cooking ,the people shouting to one another across there balconies, it is as if time has stood still, which it has in fact ! No cars and every thing have to be carried up to the houses every day. Truly amazing !!

We then after walking back to the car drove to a spot above the village to stop for a cool drink; we sat outside at a Bar and Restaurant that we have not used before, we go to the workers Venta next door for the Del Dia menu and all the family and friends have been there in the past including the sisters; we soon got carried away as the wine flowed and ended up having a very nice ,but expensive meal, as we listened to the French wife selling he daily specials to the various English, German,Japanese,French and locals diners, Grilled Salmon for Brenda, Norah and Jenny had the Quiche Lorraine and I had the Roast Pork, which was more like Wild Boar, served in a very rich and delicious ‘ Jus Roti ’which stuck to my lips ! A nice leisurely drive back down to the coast and back up to the house for a siesta which was called for. In the evening the chef was given the night off,again,as we went out to our local fish and chip restaurant down on the coast past Sabinillas for the ‘ Earlybird Special ’of Haddock, Chips and Peas with free glass of wine !! The last supper as the girls are heading home on Tuesday morning from Gibraltar as you can see in the picture above. It was very nice having them here once again on the annual visit and we are looking forward to their next visit already !! Thanks to you both and lots of love.

Thought for the Day;

Imagination will carry us to worlds that never were, but without them we go nowhere.

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