SUNNY MANILVA & ' VENTA GARCIA' ON THURSDAY.

FRIDAY 26^th OCTOBER 2018.  “ SANDRA’S BIRTHDAY “

PS, Don't forget to click on all the pictures to enlarge !! 

I was up bright and early and shot down to Sabiniilas – on my travels- I first called into the main Medical Centre to make some appointments, for my ‘ V12’ injection, for a check up with our Doctor and our annual Flu (Gripe) injections, over the next couple of weeks. Next I picked up some fresh wall plants from the local Market, as well as a bunch of ‘Red Roses’  for Sandra and then Brenda ( Two Birds with One Stone !!) I picked up the local newspapers from the ‘English Bookshop’ before stopping at ‘ Super Sol’ for a Strawberry Tart and a bottle of ‘ Cava Rosado’

Sandra & Bill then joined us, as we had arranged a surprise ‘ Skype’ video call with Jack, Lyn & Deb, to wish Sandra ‘ Happy Birthday’ as we drank the ‘ Cava Rosado’ and put a candle in the Strawberry Tart- to sing ‘ Happy Birthday’ ! Deb also called Jeff & Annette up in Brisbane, at the same time , as they drank to Sandra’s good health – as well!

We had not planned anything for later until Bill said the he would like to go to another of our suggestions, for lunch, ‘Venta Garcia’ –one of our old favourites!

NB, By lunchtime it reached 24 degs!!

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We arrived and were shown to a nice table in the main restaurant, which got busy, as usual later, Jesus, the owner, came and greeted me and the folks in his usual fashion, we ordered from the excellent Three Course ‘ Menu Del Dia’ – ‘( Still only 14 Euros!) Sandra  had the ‘Avocado, Mozzarella & Tomato’ starter, Brenda had the ‘Filo Prawn Parcels’ Bill went for the ‘Smoked Duck’ Salad and I had the House Chicken Croquettes’

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For our main course;  Sandra had the ‘ Grilled Sea Bass’ Brenda had her favourite ‘ Confit of Duck Leg’ with Apple sauce, Bill went for the rural/ local dish of ‘Chicken with an Onion & Wine’ salsa, I had my other favourite, the ‘ Crispy Skinned Roast Lamb Blade’ – with a Mint sauce/jelly - all with ‘ Frits’

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For our Dessert the girls had the recommended ‘ Mojito Sorbet’ . Bill the ‘ Baked Rice Pudding and I had the Cream Caramel.

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To finish, on the house, shots of ‘Limoncello’ for all the folks, while I had an old favourite ‘ Cuarenta y Tres – Licor 43’ – citrus fruit juices, herbs & spices with vanilla, 43 different ingredients!!

Yet another memorable lunch, one not to forget, this morning we were up early and shot down to Sandra & Bills apartment to see them off, as they went across to Malaga to catch their flight to Barcelona, where they are staying for the night before they fly back to Toronto tomorrow lunchtime! ‘ Bon Voyage ‘ – until the next time !!

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NB; Don't forget to put you clocks back !!

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" EL MOLINO DEL SANTO ' ON THURSDAY.

THURSDAY 25^th/ OCTOBER 2018.

We managed a well needed little in this morning after yesterday’s longest day adventure in Cadiz, after freshening up and dressing we had a quick toast & tea before Sandra & Bill collected us from the top of our street, again.

We headed off down the coast, past La Linea, to catch the train at San Roque Station to go up to  ‘El Molino Del Santo Restaurant’ in the mountain village of Benaojan Montejaque, below Ronda, the train winds it’s way up through the mountains, tunnels and along the side of steep gorges, above the raging rivers, in places showing the water levels up by 20/30 feet, after last week’s rain!

In fact some bridges & track were washed away in the storms, further along the line, the main medium distance non-high speed trains to Granada, have been cancelled and only the local service is running, thankfully!

As we arrived we were warmly greeted and shown to the same table as our visit last year, the Lady Owner had left a Birthday Card/ Message along with a complementary bottle of the ‘House Cava’ – a nice touch, with the ‘ House Tortilla de Patatas’  taster, to start the memorable lunch. The ‘ Babbling Brook’ by the side of the Hotel was a in fact a raging torrent, sounding like ‘ Niagara Falls!

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From the ‘ Monthly Menu & A La Carte ‘

To start Sandra had the ‘Duck Pate’ layered with green Apple Slices & topped with an Apple Tuile, Brenda selected the ‘Cured Duck Breast’ on a Mango & Pomegranate Salsa with Fried Goats’ Cheese, Bill went for the ‘ Sizzling Garlic & Chilli Prawns and I had a delicious ‘ Roast Tomato’ and Red Pepper Soup with Quail Egg, the ‘ Bread Basket’ had a fine selection, with the Tomato Bread the ‘ star’! I selected from the large Wine List a classic ‘ Marques De Riscal’ 2017 Rueda Verdejo to complement the starters.

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For our main course Sandra had from the Grill the ‘ Seared’ Salmon Fillet resting on Grilled Vegetables, Brenda went for the ‘Fillets of Sea Bream’ on a Vegetable & Nut Couscus, with Miso sauce & ‘ Wakame’ Seaweed Salad, Bill and I had the same, from the ‘ Char-Grill’ – Tender Fillets of Beef’( Med-Rare, Pink - No Blood!) served with a Potato & Truffle Gratin, Seared Vegetables and a Green Pepper Corn Sauce, with a side order of the excellent ‘Olive Oil’ Thick-Cut Chips, Bill and I shared a fine bottle of the ‘ Vivanco’ 2014 Tempranillo Rioja, giving the girls a little taste as well!

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For our Dessert we had  the ‘ Mini Crepes’ with an Apple & Cinnamon Compote, Double Cream Ice Cream and a shot of ‘ Senorio de Broches’ Moscatel from Malaga, with the ‘ Cinnamon Custard’ Fritters, Brandy Orange sauce, Vanilla Ice Cream and a shot of ‘ Bornos Semi Dulce’ Sauvignon from Rueda.


NB; By the afternoon it reached 27 degs+ again!

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The service, food, wine & atmosphere all made for another memorable lunch, we shall return. It was then time to catch the train back down to San Roque, which was 30 minutes late, as they are doing transfers by bus, where the track was washed away, further along the line!  

  

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CADIZ ON WEDNESDAY.

WEDNESDAY 24^th/ OCTOBER 2018.

We were up early this morning and after freshening up and grabbing a quick toast & tea, Sandra & Bill collected us at the top of our street and we set off on our travels to Cadiz. The sun was out and the sky was bright blue, with just a very slight breeze, a perfect day to be out & about! 

We parked by the main cruise liner terminal, in the centre of the Old part of the city, in the large underground car park and walked to the main square by the ‘Catedral Del Cadiz’ where we sat and took in the sights, as we had a nice coffee. We then walked along to the ‘ Barrio del Populo’ through the narrow streets, to the main covered “ Fruit, Vegetable, Flower, Meat & Fish Market “ – the first time that we had found it!

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It was then time to jump in a taxi and go along to the new part of the city, along the long sea-front promenade, for our lunch at ‘Restaurante La Marea ‘ – the best Fish Restaurant in the City. 

To start we had the classic ' Tortillitas de Camarones ' - 'Shrimp Fritters' - Sandra had a 'Grilled Darne of Fresh Hake' Brenda had Marinated 'Chilli' Prawns, Bill had the 'Moules Mariniere ' and I had 'Fried Hake & Frits' - all washed down we an excellent 'Rueda Verdejo ' 

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We caught a taxi back the old part of the city and jumped on the open-topped ‘ City Sightseeing Tour Bus’ for the grand tour, in the afternoon hot sunshine ( 27 degs)

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It was then time to head to ‘Sanlucar de Barrameda’ across the spectacular new bridge ‘ Puente de la Pepa ‘ – from Puerto Real into the centre of the city, a Cable-Stayed Bridge, one of the highest in Europe,( 69 metres)

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We then arrived in Sanluca de Barrameda, where Mano was born, along with his twelve brothers & sisters! It was early evening as we sat in the main square, for a nice cool drink, the ‘ Plaza de Cabildo ‘ - taking the sights & sounds, as the local take their evening walk. The town has fifteen churches and as many Bodegas, making the famous ‘Manzanilla’ – ‘Fino Sherry ‘ – that can only be produced there, its famous also for the local Seafood/Langostino and horse racing along the beach, at the time of the  “ Feria “!

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As dusk was falling we headed off, back across/through the mountains, with a ‘Full Moon ‘ lightening the way, past Tarifa, and onto the ‘Costa Del Sol’ – after a ‘Helluva’ Day!

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