1.8.14

Mazorron - a stop on the way to Granada

Okay, my turn to drive from Valencia to Mazarron, around 290km, with Bill as my navigator.  Most of the trip was on highways with a speed limit of 120km (which I mostly managed to stick to), so I was quite happy.  Getting used to driving on the wrong side of the road is always interesting, and using the gearstick on the right is a big problem, especially when our car has 6 gears.  I had enough trouble just finding 4!   

Anyway, the drive was through pretty barren country, which really shouldn't be able to grow anything, but the countryside is studded with olive groves, citrus groves and the occasional vineyard on dry, dusty, rocky 'soil'.

We stopped for lunch somewhere in the middle of the mountains at a service station where they nearly always serve tapas, boccadillos (big bread rolls usually filled with thinly sliced jamon (ham) and cheese, as well as beer, wine, soft drinks, coffee.  Suitably replenished we pressed on to Mazarron, a little coastal town a bit off the beaten track.

Hotel La Cumbre was perched on top of the hill overlooking the town and beaches - it was an interesting mix of old and new furnishings, our rooms were a decent size and had a balcony with table and chairs outside.  Fantastic views, with a swimming pool and bar area below us.  After unpacking the basics we had a refreshing swim and a drink overlooking the ocean.

Later that evening we wandered down the hill to the beach for food (oh, my aching legs).  Again the beach area was filled with families having a good time, market stalls and lots of restaurants.  We finally settled on a French restaurant for a change, La Bretanita.  Trev and Lorraine had a whole fish dish each, Trev really enjoyed his, Lorraine not so much, as she ordered salmon and got another fish by mistake.  
Bill's dish - Pork in
blue cheese sauce
My dish - Duck in fig sauce

A really big Jesus
I ordered duck in fig sauce, and Bill had pork in a blue cheese sauce.  However, they put them down in front of the wrong person, because as soon as I tasted the sauce (I reeeaaaally don't like blue cheese), I realised that I had Bill's dish and vice versa.  After swapping, we both really enjoyed our meals.  We wandered back up the big hill for a nightcap, a game of cards near the bar, and bed.

Next morning we drove down to the beach and up another hill to have a look at a really big Jesus before saying goodbye to Mazorron and heading for Granada.




No comments: