Hotel Villa de Ábalos

Hotel Villa de Ábalos is a marvelous place to stay in the Rioja region of Spain. I’ve been waxing poetic about many of the small hotels that served me well during the past visit, and they all did a fine job. There’s always a few that stand out, and Villa de Ábalos takes the trophy. Ábalos itself is a tiny town, surrounded by vineyards and bodegas. There are some larger boroughs nearby, but I found no reason to explore them when this tiny spot had everything to make the stay comfortable and interesting.

You see the building there in the photo above. It’s hard to imagine the entire structure was gutted and rebuilt by the current owner. He has a great scrapbook filled with photos showing the work in progress. Take time to check it out. In doing so, you’ll gain a greater appreciation for the hard work the individuals invest into these establishments.

At the reception desk I was met by a very competent man who gave me a tour of the facility, asked about arranging tours, restaurants, and directions to other destinations. From here, we moved up the stairs.

The stairs are original to the palacio into which the hotel was built. At the top, you’ll notice a still. Hmmm…. Rioja is a wine region but someone liked to make a beverage a bit stronger. Nothing was said but a few knowing winks and nods were exchanged. Anyway, into the room we went.

Cozy, comfortable.

This place had steam heat directed through radiators. It had the kind of hot water that cleans away the road grit, too. What a blessing after some less than tepid showers! There are also a number of common areas for you to gather, have a glass of wine, and do a bit of work on the WiFi.

Speaking of  wine… the owner makes his own, both red and white. This year, 2010, he just released his first white, and it was delicious. We drank a bottle in the afternoon and another with supper, which the man served himself. Talk about personal service! I’ll have a separate post about that. In the mean time, if you like to tour wineries, kickback with a glass, and do it in style, Hotel Villa de Ábalos should be at the top of your list.

Published in: on July 9, 2010 at 11:43 am  Leave a Comment  
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Burgos Monuments

Burgos, Spain, is a university town, sometimes overrun by that crowd. At the same time, you’ll find some significant monuments, like the cathedral and the old city gate.

In the cathedral above, El Cid is buried. The history of El Cid is well worth reading, especially for lessons in political will and military conquest. Then there is the old city gate.

Hard to miss that one. Just inside the gate you’ll find a plaza with several streets radiating from it. Along those streets are the bars and restaurants frequented by the students.

If you’re looking at the cathedral facade and thinking that it reminds you of one in northern Europe, you’d be spot on because the architect was from Cologne, Germany.

Published in: on July 8, 2010 at 11:08 am  Leave a Comment  
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Santa Basilica, Salamanca, Spain

Salamanca has more than its fair share of ecclesiastical buildings, including the Santa Basilica. While visiting there, I made this video. Near the middle you’ll see a chapel with a relic that is actually the arm of a saint.

Remember, this is just one of the massive structures open to the public in Salamanca. You can visit a few of them in one day, but certainly not all. I plan to return to Salamanca for a look at the ones I missed.

Published in: on July 7, 2010 at 11:27 am  Leave a Comment  
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Moonrise Supper, Trujillo

The moon was rising over Trujillo, Spain. The sun had set, draining the sky of light.

The statue of Pizarro looked out over a mostly empty plaza mayor. Only a short distance from here stands a row of restaurants, and it was to one that I was bound.

There was a kindly gentlemen standing in front of this place and he handed me a menu to peruse. Finding several dishes that appealed to me, I decided to take one of those tables above. Immediately, I noticed small details that indicated this was a good choice.

The individual oil and vinegar bottles were just one example of the small things that make a big difference. Service was about the best I had in Spain. Of course, I like to start with a salad and the kitchen assembled two varieties. One was the standard mixed greens, vegetables, hard boiled eggs and so on.

All the ingredients were off the farm fresh. The other salad involved more exotic items like anchovies and goat cheese.

Again, freshness and flavor ruled the day. Considering the enormous size of these starters, I was severely concerned about my ability to consume the main course. One was a stuffed salmon as seen next.

As I’m not a fish eater, I had the pork skewer. Thankfully, the portion was reasonable.

Again, you see the details tended to here with a plate appropriate to the style of the dish. No big deal, some might say. Yes it is, I retort. A place that gets the small things right is bound to carry it all the way to the end. And this place did. Sadly, I came up short and was unable to have dessert. My own fault for packing down two big courses and bottle of wine. Ah, well, it was well worth it.

Published in: on July 6, 2010 at 11:33 am  Leave a Comment  
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