vacation | The Bent Page

Upscale Dining, Ronda

Regular Bent Page readers may have noticed I’ve had a number of posts about Ronda, Spain. Well, here’s another one, and it’s also about food, my second favorite subject. This time we’re leaving the regular chow behind for an upscale supper. Due to the volcano in Iceland many tourists were unable to make the journey to Spain. Thus, Ronda was quiet, especially the restaurants. In other words, reservations were not necessary. (Take note: always make reservations if you’re interested in a particular restaurant. A few minutes on the phone will prevent hours of disappointment.)

We chose Sol y Sombra for supper. Showers passed just before we set out for the place, creating a movie-like scene.

Inside, we were one of only four tables due to the aforementioned volcanic activity. Our waiter was a friendly chap, eager to chat because he wasn’t as busy as usual. We took his recommendation for a local wine that turned out to go well with our food. Let’s get to the plates, shall we? Appetizers: feast upon this creative take on salad greens, tomatoes, and dressing.

Or, if you like your starter a bit heavier why not try the asparagus with salmon and sauce like this:

Both of these were presented beautifully. Tasty, too, although the sauce on the asparagus was a touch heavy. Hence, more wine! Moving along to the main course. How about this duck concoction.

Yes, that’s a strip of duck breast wrapped around a fig, several of them in fact. Stunningly good. Then there was seared pork with an interesting salsa of peppers and chives.

Wow, reviewing these photos, I’m reminded of another reason why I found Ronda to be my favorite place visited during this trip. The people on the street, in the shops, and at my hotel were universally friendly and helpful. All of them were eager to chat, some of them as interested in the United States as I was in Spain. These exchanges added an educational element to the visit that I might have otherwise missed between sightseeing and fantastic meals like the one shown above.

Published in:

Food in Spain

on June 24, 2010 at 10:13 am Leave a Comment
Tags: eating out, fine dining, photos, Ronda, Spain, Spanish restaurant, travel, vacation

Ronda’s Streets, Spain

Ronda, Spain, offers those who like to walk a compact experience. This photo essay shows several streets that exemplify what the pedestrian would encounter while traversing this interesting city. Actually, Ronda is more like a big town that has been split into several parts, each with a slightly different character. My hotel was located not far from the main route out of town. There I found many arcaded buildings with shops on the ground floor as seen below.

Walking toward the gorge spanned by the famous bridges (which I covered in a video some posts back), I passed by this tower, which was built as a minaret and then later converted to other purposes. There are a number of buildings like this, which is to be expected in an area that has seen several different ruling cultures over the years.

Moving along, I encountered a smart district of boutiques and restaurants where the avenues were mostly closed to auto traffic.

Certain times of the day you will see delivery vehicles there, but only a few. By comparison, there are other streets which combine small businesses and residential structures as seen below.

In areas like this you have to be careful as cars come dodging around those blind corners. Keep your ears tuned for the sound of whining engines, but also you eyes for sweeping vistas like the next one.

Due to the geography of Ronda’s position, there are plenty of views lurking between the buildings. At the time of this writing there were only a few small suburbs developed outside the main part of the city. Therefore, the surrounding countryside remains dedicated to farm and pasture, making for beautiful sights even while you’re in the middle of town. And don’t miss those mountains in the distance! Its easy to become overstimulated in places like Ronda. However, if you slow down, stop for a snack, pause for a photo, chat with your pals or a stranger, you’ll enhance your visit by a factor of ten.

Published in:

Spain

on June 23, 2010 at 9:29 am Leave a Comment
Tags: architecture, photos, Ronda, Spain, travel, vacation, walking tour

Coca Castle, Spain

Coca Castle stands out from the other castles I saw during this visit to Spain because it is made almost entirely of brick. The others were cut stone. Coca, however, towers above the town and surrounding plain, showing its red brick to all comers. Currently there is a forestry school located within the castle, putting it to good use now that its military purpose is obsolete. You’ll also find artifacts at various locations as you pass through the interior of the structure. Have a look at the video.

Those dry moats are imposing, aren’t they? The town of Coca is adjacent to the castle. Here you’ll find an opportunity for some light refreshment before continuing your journey.

Published in:

Castles in Spain

on June 21, 2010 at 2:09 am Leave a Comment
Tags: Coca Castle, medieval castle, Spain, Spanish castle, travel, vacation, video

Alcazar de la Reina

Hotel Alcazar de la Reina is located in Carmona, Spain. This sprawling facility abounds in common areas which make it a strong candidate for wedding parties, reunions, or family outings. From the moment you enter the lobby you’ll notice the open spaces as you can see here.
The interior areas are separated from the exterior ones by columns and glass walls, which accentuates the largeness. There is a patio, seen here:
And a large swimming pool only a few steps away.
Both of these were transformed for weddings while we were there. Lots of work but also spectacular results. You’ll find the rooms comfortable with the usual fittings as you would expect in a place at this price point.
I appreciated the desk and fridge because I needed to do some work on the netbook and prefer my Coca-Cola ice-cold.
Another plus for Alcazar de la Reina is the underground parking garage. Be warned, only a smaller car will fit in the spaces, but that’s typically what you’ll be driving. There is also outdoor parking directly across the street from the main entrance. Service here is a bit formal from what I’m used to, but very consistent with this type of establishment. And let’s not forget the onsite restaurant and Irish pub. More on that in another post.