SEPTEMBER 15TH
SATURDAY DAY #5
The day starts off sunny bright, 65 F a little nip in the
air but not a single cloud. The usual breakfast spread at the Parador and it is
soon time to pack and hit the road for one of the longer drives facing us on
this trip….221 Kilometers or about a 3 hour drive should arrive about typical
Spanish lunchtime of so. On the road at 11:00 hrs and running good roads and updated national roads with more character
and often more traffic but it is light for a Saturday and we make excellent
time and stop finally for coffee and pottie at Martos a cute little village.
Coffee in a pastry shop who was so proud of changing his selection of coffee
strengths and flavours that he sought our feedback immediately. Back into the
car on off we set to Priego de Cordoba arriving at half past two and with NO
Help from Garmin as she does not have this hotel loaded nor would she accept the
coordinates to the hotel either. Having to drive entirely thru the center of
Saturday market day traffic and with no hotel or any street name similar we
started our search for the Casa de Banos by using a decreasing circle pattern,
finally we stopped and Jane went to ask directions. Ah….but it is so simple go
down this street to the end, turn right and then immediately left and travel
down that street until you see the second water fountain then turn right and go
up the hill. You notice that not once did this chap cite any type of street
name. As it turns out, 20 minutes later we arrived at the hotel and stared at
the little tiny postage stamp concrete turnaround area between the tiny back
streets of houses. But we had arrived to a very lovely jewel of a hotel
complete with Roman spa and sauna, too. How they could be open for 4 years and
not be listed under Lodging by our Garmin is a puzzle we shall address when
back in Florida.
We were meeting up with Ron and Sandy here. They and John
and Judy were over in Granada visiting the Alhambra so we settled in and headed
out for a spot of lunch. This hotel is just lovely. There are Banos Arabes
(included in the price). A steam room, cold plunge, bano templada and a hot
tub. You can also have a massage if you wish (7 euros!) It is very lovely, A
stained glass skylight filters the light, lanterns are dotted around, tables
hold pots of sweetened tea flavored with cinnamon to refresh you, and the air is scented. Pure bliss!
Priego is a lovely little town, a mixture of Baroque and
Mudeqar. Going up to our hotel it is a maze of whitewashed alleys with flower
pots hanging from the walls. The sun seldom gets down into the alley so it is
always cool and shaded, The Moors did not allow an outward display of wealth
but sometimes you will go past an open door and inside you see a glorious tiled
patio with a fountain, flowers, plants and archways leading to the rooms. I
want that!! There is a tiny pool on the roof of the hotel and a spot for
sunbathing, which is right next to a beautiful baroque church!
Ron, Sandy and Co arrived back from Granada and introduced me
to the joys of a Bano Arabe. Sheer bliss! Made me very happy. Paul took a nap!
Then we went out for dinner. We ate a lot, laughed a lot, drank a bit and
ambled back to the hotel about midnight. We sat around drinking pacharan for a
while and then moseyed off to bed. No-one surfaced until quite late the next
morning, after all we are a bunch of old codgers! Buena noches!
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