SEPTEMBER 16TH SUNDAY DAY

SEPTEMBER 16^TH SUNDAY  DAY #6

The hearty Americans arose to have plenty of coffee and a full continental breakfast in order to plan out the day’s adventures. With carload #1 recovering from their jaunt into Granada for the Alhambra and sites, everyone voted to just chill out and leave the cars stationary for a change.  John and Ron booked the Arab baths and a massage for 4:00PM so we knew that would take up the later afternoon period. And so we began our ambles into the town of Priego de Cordoba and their famous 12 churches each overlayed where once a mosque had reigned supreme. I think we accomplished finding about 9 of them, also found a unique fountain Fuente del Rey, and the city library. All of this after we had paid our 2 euors to climb the remnants of the Priego de Cordoba Castle built in 900 AD or what remains of it today. I would have loved to have an artist’s impression of what the castle looked like over the centuries. It started with the Moors and was added on to over eons. Priego really seen is a very nice town. Lots of very prosperous looking buildings in the baroque style, green plazas, fountains and as I told you yesterday, winding white washed alleys with lovely carved doors hiding who knows what secrets behind them!

Jane ordered an ensalda mixta for lunch.

Back streets of Priego de Cordoba wide enough mopeds but not cars.

We headed back to our awesome hotel. The others decided to have bread and cheese and wine (all previously purchased) at the hotel but Paul and I went out to try a different bar/restaurant to have lunch. It was just down the hill. I had a marvelous salmorejo soup which a gazpacho thickened with breadcrumbs and garnished with jamon de Serrano and chopped hard boiled eggs. It was wonderful, cold, thick and creamy and satisfying. Every time to have something to drink, even a cola or coffee, they will bring you a little tapa, so by the time it is mealtime you don’t need a lot! Paul had a pinchito de cerdo (a little pork kebob) It was all so civilized, sitting outside sipping a tinto de verano (basically a red wine sprtizer), eating and watching the world go by. Life is good!

Fuente del Rey, Priego de Cordoba.

Nap time! At least for Paul, I had decided to indulge in another Bano Arabe. Ron and John were scheduled for massages but I went down with them to the steam room. You know, I think I need Paul to build me a steam room and a cool plunge pool! After a while, who appeared but Paul! I was so pleased he decided to join us! He didn’t care for the steam room and I sure did not want him to go in the cold plunge pool, I might never have been able to re-start his heart after that shock!! He did enjoy the hot tub and the bano templada (cool pool). We were all refreshed after a busy day doing, let’s face it, nothing!! Life is hard, but someone has to do it.

We went to a very nice restaurant called El Balcon. I’ll let you do the translation! Now, there was supposed to be a Procession starting at 9PM. For La Virgin de Imagin church and it was going past the restaurant. Do you think we saw a sign of it? No! There were musicians and crowds and we saw nothing! Damn! When we came out we saw people gathering, children playing, young women with lilies, but the Virgin had gone on without us! It was a wonderful meal, by the way, and a beautiful evening, but it was midnight before we got back to the hotel! All these late nights are killing me! Still, when in Spain, etc! With enthusiasm!

Paul here I must tell you about the first course appetiziers to share:  Melon with smoked salmon, and gambas on top of the melon with a creamy sauce of condensed milk,  sweet white wine, and kiwi fruit made a light and chilled sauce for the salmon and gambas which none had experienced before. Outstanding!!