Hotel Day 56 - Sun

Sun 29th June 2014

Day off today. I did breakfast and cleaned 3 rooms then had the rest of the day off. Holland vs Mexico world cup football tonight so as there are all Dutch speaking people here we will be watching it and Hetty is not going to cook (don't blame her) so we will all go to Pastelero for dinner after the match. We had a relaxing afternoon then we all watched the match in the sitting room. Cannot believe we are in Spain watching Nederlands vs Mexico in the World Cup with 6 Dutch couples ! !

It was great fun and we are glad that Holland won!!!! We all then drove off to the local restaurant for a lovely evening. Best part was when David & I got forgotten and locked in the back of the car (7 seater so we were right at the back) and they all went off and left us!!!!! Was sooooo funny!!!!  Another best part of the day was when David found my lost sapphire from my engagement ring!!!!!!He found it on the edge of the rug in the sitting room!!!!!!!! How lucky is that!

David reading an email from his Mum & Dad xxxxxx

David & I went for a short walk that goes in a loop around the hotel - about 45mins

It's starting to not look as green everywhere - summer is here!

This was some of the breakfast - sorry pictures are out of order!

Hetty Alan MC & Astride when Holland scored their first goal.

David Teresa Albert Hetty Alan MC & Astride when Holland scored their 2nd goal

Antonio- the owner of the restaurant in Pastelero showing us that he grows all his own stuff 

All the guest and us went to the local restaurant after the football match

The meal was really good. David had a steak & I had pork fillet. We were served mussels as Tapas (not ordered! and all fresh fruit after the meal also not ordered! and then shots of caramel liquor also not ordered! They look after us here) It was a late night and off to bed at 1.30am.

Hotel day 54 - Fri

Fri 27th June 2014

David started the day sweeping outside "our house" we are surrounded by lots of trees mainly pine trees so have leaves and needles everywhere. Hetty made a chocolate cake as they had friends come for coffee. Liv and Jan (Norwegian couple) both in their 70's who live about 5kms away. David and I have walked past their place before on walks. Really lovely couple and only 10 years ago did they do 350km over 2 weeks part of the Camino de Santiago walk in the north of Spain (watch the movie The Way - fantastic). The more they told us stories the more it has made David & I want to do part of it too. Later David and Alan finished the shade cover then we all enjoyed a beautiful meal in the courtyard. Felt sick today as I looked down at my hand and noticed a sapphire missing from my engagement ring!!! Not happy :(

David sweeping out the back of "our place"

Hetty making a delicious chocolate cake

Hetty Liv Me Jan & Alan

Finishing the shade cover

Around the side of "our place" 

Dinner in the coutyard

Goats cheese with apple honey & almonds - fantastic

David with his hose out!

Hotel day 53 - Thurs

Thurs 26th June 2014

David doing some weeding

After serving breakfast to the new guests - Astride & MC lovely couple really nice girls - I helped David transplant a pot bound Kumquat tree (that was in the courtyard) onto the terrace area above the pool. It's really hot today.

David & I had a lovely swim in the Hotel pool before cleaning our pool.

Starting to clean the pool at "our house" as we have been away for 3 weeks it really needed doing.

At the front of the hotel - having a wonder around before dinner.

The guests ate on the terrace tonight and we enjoyed ours in the courtyard as it was such a beautiful evening. We had beetroot soup followed by lemon chicken - yum. Later we watched world cup football (yawn!)

Hotel Day 52 - Wed

Wed 25th June 2014

Up and out of "our house" and off to work! Sunny day today.

Alan & David's first job - Starting to measure & cut the linen to make the shade cover on the terrace.

Me cleaning rooms again!

Cleaning one of the bathrooms in one of the rooms

David and Alan still going! They got the measurements wrong on the second panel! 

An early evening wine in the courtyard followed by Hetty's Minestrone soup.

Back at "our place" we watched another episode of Breaking Bad then off to bed.

Back to help at Cortijo Puerto el Peral-Tues

Tues 24th June 2014

Packed up Priscilla and left the site at Torre Del Mar. Drove onto the motorway and headed back towards Monterroso and Cortijo Puerto el Peral where we are going to help out again for a while. The weather was very overcast and we even had some rain. On the way we stopped at Almogia Dia supermarket for some alcohol! We gave a couple a lift up the road who we had met before at the hotel (the couple who live in a ruin who's family stayed at the hotel about a month ago). Alan and Hetty were very pleased to see us and after cleaning and unpacking Priscilla (and saving. 2 baby birds from the chimney in our house) we enjoyed dinner in front of the TV with them watching the World Cup. They have had some bookings while we have been away so that is good. A Dutch couple arrive tomorrow night for 10 nights. We have had good news - David and Fiona (my old bosses) are coming to stay at the hotel for 3 nights on the 5th July after their big European Tour - that will be great -  we are really looking forward to that.  Had a great evening and watched The Worlds Fastest Indian for the second time! What a fantastic movie. Another late night.

Packing up at Torre Del Mar

On the road again and heading for the hotel

Very overcast today - can see the hotel now

Priscilla gets a long overdue wash

Saving two birds that were stuck down our chimney

A relaxing evening with Alan & Hetty in the sitting room. You can just see the pressie we got them (a large silver boat on the coffee table at 6 o'clock)

Adios Aussies! 3-0 Mon

Mon 23rd June 2014

Walked into town and did a bit of shopping. We were looking for t shirts for David (as he has ruined all his - he is getting like his Dad!) But only found clothes for me! shame! 1 top 1 dress and a pair of white shorts. We then found a furniture and home wares shop ( a bit like Minkz where I used to work) and got Alan and Hetty a small gift as we are going back to the hotel tomorrow to help some more for a while. We then found a restaurant along the front and had a Menu del Dia - it was very good 3 courses with bread and coffee all for 7.50 euro each! Back at camp we relaxed and read out books then at 6pm we went along to our Spanish friends Julio & Isabel's site to watch the Spain vs Australia World Cup match. Enjoyable evening but shame about the football!!! :( back to Priscilla to watch a few more episodes of  Breaking Bad before walking down the beach at 11.30pm to celebrate the night of San Juan. This is when at midnight you should go into the water and splash your face for good health and to maintain your youth (so of course we did). It was great - so many people and families with bonfires and the setting off of parachute candles? Into the night sky. Some had been celebrating all day and it was great to see that there were no idiots. Got into bed at 2.30am! And lots were still partying on ! 

This shop was very small but reminded me of Minkz

Got some new clothes from Benetton

This was the first course of our 3 course meanu and only 7.50 euro each - delicious

David with Julio & Isabel before the match

On the beach at midnight (terrible picture of me! my face isn't really that fat!)