Spanish Traveller

Look who came on holiday to Granada recently!

2011-06-04T13:27:00.001+02:00

If you were in Guejar Sierra in April this year - you may have been treated to the unexpected vision of British Prime Minister David Cameron in his holiday shorts! While on holiday Mr Cameron and his wife Samantha walked part of the famous Vereda de Estrella, ate at the Guejar Sierra Maitena restaurant and enjoyed coffee on the terrace of Guejar's Juan Francisco hotel.

Until now the pretty little town of Güejar Sierra, with its cobbled streets and flower draped balconies has been a fairly undiscovered gem - a well kept Spanish secret.

Güejar Sierra is a small mountain town or large village, preserving the traditional mountain architecture of the region at its heart. It is skirted by the crystal clear waters of the River Genil and perched in a dramatic position on the slopes of the Cerro del Calar - with panoramic views of the rugged Sierra Nevada mountains just at the point where they dip their toes into the beautiful Canales reservoir. Guejar is the departure point for the main footpaths of medium and high mountain ascent into the Sierra Nevada, such as the Vereda de la Estrella (path of the star). The surroundings offer the visitor great natural beauty, chestnut forests, old quarries of serpentine and green jasper and the historic remains of the old funicular (built by an eccentric Italian Duke) which used to wind its way up the Sierra Nevada. Two of the attractive old stone tram stops in Maitena and El Charcon have been converted to lovely restaurants on the banks of the Genil, where the fresh, clean waters are delicious for a swim in the summer. The Canales reservoir also offers diverse activities and some nautical sports.

Güejar has a good choice of interesting tapas bars and good restaurants - both within the town itself and in the surrounding area. Many of the restaurants have summer terraces where you can eat and enjoy breathtaking views at the same time and some also have summer pools. Or if you want to visit the beach during your stay, the Costa Tropical is still only 45 minutes away. In winter the Sierra Nevada ski resort is right on the doorstep - less than half an hour away (20 mins when the new link road is finished). The ski resort is also known as "Sol y Nieve" (Sun and Snow) and historically enjoys great Spring snow conditions. While skiing is great in the Sierra Nevada and the views of Africa from the top are spectacular, the resort itself was built relatively recently. Staying in Güejar offers the unique opportunity to sample the diverse skiing of the Sierra Nevada while at the same time enjoying the experience of living in a traditional Spanish village. It is also a great centre for mountain sports, family and adventure activities. This is an ideal base for mountain biking, walks of all levels, ice/rock climbing, canoeing, rafting, paragliding, horse-riding etc. The campsite complex close by offers yet another restaurant with dramatic views, plus a pool, play area, archery and other activities for children. There are also water parks in Granada and Almunecar.

Our Güejar Sierra Properties -
We have a choice of several spacious, luxury properties here. Most have spectacular views of the mountains from all major rooms, plus air conditioning, central heating and dedicated parking. All are within a couple of minutes' stroll from several lovely restaurants and an eccentric little Bodega where one can be assured of a warm welcome from the mustachioed landlord - who is something of a local celebrity!

See some of our accommodation in Guejar Sierra

Welcome to the 3 beds, lovely views, wifi, great base for Granada. by Spanish Holiday Cottages in Granada, Granada Province. Brought to you by TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals, powered by TripWow!™

Spanish Holiday Cottages Wins Trip Advisor "Rated Excellent" Award!

2011-06-04T12:02:00.000+02:00

The team at Spanish Holiday Cottages is very pleased to be "rated excellent" by Trip Advisor. The award was based on feedback from our clients on every aspect of their holiday. As well as judging their overall holiday experience in our properties, clients were asked to give ratings (on a five star system) to their experience of Check in, Cleanliness, Comfort, Location & Value. Rather impressively we rated ‘Excellent’ or ‘Very Good’ in all of our feedback – plus 100% of our guests said that they would stay with us again!

Spanish Holiday Cottages’ offers a hand-picked range of properties in the beautiful region of Granada - from simple, romantic cottages for two, to luxurious family villas with pools and even a Palazzo with its own wedding chapel. No matter whether your tastes run to hiking or biking in the Sierras, exploring the local culture, improving your Spanish, learning a new skill such as flamenco dancing or skiing, or simply enjoying lunch by a lovely pool – we will do our best to help you plan your holiday by finding the right property for you.

We know the area intimately and are always happy to help with holiday planning advice. We do not accept every property we are offered - but aim to keep a select portfolio - of a size which enables us to maintain the same level of personal attention for every property we offer.

Services Provided:

In addition to finding the right holiday property for our clients, we can help to arrange Spanish lessons, tapas tours of Granada, tours of the Albaicin, wine and food tasting of local specialities, walking trips, cycle tours, rock climbing, paragliding, ski instruction, or courses in painting, cookery or flamenco. Chef services or one-off meals for special occasions can be arranged and we also work with a local wedding planner. Whatever holiday experience you wish to enjoy in Granada – please get in touch.

A Taste of Spain - Granada Tapas Tours!

2010-02-24T16:46:00.013+01:00

Who says there is no such thing as a free lunch...? Discover hidden & historic Granada, sample traditional local specialities & discover the best bars serving free tapas with a tailor-made Tapas Tour...

Granada is one of the few cities in Spain still serving free tapas. These days, the rest of Spain has cottoned on to the idea that punters don't mind paying for their pub snacks, but in Granada, tapas are still seen as a gift of the house, and many bars take pride in the quality and variety of their tapas...even small villages have clusters of bars with inviting counters full of finger foods and a sea of cured hams hanging from the ceiling. Happy patrons walk in, usually in groups and, depending on the region, order a caña (minibeer) or a fino sherry along with an array of tapas. Each bar has its specialty or specialties, and Spaniards are particular about what to eat where. After completing the first round of lively conversation and small plates, the group moves on to the next bar, often only footsteps away.

In the tapas bars of Andalusia, small cazuelas of sizzling garlic shrimp and platters of deep-fried little fish served with fino are familiar sights. Equally popular in every region is tortilla española, the potato and onion omelet that appears in a trio of guises: a ración (larger appetizer-sized portion), a montadito (a small slice of bread with a topping), or a pulguita (a tiny bread roll, usually no longer than three inches, split and filled). Platters of sliced jamón ibérico, commonly offered as raciones, are also beloved across Spain.

The name, 'tapa', originates from the word tapar, to cover and is said to originate from the practice of covering the drink with a piece of bread or small plate of titbits in order to prevent stray flies crawling into the glasses. However another popular theory is that when the 13th-century King Alfonso fell ill, he was prescribed small bites of food with wine to aid his recovery. After discovering the benefits of snacking, he is said to have decreed it law that all bars begin to serve food with alcohol.

The tapas tradition soon grew into an elaborate menu of nibbles which increase in quality and quantity the more drinks are ordered.

Come and spend a few days in Granada with us and we will give you up-to-date advice about the best places to eat in the city and more...Book a tour and we can show you the best that the city has to offer!

Follow our link to Granada Tapas Tours

Or contact denise@spanishholidaycottages.com

'He who has not seen Granada, has seen nothing....'

2009-10-21T13:53:00.002+02:00

"Dale Limosna, mujer, que no hay en la vida nada como la pena de ser ciego en Granada"
These words, written by Spanish poet Francisco de Icaza, can be spotted all over the legendary city of Granada: on T-shirts, wall tiles, pottery and posters. The words tell the story of a gentleman and his wife who are walking down a street in the Zacatín marketplace. They stroll pleasantly along, taking in the sights and sounds of Granada in the early evening, and they come upon a blind beggar. The gentleman, clearly moved, turns to his wife and says, "Give him alms, my wife, for there is no pain in life greater than that of being a blind man in Granada."

For centuries, Granada has been a mecca for poets, playwrights, philosophers, artists and hopeless romantics. Such is its beauty that the entire city has been declared a national landmark by the Spanish government! There is a dreamlike, mystical quality to Granada, a medieval elegance that seeps into you and slowly seduces. Everywhere you look, you'll see the reflections of Granada's glorious past where, for 800 years, Moorish sultans presided over a tiny but rich and powerful mountain kingdom. So powerful, in fact, that Granada became the last bastion of Islamic rule before its cataclysmic fall at the hands of King Ferdinand, Queen Isabel and the Catholic Reconquest in 1492. Still, the majestic Alhambra palace, perched high above the city on the Sabika hill, serves as a testament to the lyrical elegance and enduring influence of Moorish culture in Spain to this day.

For information about places to travel, places to stay or rental villas and apartments in the Granada area see -
http://www.spanishholidaycottages.com/index.shtml
or email -

denise@spanishholidaycottages.com