On Wednesday, we had one booking, a couple who came from Israel, the first guests from that country. They stayed one night here during their tour of Spain; they flew into Madrid from Tel Aviv and have been doing a car tour. Unfortunately for them, Wednesday night was very, very wet. After dinner, I offered them a movie to watch in the salita (our salon) which they gratefully accepted as they could not go for the walk they wanted. Yesterday they were heading down to the coast and then off to Granada to see the Alhambra. The wife was actually Canadian and her husband was Israeli. We meet interesting people all the time in this business.
We also had a drop in couple, Swedes they were. They too were on a driving holiday of Andalucia. They had seen the website of a place in the next village and went there to get a room. On arrival at about 6.15, there was only a phone number stuck to the door which they called. The owner told them he would be back at about 7.45 and sent them to us for something to eat. After chatting with them for a while, they asked for our room price list and then decided that they'd stay here instead. So we had two rooms on Wednesday night .... for dinner as well.
Tonight, Ivan's brother Carlos and his father arrive for a couple of nights. They are coming to deliver some meat to us. We have Chuletón de Ávila on the menu as well as Suprema de Cochinillo but we have not had a supply of the meat for a few weeks since we sold the last ones. We always have it brought down from up north and we have a reputation in this area for being able to eat this authentic meat from up north here. In fact, a group from Málaga that booked the whole hotel last month requested that we let them know when we have the chuletón so they could come up for another fabulous meal and night's stay.
What is a chuletón, you ask.... it is a cut of meat like a steak ... lamb, pork, beef, any meat but in our case beef and rather large at 450 to 550 grams. And coming from Ávila makes it special as Ávila is famous for its beef.
The cochinillo from Ávila and Segovia is also famous in Spain. Ivan's method of preparation for the cochinillo has earned him rave reviews from every guest who has ordered it. Have a look on the guest book page of the hotel website to see what people have said about his cochinillo. He prepares it boneless so what is on the plate when served is completely edible. And it looks very nice as well. Here it is below...
Doesn't this look tasty? It comes with a spicy honey sauce and seasoned mashed potatoes. The shot glass has juice that it cooked in to pour on it or sip it... as you like.
Tonight we have one reservation for two nights....a Spanish couple who are arriving between 9 & 10 this evening and will dine then as well. Hopefully the weather will hold out so that we can have decent lunch business tomorrow.
Oh and as today is Friday, perhaps you remember that the power company was supposed to turn off the power today... all day. Well, they called and cancelled due to the heavy rain earlier this week. This is the second time they've cancelled.
On Monday, Ivan and I went pine cone collecting. On the other side of Pujerra village, which is a neighboring village and the village with the chestnut co-op... well there is a rather large pine forest on the slopes of the mountain. There are lots of pine cones along the road and pine cones are great for getting a fire going. Last year, Ivan's mother and I went and collected bags of them at about this time. They were not yet opened however so we've left them next to the stove in the bar to dry and sure enough they have been opening all week. We put them in the guest rooms with the wood for the stoves there. Nothing like a nice roaring fires on a cold night to keep warm by.
I received a piece of mail on Thursday which I had to sign for; it was from the department of statistics in Málaga capital. They maintain these statistics on room nights (how many rooms and where the guests are from) in the tourist industry in Andalucia so they send us this questionnaire every month. Apparently they did not receive August from us and so sent it certified informing us it is obligatory to complete. A few minutes after I opened the letter, the phone rang.... it was them!! Very strange... as if he knew in that minute I had opened the mail they sent to us. Anyway, I completed that form last night and faxed it them this morning so they are now happy.
Next up....... the story of Diego!
Oh and as today is Friday, perhaps you remember that the power company was supposed to turn off the power today... all day. Well, they called and cancelled due to the heavy rain earlier this week. This is the second time they've cancelled.
On Monday, Ivan and I went pine cone collecting. On the other side of Pujerra village, which is a neighboring village and the village with the chestnut co-op... well there is a rather large pine forest on the slopes of the mountain. There are lots of pine cones along the road and pine cones are great for getting a fire going. Last year, Ivan's mother and I went and collected bags of them at about this time. They were not yet opened however so we've left them next to the stove in the bar to dry and sure enough they have been opening all week. We put them in the guest rooms with the wood for the stoves there. Nothing like a nice roaring fires on a cold night to keep warm by.
I received a piece of mail on Thursday which I had to sign for; it was from the department of statistics in Málaga capital. They maintain these statistics on room nights (how many rooms and where the guests are from) in the tourist industry in Andalucia so they send us this questionnaire every month. Apparently they did not receive August from us and so sent it certified informing us it is obligatory to complete. A few minutes after I opened the letter, the phone rang.... it was them!! Very strange... as if he knew in that minute I had opened the mail they sent to us. Anyway, I completed that form last night and faxed it them this morning so they are now happy.
Next up....... the story of Diego!
