Manzanares

Saturday morning we set off towards Manzanares where we are booked in for an overnight stay. It is possible to do the journey back from the Costa del Sol in one day but this is a holiday...

...and we have to stop for morning coffee...

...and later, lunch in a very upmarket area with a splendid hotel, Ciudad de Jaèn, which does excellent bocadillos.

Above is a photo of a large picture in the hotel which sums up this region of Andalusia. The hills are covered with olive trees as far as the eye can see.

They have some good examples of topiary too...

...and even had the red carpet out as they must have known Margaret was due to arrive.

We arrived at Hotel Menano later that afternoon.

It's one of the best hotels in the town and I'm not saying that because it's the only hotel, there are quite a few.

The Parador, which we stayed at a few years ago, is just outside the town... 

...but this hotel certainly has more going for it, for example, it scored highly for the tapas served with a beer.

Margaret likes to take photos of paintings she sees around the place...

...even though they do not necessarily represent what we have seen in the vicinity.

However, I must admit, these water colours were very nice and even if we didn't see these places while we were there, they must be around this region somewhere.

The hotel is tastefully decorated in a traditional style.

Before evening meal we had time to explore the town and were delighted to find...

some interesting doorways,...

...a modern church tower behind a water feature,...

...the highly decorative Gran Teatro,...

...some very traditional buildings...

...and of course a variety of churches...

...and ermitas.

The main square, called the Plaza de la Constitución, is very large indeed...

...and houses the Ayuntamiento, the Correos...

...many small shops and bars...

...as well as having the Iglesia de la Asunción, the town's main church, at one of it's corners.

Inside, the church is very beautiful...

Back to the hotel and the view from our window indicates that things are being prepared for the evening meal.

I can't believe that we visited one of the best wine producing areas in the country and I didn't drink a single drop!

However, I did eat their Parrillada which was one of the best I have been presented with.

Margaret meanwhile opted for the Lomo de Iberica.

When we turned in for the night the restaurant was going very strongly...

...but the noise didn't bother us.

Here are some more photos of paintings that caught Margaret's eye.

The courtyard of the hotel, which was their open air restaurant and bar area,...

...also had many interesting features.

Breakfast the next morning was a simple affair but made a good start to the final part of our journey home.

A delightful place to stay. Maybe we'll make a point of calling again next year.