Showing posts with label Alcañiz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alcañiz. Show all posts

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Fiona and Justin visit!

We have been friends with Fiona and Justin for over 47 years. Fiona taught in the school where Margaret first started teaching and we have kept in touch ever since.



However, this was the first time they had ever been to Spain and, needless to say, the first time they had visited us here.


Despite the fact that it was getting a little late in the year, the weather in mid October can be quite changeable, we were very lucky as each day was sunny and even quite warm.


During the week we took Fiona and Justin to some of our favourite places such as the Ermita de Santa Bárbara and the Sanctuario de la Virgen de Gracia at La Fresneda in the photos above,...


...the bar/restaurant El Racó dels Torrats in our village, Torre del Compte...


...as well as showing them around the village itself.


During the week there was an emphasis on eating Spanish cuisine and sampling the many varieties of wines.


Rocky loved their visit as this was another opportunity for him to make new friends.


Valderrobres is always outstanding...


...a visit to the castle is a must...



...as is a meal at Fonda Angeleta, one of our favourite restaurants.



The next day to Alcañiz and lunch at Restaurant Meseguer...


...followed by coffee at the Parador.


On Sunday to Morella...


...and lunch at the Hotel/Restaurant Rey Don Jaime...


...followed by a walk around the shops.


A Monday morning a walk to the Viaducto del Val de Zafran...


...and another lunch at the El Racó del Torrats.


On Tuesday a visit to La Torre Cremada, the ancient Iberian watchtower on a hillside along the Matarraña valley,...


...the Iberian settlement at Calaceite with a view of the Ermita de San Cristóbal,...


...lunch at the wonderful Hotel/Restaurant Miralles, Horta de Sant Joan,...


...and a visit to the Convent de Sant Salvador in the afternoon.


After such a busy day, a quiet evening meal.


Next day, to Zaragoza, lunch in IKEA, then the flight back to England after a thoroughly enjoyable week.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Around and about!

For the last few days we have had my niece staying with us and we have been showing her around the local area. She has lots of photos for memories - here is a selection of them.

Click left on any of the photos in order to be able to see it full size.

The old olive mill down by the Matarraña river in Torre del Compte is the summer home of our friends Andrea and Marc.


The original mill not only used to press the olives in order to release the oil, it also used to grind the corn.


On Saturday we were with our friends Mari Carmen and Raúl in Alcañiz for a splendid lunch with typical food of the region...


...followed by a peach tart made by Margaret. Delicious!


This weekend was the big weekend for bikers throughout Spain and beyond who had descended on the town for the racing event which was taking place at Motorland just outside Alcañiz.


70,000 were expected but I think I counted a lot more.


The new by-pass had been opened for the occasion but is closed now while it is finished off.


The roofs of the houses in Valderrobres are always a picturesque sight, here seen from the castle.


And here is the castle itself, or at least, one corner of it.


I'm sure that this room in the castle could have been the inspiration for one of Escher's paintings.


The arches make great shadows at this time of day...


...while through the arches themselves, the view is stunning.


Another arch but this time leading onto the old stone bridge across the Matarraña...


...and on crossing the bridge a glance to the left reveals the backs of all the houses.


A rare sight as the bridge is deserted.


Up to the ermita de Santa Bárbara at La Fresneda and a view looking towards Calaceite...



...plus a view of the old railway bridge crossing the river...


...and the village of La Fresneda from the same vantage spot.


A drive up the Valle del Silencio to the Sanctuario de la Virgen de Gracia, a 16th century convent...


...with interesting views from the outside through the decorative windows to the countryside beyond.


"I'm sure I'll find salmon in here one day".


We live closer to the Greenwich meridian line here than we did when we lived in England. This photo was taken in the western hemisphere, by a matter of inches.


Our friend Emilia's mosaic bench. She is a very talented ceramicist and we have been working with her on a mosaics course. More of that later!


The village of La Fresneda as seen from our newly tarmacked road.


The ermita de Santa Bárbara at Valdealgorfa.
Santa Barbara is the Patron Saint of Workers at Risk and Sudden Death so that is why there are several ermitas with her name on around here.


A view of Torre del Compte with the Puertos de Beceite behind, (the mountains between us and the Mediterranean). You can see our house if you know where to look!


And of course the village of Torre del Compte itself with the ermita de San Juan,...


...the church,...


...the fantastic views down the Matarraña valley,...


...and one of the remaining entrances to the village.

It's no surprise we love living in this region!