Showing posts with label Montecristo gardens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Montecristo gardens. Show all posts

Saturday, February 8, 2020

Gran Canaria!

The evening before our flight we were joined for drinks at our hotel by our good friends Maria and Juan.


After the pre dinner drinks we enjoyed our evening meal in the hotel restaurant.


Then, the following morning we flew to Gran Canaria, picked up the hire car and drove to our hotel for our 3 week holiday.


And this year we were in the same apartment as last year!


The first evening meal was one of our favourite dishes, roast pork - a great start!


As Margaret is still recovering from her foot operations the holiday is all about relaxing and recuperation.






We meet up with our friends, Vanessa and Pete and Vanessa's mam, Pat.



We see them and other friends here as people have their holidays at this hotel at around about the same time every year.


The new funicular is fully operational. 



Last year they were building it and we had a courtesy car to take us up to the restaurant.




The design has been awarded best in the world!


The pool looks good at night...


...and in the morning.



A beautiful sunrise followed by...


...a great start to the day, the breakfast which is superb...


...and every morning I had a full English!


Each morning this was followed by a delicious chocolate croissant!


This year I only put on 2 kg over the 3 week period. Last year my weight increased by 6 kg!




Margaret enjoyed a pastry at the end of her breakfast too, it wasn't just me being a little over the top.



Lunch on our terrace was a daily feature...


...with the food being most enjoyable in the open air...


...washed down with a glass of wine!


After such a casual day we would dress for evening meal...


...which was always superb. 


This is just a selection from the buffet for the first course! Every night there would be a selection of different dishes to choose from.


This photo is a typical 2nd course, grilled prawns and fillet steak, surf and turf!


Meanwhile, back home, Storm Gloria had hit the village causing devastation everywhere.


On a couple of occasions we visited the new Commercial Centre which had opened in Puerto Rico... 


...with performing fountains.


We met up with some other friends, Fie and David, at their hotel...


...and took them with us... 


...on the day we visited...


...Montecristo. This place can best be described as a botanical garden... 


...with sculptures and other works of art.


We have visited every year for the last few years...


...as every time we go, there are different things to see.


This year it was only open to visitors on Sundays.


Fie and David were suitably impressed.


The only way to get there is by car, no coaches are allowed.


I'm convinced these parrots and the cockatoo remember us. We talk to them every year.


As it is situated on the south side of the valley it is best not to go too early...



...but to allow time for the sun to get a little higher in the sky.


We take morning coffee at the cafe/restaurant...


...and are served by the proprietor, Guy Martin himself, so it is time for a photo...


..or two.


 The sculptures are intriguing, this has snail shells on the rocks! Quite inspirational!


All too soon the 3 weeks is over, we fly back to Barcelona, another delicious evening meal in the hotel, the following day collect Rocky and Amber from their holiday and head home. 

We have already booked our stay for next year!

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Gran Canaria!

It's that time of the year when we fly to Gran Canaria for our 3 week holiday in the sun.


As usual, our good friends Maria and Juan visited us at our hotel in Barcelona the evening before our flight.


The following day we arrived at our hotel in Puerto Rico for a relaxing break.


One of the things about the resort is the building of the new funicular due for completion next month, (March). It is due to go one floor higher and the new reception area will be at the very top. It looks good!


As usual we had a full moon during our stay but this one was very special as at 5:12 a.m. on Monday 20th we saw the lunar eclipse...


...which was the Super Blood Wolf Moon.


Margaret wanted a picture of the eclipse with part of the hotel building so here is my Photoshopped version.


The following day the biggest crane in the world, (probably), was being used to lift pieces of the new funicular... 


...from the road below into position. Amazing!


The weather was superb throughout our stay.


One of the nice things about coming to the same resort each year is you meet up with friends made in the previous years.


Because the funicular is still under construction and the hotel is built on the mountainside, the only way to the top, the restaurant and reception area, is up the steep steps. Therefore, a "taxi" service had been provided in the form of this Fiat Panda which could negotiate the very narrow "roads" with seemingly impossible curves driven by a team of 3 expert drivers. Note the "modifications" to the car around the wheel arches!


An improvement since last year is the provision of a chef who makes an omelette of your choice for breakfast each morning. This chef quickly knew me as "Señor jamón y queso" as that was my daily request.


During our stay the sea, the Atlantic Ocean, was remarkably calm.


Added to that, the sky was clear most days...


...which gave photos a great background.


We actually did very little during the 3 weeks - we visited the market in Arguineguin once...


...and our favourite garden of Montecristo on another day. The reason for this can be seen in the photo above where Margaret has a crutch and was still recovering from her foot operation which took place before Christmas.


However, she made it around Montecristo and we had a lovely excursion...


...including some good photo opportunities.


Most of the time was spent on our terrace just watching the world go by.


The photo above shows the current reception area, just inside where Margaret is standing, and the new reception area being built above. Due to the position of the sun it is a bit of a panorama stitch/Photoshop failure as it is quite obvious where the 3 original photos were stitched together. It gives the general idea though.


Finally, back to our hotel near Barcelona airport and the end of a fantastic holiday. Until next time!