100th Review Received

Celebrating 100 Great ReviewsWow! we have just received our 100th guest review on our own independently hosted guest book.

We had stopped using the guest book for a while as listing sites like Owners Direct, Spain Holiday, Trip Advisor pressure it’s clients to get guests to post reviews  and we are very aware that people returning from their holiday have better things to do than post multiple reviews. There are more than 100 more reviews scattered around the web but our own guest book is the one that stays with us.

A big thank you to all the guests who have taken the trouble to review us over the last 11 years. I’m going to look at some of the early ones but they are all here if you are interested http://tinyurl.com/yc98pex

Restaurante Isabel Alonso

So we popped into Valle de Esta golf course, about 3Km from Finca Arboleda with friends yesterday.

When they had finished their appointment it was time for some lunch. Nothing at the course caught our eye, although we will go back and try what they have to offer. They are keen walkers and have met at what we call Truck Stop and is apparently called “Restaurante Isabel Alonso” just off junction 529 on the E15 but have just had a quick coffee there before. We have heard good things about it and decided to give it a try for a “Menu del Dia”.

Although it is at a filling station the decor is not too shabby, it has friendly staff and the obligatory TV blares away in the corner. We chose our table, ordered 3 pints of refreshingly cold beer and a large water which arrived promptly and the waitress recited the choices for starters and mains. We ordered 3 Paellas and a Sopa de Marisco followed by 2 Chicken dishes a Steak and Pork fillet all served with salad, fries and ratatouille. The Chicken Paella  was tasty and perfect texture, all the mains were well cooked and to our satisfaction. There was a choice of desserts which were a little uninspiring, fruit salad was fine but to honest we were already replete. We digested the meal over a coffee and requested bill, we had no idea how much it would be and should have played the Rob Brydon “How much is the bill” game, fans of “The Trip” will know what I mean. €40 and a voucher for 5 litres of fuel thrown in*, a bargain, we’ll be back!

 

*I lied about the free fuel!

Second Chance Summer: Tuscany

We’ve never seen this programme but tonights episode on BBC2 might be interesting for people who have stayed here or indeed neighbours as it focuses on the Olive harvest

It is about Ten strangers, all at a crossroads in life about to embark on an experience that could change their lives forever. From the makers of The Real Marigold Hotel, five men and five women arrive in Tuscany to see if their dream to make a new start in the Italian countryside can become a reality. Sounds dreadful but we’ll be watching tonight!

Finca Arboleda has 56 trees and yields vary but last year we harvested, with the help of guests and friends over a tonne of olives which gave us about 230 litres of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. There really is nothing like the real thing and it will be interesting to see how these guys do. We pick in November so i’m not sure when this was filmed.

Olive Picking 2016 at Finca Arboleda
Olive Picking 2016 at Finca Arboleda