Spain Off The Beaten Path Tips by deecat Top 5 Page for this destination

Elegant Casino Torrequebrada

NOTE: I did not take camera with me to the Casino; thus, these are photos from the Brochure I received while there!

Photographs:

1. Cover of the brochure about the Casino
2. Close-up of the outside of the Casino
3. Inside the brochure

While staying in Nerja, we took a trip to Benalmadena on the Costa del Sol to go to the Casino Torrequebrada Allan had read about it, and it was highly recommended, and we found out why.

We bought tickets for the show and dinner. There were two shows included: a typical Las Vegas (only better) show with costumes, dancing, beautiful girls, and terrific music; the second show was a Flamenco extravaganza.

We dressed up (coat jacket mandatory for men), and it really felt good. Food and service were outstanding.

Tickets included dinner, wine, coffee, dessert, another drink, the two shows, and entrance fee to the Casino.

That is really a very good deal, especially since I won over $200.00 at the Casino!

At the Casino, Allan won at Black Jack. I won about $200.00 at the Video Poker Slots with a Royal Flush in Spades (Joker Wild). It was so funny because I didn't really know what I was doing.

The picture is the Casino. .

Other Contact: 29630 Benalmadena-Costa del Sol

Phone: +34 95 244 6000

Explore the Nerja Caves

Photographs:
1. Panoramic shot from inside the Nerja Caves
2. Sandy and Dee inside the cave just before the lights went out
3. Monument outside caves that is dedicated to five local boys who discovered Nerja Caves
4. Allan and Sandy inside the caves on the wooden platform
5.Another shot of formations within Nerja Caves

The famous Nerja Caves are just outside Nerja.

They were discovered in 1959 by five boys from Maro who squeezed through a narrow opening at the bottom of a small hallow.

The caves are 4823 metres in length and 800,000 m volume. What we saw is 1/4 of the total area. There is a gigantic central column that, according to Guinness Book of Records, is the world's largest: 32 metres tall and 13x7 metres at its base. New passages were found in 1969-70. We could not see it, but Nerja Caves house one of the most important archaeological sites of Western Prehistoric Mediterranean history. The guide said it was 30,000 years of environmental and cultural history!

Prehistoric man left cave art on the walls, both Palaeolithic and post-palaeolithic.
A stag, fish, goat, horse, female figure, and dolphin are there.

While we were there, the lights went out for about 3 minutes, and it was frightening. Thank good we walked on raised wooden platforms.

Once a year, in July, there is an International Festival of the Nerja Cave that is a festival of music and dance.

It's quite a place.

Other Contact: East of Nerja

Visit the "White Villages" of Andalusia

While in Nerja, we visited several small towns called "White Villages" because ALL the houses, businesses, and churches in these towns are whitewashed.

Photographs:

1. Our friend Sand with Allan in Frigliana
2. Frigliana
3. Aquaduct at Maro
4. Dee in Frigliana
5. Mijas

My favorite White Villages were Mijas, the village in the picture and Frigiliana [also pictured], where we spent the most time.

The pace is slow and leisurely; the food is excellent; shopping is wonderful; and the people are kind.

In this "White Villages" called Mijas, we did some quality shopping and enjoyed the experience very much because it was not tourist trinkets; rather, it was quality merchandise that locals also were purchasing.

Other Contact: Andalusia

Puerta del Sol's Famed Bronze Bear Statue

Thank goodness we stayed at the Europa Hotel because our room looked out on one of my favorite sites: the bronze bear and strawberry tree of Madrid, Puerta del sol.

You see souvenirs of this statue everywhere.

But, there's nothing like standing up close to it. Better yet, to look out your hotel window and see it each time is marvelous. Lucky us.

Photos:

1. View of the "Bronze Bear and Strawberry Tree of Madrid" as seen from our hotel room in Europa Hotel in Madrid.

2. Our friend Sandy stands beside her favorite monument, "The Bronze Bear and Strawberry Tree of Madrid"%f*

Other Contact: Puerta del Sol

Parque del Retiro (Retiro Park)

While in Madrid, we spent an afternoon in Retiro park.

Photos:
1. The picture is of the Crystal Palace (Palacio de Cristal) which was built by Velazquez Bosco for exhibitions held during 1887

2. The Retiro Park Pond and Elaborate Statue

3. Our friend Sandy looks so small beside the Statue of Madrid A Felipe II in Retiro Park in Madrid.

Today, The Crystal Palace is used for art exhibitions. When we were there, a male artist used philosophical messages about human conditions and then gave simple solutions which he depicted via 3-dimentionals. It was quite thought provoking.

Throughout the park, we saw statues, fountains, formal gardens, and a lovely lake with ducks and swans. Row boats can also be rented to use on the lake.

This park is in Madrid's stylish Jeronimos district. At one time the park was only used by the royal family where they held bullfights, pretend naval battles, and fancy pageants.
Today it is open to the public and is a popular place for the locals to go to relax.

Besides the Crystal Palace, there is the red brick Palacio de Velazquez which was also built by Valazquez Bosco for exhibitions. We did not go into it.

Phone: (91) 573 60 82

Small town of Cuenca; Big on Beautiful Sites

1. Hanging houses in Cuenca
2. Nuns Chanting in Convent Chapel
3. Convento De Las Esclavas in Cuenca
4. New Natural History Museum in Cuenca
5. Inside Gothic Cathedral

After leaving our friend Sandy off at Madrid airport, we drove to the small town of Cuencawhere we parked our car in Mayor Square because it's quite an uphill climb, and cars cannot be there.

The first site we saw was the Gothic Cathedral . For such a small town, this Cathedral is quite impressive. Then we went to the church museum. It's a national monument with elaborate interior, and two paintings here are by El Grego.

The Gothic Quarter is wonderful. There are many convents. We saw nuns at prayer, and then, by accident, we stumbled onto a brand new museum (like a natural history museum). We were amazed at it.

We walked up the hill and saw incredible views of the village and the gorge.

The CASOS COLGADAS, or hanging houses, are incredible.

Other Contact: Central Spain, west of Toledo

Alcaniz: Castle Parador, Baroque Facade Church

Photos:
1. Plaza de Espana outside our hotel
2. National De La Concordia Church in Alcaniz
3. Tower with giant bird's nest atop
4. Dee standing in ruins next to Parador Alcaniz
5. Ruins beside Parador Alcaniz

Alcaniz is a delightful town in the middle of olive and almond growing region.

Its Plaza Mayor is flanked by the town hall with Renaissance Facade, a arcaded trade hall called Lonja, and the highly elaborate Baroque facade of the Colossal Saint Marys Collegiate Church.

When we were in Alcaniz, we saw a HUGE bird's nest on top of the Gothic tower beside the church. I really don't know what kind of bird, but it was black and white and really gigantic in size. It was feeding its young in this huge nest!

The beautiful Parador Castle that towers over the town is where we stayed overnight. While there, young boys ages 10-12 were practicing for a Drum Band, marching up the hill from the town to the Parador. Delightful scene.

We stayed another night in Alcaniz in Hotel Guadalope which is located right next to the St. Mary's Church in the Plaza de Espana.

Shopping is fun in Alcaniz, and the local shop keepers are friendly and helpful. It's a real treat to find such a special town.

Other Contact: Eastern Spain

Don't Miss the Attractive Billboards All Over Town

While visiting Madrid, my friend Sandy and I went out shopping and could not miss seeing a certain billboard with a handsome "hunk" displayed [in only his briefs!]

Every time that we saw that advertisement, we would say, "We need our camera right now!"

Finally, we remembered to take our camera with us, and we each took a picture of the other person in front of our FAVORITE billboard picture.

The one here is my friend Sandy.beside the infamous billboard. Unfortunately, the one she took of me did not turn out. All I can say is:"RATS!"

Other Contact: All Over Madrid

Nuevalos: Monastery, Park, Waterfalls

We drove to Nuevalos to stay in a special place called Monasterio de Piedra, which is a monastery for the monks from the Cistercian Order. We stayed in the hotel (part of the Monastery.

One can take a guided tour to this Monastery. We did, and we learned about the customs and architecture styles (Mudejar, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque) of the church and abbey. We also saw the Chapterhouse, Crypt, and Wine Celler.

While staying, there, we took this tour and found it quite interesting and educational. Beside the Abbey/Church, Complex is a wonderful park that is a Protected Natural Space.

We explored the park with the help of the red, green, and blue arrows which are posted. Red toward sites, and the blue to exit. The Green arrows are for rest areas. A very organized system, and one of the most spectacular parks I have ever visited.

Cola De Caballo, waterfal 174 feet high.

Iris, a grotto

Piscifactorio, fish farming center of Spain, dating from 1867

Iris Cascade, another waterfall

Lago De Los Patos, a lake

and many, many more waterfalls, natural scenery, and animals.

Warning:
Lots of climbing and stairs

Other Contact: 50210 Nuevalos (Zaragoza) Spain

Phone: (976) 84 90 11

Golfing near Cordona: Two for Less Than $20.00!

While staying in Cordona, we decided that we wanted to golf.

We ask at the hotel and were instructed where to go. It was a Par 3 course but quite "sporty". We had to rent clubs (there were no "woods" in the bags). We had to buy balls, go without gloves and golf shoes,but it was great fun.

The scenery was fabulous (the trees had just come into bloom), and there were birds and small animals around.

After we had completed our round, we gave the balls back to the manager because we did not want to take them on a plane. He would not take them unless we would take back our money!

So, for the rental, round, etc., we paid less than $20.00. What a deal.

Photographs:
1. Dee putting
2. Allan stopping to smell the spring flowers on golf course
3. Note: in the picture, you can see the Serrated mountains in the background.

Other Contact: Ask at the hotel