The House on the Hill

Wednesday, 30 September, 2015

Today we leave Seville and go into the mountains. Our bus picks us up after breakfast. Our first stop is in a town called Jerez de la Frontera where we go to a Sherry winery Bodegas Tradición. Their website is quite illuminating.

Sherry Bodega in Jerez

http://www.bodegastradicion.es/index.php/en/#

It is explained to us that this winery does not grow or crush any grapes. Instead, they buy in pressed grape juices and the skill of the wine maker is what makes their Sherry. It is considered a small Bodegas.

Sherry Barrels as far as the eye can see

After the tour of the facilities they provide us with a generous tasting of some of their Sherries. Some in the group don’t care for Sherry and I can’t say it is on my normal purchase list, but if it is a good one I will try it. These were not bad. (As an aside a couple of years ago Frank put on a special lunch with impressive Sherries at Movida Next Door for International Sherry Day. Sadly, this year is conflicts with Spring Carnival so no go).

The Tasting - our Hostess is facing in the White top — The Tasting – our Hostess is facing in the White top

In the Glass - the Olives were delightful — In the Glass – the Olives were delightful

The Bodegas is also famous for its art collections from a range of well known artists from over time e.g. Zurbarán, Velázquez, Hiepes, El Labrador, Valdés Leal, Goya, Maella, Lucas Velázquez, Madrazo, Lucas Villamil, Carlos de Haes…and some others.

My pathetic photography does not show the whole story

Again I refer you to the website:

http://www.bodegastradicion.es/index.php/en/art

I finish the examination of the artwork and sit down with a bit of Sherry. Julie comes to take pictures of me and then a number of the others in the group do the same – I went viral.

One other arty thing that the Bodegas does is to put on special exhibitions. Here is a photo from one of the slightly grotesque range:

We get back on the bus and head to a seaside, Atlantic Ocean, town of Sanlucar de Barrameda. Our first stop is a market primarily featuring seafood.

Live Pipis - he would feed them little bits of the Aspragus — Live Pipis – he would feed them little bits of the Aspragus

School Prawns - Frank bought some for us to try (whole) — School Prawns – Frank bought some for us to try (whole)

But primarily seafood - look at the Tuna — But primarily seafood – look at the Tuna

We then go off looking for a couple of Tapas bars.

City centre - John in wander mode as usual — City centre – John in wander mode as usual

As one can see, out the front is quite crowded. I went inside with the group and it was worse. So I wandered back outside in the hope that some tables would clear. A very young girl, like 8YO, approached and I did not know what to expect. She asked if we would like a table for a large group. Well of course I said yes and went in and asked Frank to have a look. They set up a row of tables, and chairs, in the lane way to the other side of the restaurant. Very comfortable and very nice.

The kitchen was just on the other side of us and when they would finish a dish they would yell out to us and the guys would go in to grab our food.

Nor was the raw Sea Anemone - I thought they were OK — Nor was the raw Sea Anemone – I thought they were OK

The Potatoes with Tuna were very popular

As were the fried up "mess of prawns." — As were the fried up “mess of prawns.”

Good stuff. We get on the bus and drive down to the sea shore and select one of several Tapas bars that are side by side. We aren’t as lucky with the tables this time, we manage to get a few small ones but the chairs / stools were limited.

Our Tapas bar - En Terazs — Our Tapas bar – En Terazs

It is time to go to our final destination for the day – continue on to the whitewashed village of Vejer de la Frontera. Note: that there are a large number of “white villages” all over Southern Spain. One of the reasons was they were whitewashed to kill the Plague.

Our Hotel, La Botica, is in a series of very old buildings. It is an absolute rabbit warren with lots of passages and stairs. We love it. See the following for a range of pictures.

https://www.wotif.com/Vejer-De-La-Frontera-Hotels-La-Botica.h2530032.Hotel-Information?chkin=15%2F10%2F2015&chkout=16%2F10%2F2015

We have a balcony, not quite private as others can use it too, with a great view of the house on the hill – F.W. Dixon – and the sites around. Naturally, I decide to have a rest and, even more, naturally Julie goes for a prance around the village. The following are some of her photos.

That night we had been scheduled to dine at the “Best Steakhouse in Andalucía” but it is apparently closed for the summer (September?). Instead we go to a Moroccan restaurant, El Jardin del Califa, which is actually right next to the Hotel. For more details about this restaurant and others in Vejer, please refer to the website

http://www.anniebspain.com/vejer-de-la-frontera/restaurants/

We will talk a lot more about Annie B in tomorrow’s post. In Annie’s discussion of El Jardin del Califa is a photo of the owner. He joins us and gives us some background about the buildings we are in and the establishment of the restaurant. It is attached to the Hotel – we enter through the restuarant and then depart straight into the Hotel at the end. We are having the famous Mezze.