Lawrence's cottages ("las casas de Lorenzo" as they're called here) are located in the charming hill town of Montefrio (population 5,000), an olive-farming community unspoiled by tourism - which means few tourist "services" per se, but no rip-offs either, and plenty of Spanish hospitality and friendliness! Many tapas bars, restaurants (Spanish food only), general stores, fruit and vegetable street market every Monday. Ancient fortress and churches, fascinating prehistoric and medieval archaeological region near village: Las Pe?as de los Gitanos. Ideal for hiking - our mountainous countryside is one of Spain's loveliest. Well connected to Granada (and Alhambra) 1 hour; Cordoba 2 hours; Seville 2? hours. Both houses are whitewashed, rough-built peasant homes decorated in the Andalusian style, and installed with kitchen and bathroom (hot and cold running water, fridge, bath and shower, washing machine and steam iron, all basic utensils and tableware, ventilation and heating devices, linen and towels - "you only have to bring the groceries"). Tap water is drinkable European standard (comes from a 200-meter deep well in the mountains), and there's plenty of it... LA CASA DEL CORO, distinguished by its lovely 18th century iron grill, overlooks the village, castle and olive groves, with a split-level terrace where you can sip a glass of wine in the shade of the fig tree. Living-dining room with table, sofa and wood burner; three steps down to airy kitchen with breakfast table. There is a utility room with large, glass door opening onto back porch and yard, with fig tree, and, to one side, the bathroom with tub and shower. Downstairs bedroom has two single beds; upstairs, the master bedroom has toilet+wash-basin en suite, full-sized double bed (53 inches wide), writing table and magnificent view of town; across thelanding is the other upstairs bedroom with two single beds. Parking space can be found within 30-50 metres of house; small cars are best for getting up the steep, narrow streets. 15-20 minute walk down to village centre. Sleeps 6 (one couple and four singles) LA CASA DEL ARRABAL, at the foot of the Moorish castle and the great Renaissance church, is located in one of Montefrio's quietest and most picturesque quarters; the lower part of this ancient house is actually a cave, being carved out of the cliff to which it spectacularly clings. There is a front porch shaded by a grapevine; a small, cosy living room with fireplace (and seats which are part of the whitewashed walls), leading to a large kitchen/dining room with full-length window and sweeping views of the village below, where you can have breakfast in the rays of the rising sun. Downstairs - in the "cave" part - are the three small - and very cool in summer - bedrooms: bedrooms 1 and 2 each have one small-size double bed (41 inches wide), writing table, chair and closet; bedroom 3 has a single "stone ledge" bed with foam mattress, closet, table, chair, plus a den with a similar "stone" sofa-bed, and window with view. (A folding cot can be provided upon request.) Small bathroom with sit-up tub and bird's eye-view window (as you bathe, you can see the bells ringing in the church tower below you!). Parking either in front of the house or 30 metres down the hill. A 10 minute walk to the centre of the village (very steep - traction soles are a must). Sleeps 4 (ideal for a couple with 2 children) EL GRANERO - THE GRANARY This is the loft in my own farmhouse, 2 miles from the village. I am currently readying it for weekly rentals, and taking reservations for March onwards. It is ideal for a couple (with at the most one child) who like a healthy blend of rough and sophisticated living, and don't mind having to do some walking through the olive groves when my dirt road (1.000 rugged metres long) proves too bumpy (or muddy, when it rains) for their vehicle (I have a jeep and will be glad to get you in and out in emergencies. My house, El Cortijo de los Siete Olivos, overlooks the Sierra de Parapanda and the Pe?as de los Gitanos, a spectacular setting of mountains, oak forests and jagged cliffs, of which "The Granary" has truly breathtaking views. Your private entrance is on the dirt road behind the cortijo; you cross the small, secluded terrace overlooking the mountains, and step into the old granary itself, a loft room with whitewashed sloping ceiling and crooked beams, and your own fireplace in the corner. In the far corner, a broad stone ledge with thick foam mattress for two; "sculpted" sofa and dining table against the walls. Brick-red painted floors with colourful Granada throw-rugs. The inner door leads to the minimal but "anthropomorphically correct" bathroom, with sit-up tub and shower hose, toilet, wash basin; kitchenette with stove and small fridge; and built-in closet for your things. Above the terrace is a small watchtower, for your use only, where you can practice nude sun-bathing by day, and astronomy (or even astrology) under the starry Andalucian sky. Your quarters are fully independent from the rest of the house and although I and my 8 year old Brazilian daughter, Nina, are quite sociable and enjoy visits, and even group "tapa raids" on the local taverns, the general rule of the house is "independence". The farm is not connected to the local power grid and has its own solar energy system, so lights are 12V (adequate for reading) and stove, fridge and water heater run on propane. Water, however, does come from the village via an underground pipe, and is European standard and excellent for drinking. You can use my phone and fax whenever you want, providing I am home, as well as my Internet connection to the Granada node, at standard rates. At the risk of scaring some customers off, I'll be totally frank about THE GRANARY - it's a special place for special people, with a love for adventure, nature and solitude. I myself live a bit like a medieval hermit (apart from my daily trip to town to have my "vino con tapas" in one of our high-decibel farmers' taverns), working at my computer and drawing board and listening to classical music (I will be glad to lend you a radio to catch Madrid's excellent non-stop classical station, RADIO 2). Of course, the GRANARY is wonderful for walking in the country - you just have to step out the door and head on down the trail! It's not only ideal for nature-lovers - history and archaeological fans love it even more, since it's literally strewn with ruins and remains of Spain's past, from the Copper Age down to the Moors, all of which are described in my guide book "Roads and Paths of Montefrio". HOW TO SPEND THE IDEAL WEEK IN MONTEFRIO... (based on what most of my guests have done and enjoyed most, over the past few years) Rent car at Malaga or Madrid Airport, arrive Montefrio Saturday afternoon, settle in, dinner at local tavern such as El Pregonero or Coronichi... Sunday morning, visit the Castle and have tapas in the Plaza. Drive out to Torre del Sol hacienda to buy a jug of Montefrio's best virgin olive oil, and visit Don Curro the owner. Monday, shop for fruit and vegetables at weekly street market; do the tapas bars which are always very busy Monday (when the local farmers come to town to do their shopping). Tuesday, spend day at the Alhambra in Granada. Wednesday, visit the local archaeological site near village, lounge about house and town. Have dinner at Riofrio, nearby trout farm (excellent fresh-smoked trout). Thursday, drive to Cordoba to visit the Mezquita. Friday, back to Granada to visit the Albaicin (have lunch at El Yunque, tapas bar on charming plaza in the Moorish quarter) and the Cathedral, market, historical town center. WEEKLY RATES are the same for both the CORO and ARRABAL cottages: High season (summer: July 1->Sept.30; Christmas and Easter holidays): 49,000 Pesetas Low season (rest of year): 35,000 Pesetas For the GRANARY: High season: 36,000 Pesetas Low season: 30,000 Pesetas Approximate exchange rate: $1 = 1.200 pesetas All rentals paid in advance, by mail order. For the 1 week discount price, Saturday to Saturday occupancy only, which means: Check-in Saturday after 4.00 pm; check-out Saturday before 10.00 am. Free copy of my guide book "Roads and Paths of Montefrio" with each rental. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO RENT A CAR... Most people rent a car for the week at Malaga Airport, but if are not in the mood for driving, and would rather spend most of your time in and around the village - I can arrange with our local taxi driver, Rafael Romero, to pick you up in Malaga, drop you off when you depart, and drive you into Granada one morning in the week*, leaving you there to sightsee, have lunch etc., and return on the 7.30 pm bus to Montefrio, for a reduced "package" price of $200. For an extra cost of $120, he will take you to Cordoba to see the Mezquita, have lunch and return. * There is a morning bus to Granada, but it leaves very early - at 6.50 am, which is why I suggest using Romero for the trip into town. *********************************************************************** LAS CASAS DE LOS AMIGOS DE LORENZO... Several friends of mine in the region have also fixed up their cottages and cortijos (farm houses) to get into the self-catering business, and have asked me to act as their international agent, since I have "the right connections"! To simplify things, you deal directly with me as if you were renting one of my own places: I make reservations, collect rental fees and, of course, guarantee basic quality standards. LA CASA DE JUAN Y FINA Juan and Fina ("Josefina") live in Malaga but spend their weekends in Fina's home town, the tiny, whitewashed village of Alfarnate, 4.000 feet up in the Sierra de Loja. They have fixed up the cottage next to the family home very comfortably, just a step from the charming plaza and a couple of lively taverns where "all the action is", with first-rate tapas! Half an hour's drive down to Malaga; you can drive to Granada in just over an hour, Seville in less than 3 hours, and to Montefrio in a leisurely, very scenic 60 minutes. This is "ecologically virgin" Spain - limpid mountain horizons, isolated farm houses clinging to rocky slopes, and the pungent scent of thyme in the unpolluted air... Rates and all other particulars are the same as for my cottages in Montefrio. Juan (speaks English) will be on hand to receive you. EL CORTIJO DE CARMEN Mari Carmen's cosy cortijo is on half an hour west of Montefrio, near the hamlet of Ventorros de San Jos? - 3,500 feet up, with a spectacular view of the surrounding "sierras". Fireplace, electric heaters, complete kitchen, bathroom, caretaker nearby (he comes past everyday on his mule). Rates, again, are the same as for my houses in Montefrio, with the difference that they only apply for couples with 1 or 2 children - it's a big house and the price goes up when you are more than two, 1,000 pesetas for each extra adult. Either myself or Mari Carmen will be on hand to receive you personally and give you detailed information on this fascinating mountain region, with its tiny whitewashed villages (each with its church, plaza and... tapas bars) scattered among the hills and, only 10 minutes away, La Torre de Martilla, a prehistoric Iberian acropolis, on its spectacular mountain perch. ?IMPORTANTISIMO! ALL GUESTS at my own houses and those of my friends are formally invited to visit Montefrio during their stay, for Lorenzo's traditional "welcome tour" (usually Sunday at noon) of our fabulous castle!
Showing posts with label granada spain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label granada spain. Show all posts
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Car Rentals Malaga Spain in Granada Spain Hotels or spanish cottages and malaga rentals?
Lawrence's cottages ("las casas de Lorenzo" as they're called here) are located in the charming hill town of Montefrio (population 5,000), an olive-farming community unspoiled by tourism - which means few tourist "services" per se, but no rip-offs either, and plenty of Spanish hospitality and friendliness! Many tapas bars, restaurants (Spanish food only), general stores, fruit and vegetable street market every Monday. Ancient fortress and churches, fascinating prehistoric and medieval archaeological region near village: Las Pe?as de los Gitanos. Ideal for hiking - our mountainous countryside is one of Spain's loveliest. Well connected to Granada (and Alhambra) 1 hour; Cordoba 2 hours; Seville 2? hours. Both houses are whitewashed, rough-built peasant homes decorated in the Andalusian style, and installed with kitchen and bathroom (hot and cold running water, fridge, bath and shower, washing machine and steam iron, all basic utensils and tableware, ventilation and heating devices, linen and towels - "you only have to bring the groceries"). Tap water is drinkable European standard (comes from a 200-meter deep well in the mountains), and there's plenty of it... LA CASA DEL CORO, distinguished by its lovely 18th century iron grill, overlooks the village, castle and olive groves, with a split-level terrace where you can sip a glass of wine in the shade of the fig tree. Living-dining room with table, sofa and wood burner; three steps down to airy kitchen with breakfast table. There is a utility room with large, glass door opening onto back porch and yard, with fig tree, and, to one side, the bathroom with tub and shower. Downstairs bedroom has two single beds; upstairs, the master bedroom has toilet+wash-basin en suite, full-sized double bed (53 inches wide), writing table and magnificent view of town; across thelanding is the other upstairs bedroom with two single beds. Parking space can be found within 30-50 metres of house; small cars are best for getting up the steep, narrow streets. 15-20 minute walk down to village centre. Sleeps 6 (one couple and four singles) LA CASA DEL ARRABAL, at the foot of the Moorish castle and the great Renaissance church, is located in one of Montefrio's quietest and most picturesque quarters; the lower part of this ancient house is actually a cave, being carved out of the cliff to which it spectacularly clings. There is a front porch shaded by a grapevine; a small, cosy living room with fireplace (and seats which are part of the whitewashed walls), leading to a large kitchen/dining room with full-length window and sweeping views of the village below, where you can have breakfast in the rays of the rising sun. Downstairs - in the "cave" part - are the three small - and very cool in summer - bedrooms: bedrooms 1 and 2 each have one small-size double bed (41 inches wide), writing table, chair and closet; bedroom 3 has a single "stone ledge" bed with foam mattress, closet, table, chair, plus a den with a similar "stone" sofa-bed, and window with view. (A folding cot can be provided upon request.) Small bathroom with sit-up tub and bird's eye-view window (as you bathe, you can see the bells ringing in the church tower below you!). Parking either in front of the house or 30 metres down the hill. A 10 minute walk to the centre of the village (very steep - traction soles are a must). Sleeps 4 (ideal for a couple with 2 children) EL GRANERO - THE GRANARY This is the loft in my own farmhouse, 2 miles from the village. I am currently readying it for weekly rentals, and taking reservations for March onwards. It is ideal for a couple (with at the most one child) who like a healthy blend of rough and sophisticated living, and don't mind having to do some walking through the olive groves when my dirt road (1.000 rugged metres long) proves too bumpy (or muddy, when it rains) for their vehicle (I have a jeep and will be glad to get you in and out in emergencies. My house, El Cortijo de los Siete Olivos, overlooks the Sierra de Parapanda and the Pe?as de los Gitanos, a spectacular setting of mountains, oak forests and jagged cliffs, of which "The Granary" has truly breathtaking views. Your private entrance is on the dirt road behind the cortijo; you cross the small, secluded terrace overlooking the mountains, and step into the old granary itself, a loft room with whitewashed sloping ceiling and crooked beams, and your own fireplace in the corner. In the far corner, a broad stone ledge with thick foam mattress for two; "sculpted" sofa and dining table against the walls. Brick-red painted floors with colourful Granada throw-rugs. The inner door leads to the minimal but "anthropomorphically correct" bathroom, with sit-up tub and shower hose, toilet, wash basin; kitchenette with stove and small fridge; and built-in closet for your things. Above the terrace is a small watchtower, for your use only, where you can practice nude sun-bathing by day, and astronomy (or even astrology) under the starry Andalucian sky. Your quarters are fully independent from the rest of the house and although I and my 8 year old Brazilian daughter, Nina, are quite sociable and enjoy visits, and even group "tapa raids" on the local taverns, the general rule of the house is "independence". The farm is not connected to the local power grid and has its own solar energy system, so lights are 12V (adequate for reading) and stove, fridge and water heater run on propane. Water, however, does come from the village via an underground pipe, and is European standard and excellent for drinking. You can use my phone and fax whenever you want, providing I am home, as well as my Internet connection to the Granada node, at standard rates. At the risk of scaring some customers off, I'll be totally frank about THE GRANARY - it's a special place for special people, with a love for adventure, nature and solitude. I myself live a bit like a medieval hermit (apart from my daily trip to town to have my "vino con tapas" in one of our high-decibel farmers' taverns), working at my computer and drawing board and listening to classical music (I will be glad to lend you a radio to catch Madrid's excellent non-stop classical station, RADIO 2). Of course, the GRANARY is wonderful for walking in the country - you just have to step out the door and head on down the trail! It's not only ideal for nature-lovers - history and archaeological fans love it even more, since it's literally strewn with ruins and remains of Spain's past, from the Copper Age down to the Moors, all of which are described in my guide book "Roads and Paths of Montefrio". HOW TO SPEND THE IDEAL WEEK IN MONTEFRIO... (based on what most of my guests have done and enjoyed most, over the past few years) Rent car at Malaga or Madrid Airport, arrive Montefrio Saturday afternoon, settle in, dinner at local tavern such as El Pregonero or Coronichi... Sunday morning, visit the Castle and have tapas in the Plaza. Drive out to Torre del Sol hacienda to buy a jug of Montefrio's best virgin olive oil, and visit Don Curro the owner. Monday, shop for fruit and vegetables at weekly street market; do the tapas bars which are always very busy Monday (when the local farmers come to town to do their shopping). Tuesday, spend day at the Alhambra in Granada. Wednesday, visit the local archaeological site near village, lounge about house and town. Have dinner at Riofrio, nearby trout farm (excellent fresh-smoked trout). Thursday, drive to Cordoba to visit the Mezquita. Friday, back to Granada to visit the Albaicin (have lunch at El Yunque, tapas bar on charming plaza in the Moorish quarter) and the Cathedral, market, historical town center. WEEKLY RATES are the same for both the CORO and ARRABAL cottages: High season (summer: July 1->Sept.30; Christmas and Easter holidays): 49,000 Pesetas Low season (rest of year): 35,000 Pesetas For the GRANARY: High season: 36,000 Pesetas Low season: 30,000 Pesetas Approximate exchange rate: $1 = 1.200 pesetas All rentals paid in advance, by mail order. For the 1 week discount price, Saturday to Saturday occupancy only, which means: Check-in Saturday after 4.00 pm; check-out Saturday before 10.00 am. Free copy of my guide book "Roads and Paths of Montefrio" with each rental. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO RENT A CAR... Most people rent a car for the week at Malaga Airport, but if are not in the mood for driving, and would rather spend most of your time in and around the village - I can arrange with our local taxi driver, Rafael Romero, to pick you up in Malaga, drop you off when you depart, and drive you into Granada one morning in the week*, leaving you there to sightsee, have lunch etc., and return on the 7.30 pm bus to Montefrio, for a reduced "package" price of $200. For an extra cost of $120, he will take you to Cordoba to see the Mezquita, have lunch and return. * There is a morning bus to Granada, but it leaves very early - at 6.50 am, which is why I suggest using Romero for the trip into town. *********************************************************************** LAS CASAS DE LOS AMIGOS DE LORENZO... Several friends of mine in the region have also fixed up their cottages and cortijos (farm houses) to get into the self-catering business, and have asked me to act as their international agent, since I have "the right connections"! To simplify things, you deal directly with me as if you were renting one of my own places: I make reservations, collect rental fees and, of course, guarantee basic quality standards. LA CASA DE JUAN Y FINA Juan and Fina ("Josefina") live in Malaga but spend their weekends in Fina's home town, the tiny, whitewashed village of Alfarnate, 4.000 feet up in the Sierra de Loja. They have fixed up the cottage next to the family home very comfortably, just a step from the charming plaza and a couple of lively taverns where "all the action is", with first-rate tapas! Half an hour's drive down to Malaga; you can drive to Granada in just over an hour, Seville in less than 3 hours, and to Montefrio in a leisurely, very scenic 60 minutes. This is "ecologically virgin" Spain - limpid mountain horizons, isolated farm houses clinging to rocky slopes, and the pungent scent of thyme in the unpolluted air... Rates and all other particulars are the same as for my cottages in Montefrio. Juan (speaks English) will be on hand to receive you. EL CORTIJO DE CARMEN Mari Carmen's cosy cortijo is on half an hour west of Montefrio, near the hamlet of Ventorros de San Jos? - 3,500 feet up, with a spectacular view of the surrounding "sierras". Fireplace, electric heaters, complete kitchen, bathroom, caretaker nearby (he comes past everyday on his mule). Rates, again, are the same as for my houses in Montefrio, with the difference that they only apply for couples with 1 or 2 children - it's a big house and the price goes up when you are more than two, 1,000 pesetas for each extra adult. Either myself or Mari Carmen will be on hand to receive you personally and give you detailed information on this fascinating mountain region, with its tiny whitewashed villages (each with its church, plaza and... tapas bars) scattered among the hills and, only 10 minutes away, La Torre de Martilla, a prehistoric Iberian acropolis, on its spectacular mountain perch. ?IMPORTANTISIMO! ALL GUESTS at my own houses and those of my friends are formally invited to visit Montefrio during their stay, for Lorenzo's traditional "welcome tour" (usually Sunday at noon) of our fabulous castle!
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