Extremadura with Five Senses- Gives a good impression of the wonderful nature

IT'S BEEN MONTHS!!

A long gap in the blog but we've been mega busy..........despite the dreaded crisis we have had the best year so far at the finca. I wonder why? Maybe people are not going to long haul destinations this year, concentrating on European destinations....could be. This year most of the clients for the cortijo and barn are still British but with many Belgiums and Dutch, our first French family, Italians, Germans, American/Indonesian family and a few Spanish clients which is always nice but quite rare as the favourite rural holiday mode of the Spanish is to rent a house for a long weekend (puente) and we don't do that. I think it has helped business a lot that I have not changed my prices for the last 3 years :-
The cortijo is still rented for €1600 per week for 6 people during the summer, reducing to €1400 the rest of the year.
The barn still €700 per week for 2 people or €100 per day min. of 4 days rental, kids can be accommodated on 2 extra beds. All year price.
B&B is still €65 per night per double room, min. 2 nights stay.
Happy to say we have had wonderful clients who have really indulged in country life and left behind glowing reports of how much they have enjoyed their stay at the finca. Many thanks to all of you!!
The first cooking week went well and I am looking forward to the September and October weeks after the summer break. Have just heard of a farmer in the south of Extremadura who produces "ethical" foie gras. I may include a visit as one of our cooking week excursions as it sounds interesting. Apparently he lets his geese roam freely in the oak forests just as the iberic pigs. As soon as the weather starts to get cold in November the geese naturally gorge on the acorns in preparation for their winter flights, there is no force feeding involved........unfortunately the poor old geese don't get to go on their winter holidays but the result is delicious on toast and not too many guilt twinges. Will make a report on this soon.



















Manfred has started to ride again, he's been in training by bumping up the camino to Montanchez on his quad which has prepared his many vulnerable old injuries for regular riding. He bought a big steady horse for riding again, Fatboy, but unfortunately he is a bit too steady and a bit boring so he has had Harè in training locally and he has prooved to be a marvellous ride. As usual with all the horses we only use Hackamores with excellent results.
See photos of Harè at birth on the finca in May 2004 and now with Manfred. They don't look too disproportionate despite Harè's neat athletic build and Manfred's long legs. Not sure about that pose with the very limp wrist!

The last summer clients are renting the cortijo until 28th August and then we will be "at home" for September, so far one more rental in October and then I guess we will settle in for winter.
Thinking about a winter break in Slovenia, I have never tried cross country skiing and it looks like fun..........of course Manfred will be expert and way ahead as usual, nearly all my holiday hiking photos are of Manfred as a distant dot on the horizon.




Doing as little as possible right now, we are going through a humid phase of August, lots of lazing, immersion in water, tons of books to read, lovely long warm evenings under the amazing stars, midnight swims and sleeping out on the porch on the comfy old Indian charpoy. Summer.