We were so impressed with the decor, the food, and the friendly staff, that we have returned
every time over the last two years, the owner, who has become our friend,
Fernando always gives us the best rooms (one of them has a
magnificent gold four poster bed)
and from the very beginning,
just before leaving, he has always given us a gift.
Casa-Babel+R
We learned that he inherited this beautiful home from an Aunt and has
spent a fortune making it into a fabulous hotel.
Fernando used to
come to have a chat with us at the end of our evening meal, and one time
we mentioned that we did not understand, why we could not buy really
good mature orange marmalade in Spain, every type we tried was far too
sweet, yet we know all the best mature marmalade is made with oranges
from Seville.
He explained that the Spanish do not like
bitter things, they far prefer everything sweet.
The next time we
stayed, we were presented with a jar of homemade bitter marmalade for
breakfast
and it was so delicious we asked if we could buy some, but the chef had
only made so much, and apparently did not want to make anymore.
Fernando told us he had grown to like it too, yet just as we were
leaving he gave us a full jar as a gift.
We each get a hug every time we see him.
We were surprised
again at our next visit, as at breakfast the waitress presented us with
marmalade, made especially for us, and we were given it to take with us.
But in addition, Fernando had already given us the hotel perfume and
after shave, with his compliments. Sadly, we did not see him
that time as he had family commitments and arrived just five minutes
after we had left, but we exchanged a few messages during our drive to
Marbella.
We now always take a Swiss speciality to give Fernando.
We both really do not know how this friendship began, we liked him from
our first meeting, but I did mention one time that he does not need to
keep giving us gifts
and his only comment was "some people are very special!"
What Next?
I am now 79 and find it
hard to believe that I am this old, whilst writing I have enjoyed looking back over the past, and it seems amazing that we left
the UK so many years ago (the beginning of December 2002), but
sadly during this period, both of my parents passed away. I am so
glad we were able to be with them for a good many years.
Apart from having done as much as we
could for our parents, we have to take care of our two properties,
keep track of our bills, bank accounts and correspondence at each
location.
But I am not complaining, the only
problem is the inflated cost of living in Switzerland, that means we
are not able to have much help for cleaning, or in the garden. As
we are older, we do find it harder to do everything
ourselves.
Whenever we feel that our funds
available are becoming low, we will sell an antique from our
collection.
So, we have kept in touch with
certain dealers and auctioneers, especially those that we have had a
special relationship with.
Some are friends that we have known
for many years and each of them are so knowledgeable
(in no
particular order); Neil
Davey, Richard Marchant, Robert Hall, Clare Chu, Hugh Moss, Roger
Kerverne, Douglas Wright, Paul Moss and Asaph Hyman.
But now having
completed this story so far
(January 2020),
I am going to concentrate on the future. Who knows although I am
eighty this year, one day there might still be some more to add, I
do hope so!
Part 2
Started writing in March 2020
Contents