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Saturday, 10 April 2010 |
As part of a series of programmes on cookery in various parts of Europe , Jamie Oliver has filmed an episode based on the Ronda Area which is due to be broadcast on Channel Four TV on the 21st April at 9p.m.
Under the title “Jamie Does Andalucia”, the programme looks at a number of culinary specialities of the Ronda area including the famous Pata Negra ham from the black pigs which feed on acorns in the forests of the region. The very best quality ham is more expensive than Foie Gras and many types of caviar. Cut really thin, a skill which Jamie learns, it is a real delicacy.
Jamie also gets involved in cooking a paella for a whole village when he visits Benaoján. Through a researcher of his, Jamie’s team made contact with Pauline Elkin and Andy Chapell the owners of Hotel Molino del Santo in the same village and they helped to organise Jamie’s itinerary. Jamie had wanted to stay at the Hotel but because TV schedules are often last minute there was no accommodation available by the time he came to book.
Oliver had also planned to eat at Molino del Santo but the time that the paella took to arrange meant that the visit to the hotel had to be cancelled.
He showed himself to be a very interesting person with a real feel for his chosen trade and a great interest in the local people and their cuisine. Journalists who have had previews of the programme describe it as a great advert for the region with some stunning photography. |
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Saturday, 10 April 2010 |
It’s shaping up to be a record year at Laguna Fuente de Piedra which is less than an hour’s drive from Hotel Molino del Santo. Every year the lake attracts Flamingoes to nest but the success of this breeding depends totally on the level of the water in the lake – in 2008 for example no chicks were born.
However the winter rains this year mean the water is 1,75metres deep – the highest level recorded since records have been kept in earnest in 1983. This has meant that on the 1st March there were 7000 birds present, rising to 15000 by the 24th March and a week later there are 25000. Committed bird watchers and twitchers alike are in for a treat.
Situated near Antequera, the lake has seen 654,4litres of water fall this winter which is double the average and compares with 1998 when 15387 chicks were born. It is expected that numbers this year could be even higher at over 20000 chicks. Some of the islands where the birds normally nest are submerged but ten new sites have been colonised this year. It is expected that ringing of the chicks which normally takes place in July will be postponed to August this year because there is so much water.
The birds travel overnight to feed and some will travel as far as the Camargue or Algiers in just one day before returning to the nest sites in Andalucia..
The higher water levels mean that the lake is less saline this year which allows more plants to grow which in turn attract a wider range of diving birds. This year bird-watchers can expect to see many more species such as Great Crested and Black-necked grebes, Common and Red- Crested Pochard, Shelduck and the delightful Purple Gallinule.
Don’t miss out on seeing one of nature’s spectacles – and there is an information centre equipped with binoculars and telescopes as well as explanations of the birds’ lives. |
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Saturday, 10 April 2010 |
Many people visit the Serrania de Ronda for its stunning landscapes and a percentage of these folk explore on foot the many tracks and footpaths that criss-cross the sierras.
It is not surprising that a number of guide books and pamphlets have been assembled by authorities and individuals to describe the best routes and enable individuals to make new discoveries of wonderful places.
The undisputed leader in the field of walking guides to Andalucia for the last ten years or more has been the book “Walking in Andalucia” written by Guy Hunter-Watts, a confirmed lover of the area, its people and its customs. Guy has also been commissioned by Molino del Santo to provide walking routes starting from the hotel which have proved very popular over the years.
Now in its sixth edition, the guide has shown its value through the experience of users. Covering in the region of 50 routes across the whole of Andalucia, the guide has always been known for its accuracy and attention to detail – being able to trust route descriptions is of course essential to any serious walker.
There are new walks in this new edition and all of the old favourites have been re-walked and re-mapped. In addition there are new features in this expanded edition including a check list of both birds and flowers provided by local experts as well as GPS references for all of the routes – features that many will appreciate. However the book is still a handy size to fit into a walker’s pocket.
In the Ronda Area there are a total of 8 routes varying from a gentle couple of riverside hours to all day hikes on mountain ridges.
Not published until the 29th April in the UK, the book, which has been published by Santana Books, is now available in Spain and from Hotel Molino del Santo in Benaoján. The cover price of 19,90euros can easily be recuperated from the pleasures of completing just one of the routes.
Coming soon! A book of more gentle walks in the Ronda area – over 30 routes of an average of two hours for the less committed explorer. Full details as soon as they are available. |
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Saturday, 10 April 2010 |
We’ve known for years that we should be using the trains that pass close by to Molino del Santo – they’re reliable, efficient, clean and comfortable. Now a survey published recently has proved that Spanish trains are good value too.
The study looked at how far the equivalent of 12 euros will transport you in different European countries. In the UK that amount of money will buy you 38kilometres of travel – in Spain the same price will move you over 94 kilometres. Portugese travellers fare even better – 172 kilometres for 12 euros.
The investment in Renfe, the railway company, has been cut back a little in recent months as the Spanish economy struggles to correct itself. However a six month project has been taking place to upgrade the line from Ronda to Algeciras with a reputed investment of 170million euros. The railway is being prepared for faster Talgo trains from Madrid. |
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Saturday, 10 April 2010 |
Finally the winter rains are abating and Andalucia is beginning to take on its spring colours. After a period of sustained rainfall that has seen over 120cm (45inches) of rainfall in less than three months, the sun is beginning to win the climatological battle.
Whilst the rain has caused much damage to the countryside, roads and buildings, the upside is that there is general agreement that the spring is going to be sensational. Everywhere is very green right now but without huge amounts of floral colour. However now that the days are warming up and the sun is shining, all of those seeds and buds are just waiting to explode into vibrant hues that will make this a great spring to visit this area.
May is traditionally the time when the balance is perfect for exploring the area as the temperatures are perfect and the light is clear and ….well, it’s just wonderful.
Biological experts are predicting that this spring will be the most impressive of the last forty years given the combination of influencing factors. The area around Molino del Santo is always lovely in the springtime but is certain to be especially stunning this year. |
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Ronda News 
