Or as I like to call it ‘2001 Spain Odyssey’. This place was really incredible. On the outskirts of town, in a totally rural setting, stood this huge solitary stone and wood structure. It actually looked quite traditionally Spanish from the outside but on the inside was like a Kubrick film. The owner of this impressive establishment (who didn’t speak any English, by the way) showed us to our room- through long corridors, past rows of steps, lifts, a library and  restaurant/lounge area. Like the space station depicted in said Kubrick film. Our habitacion was enormous, immaculate and modern, with inscribed stone walls and mountain vistas. What pleased me greatly (call me superficial) was the immense bathroom with a shower of gigantic proportions. Plus massaging jets. Oh yeah.

It just kept getting better. That evening we were treated to a six- course meal in our own private dining room. We didn’t know exactly what we were eating all of the time as our Spanish is a bit limited but there was plenty of variety to suit all of us. It started with a broth of unidentifiable ingredients (presumably vegetarian as we had tried to express this with our poco del espanol), then a tasty pasta and salad, then Jason had a prawn and vegetable omelette type dish, followed by a plate of mixed carne – including grilled pork, and pancetta. We finished off with the most delicious arroz con leche (rice pudding). Thrown in a bottle of wine and the night was complete – and perfect.

The breakfast was also delectable and its components much simpler to identify. The lovely flower- shaped pastries sprinkled with sugar were a highlight.

The next day we set off for Covilha in Portugal, muy satisfecho.