We have had some fabulous guests stay with us at Casa Blanca Rural since we opened our doors as a guest house. Earlier this year we were pleased to welcome Lance and Heather, all the way from Australia taking a rest during their three-and-a-half month tour of Europe.
Heather put pen to paper and this is what she wrote about their stay....
Taste of Spain
Do you want a taste of Spain
With a flavour that is ‘real’?
Don’t just take Neil and Caroline’s word
Listen to this happy traveller’s spiel
All the way from Australia
We managed our way to Montichelvo
We’d only written down ‘Casa Blanca’
We had no idea where to go
A half-dressed and drowsy senora
From her siesta we woke
Not much good to us Aussies
Because Spanish was all she spoke
Next we found the mechanic
He put an end to our search
He walked us up the street
And indicated opposite the church
We were ready for a well-earned rest
And we’d chosen the right spot
We were welcomed like old friends
And hospitality was all that we got
Our experience of the village
Allowed me to feel the real Spain
To wander and be part of it
Was certainly to my gain
There’s the Tuesday square market
But don’t get the fruit boy started
Humouring the women of all ages
Bawdily but warm-hearted
Just outside their front door
Are the bar, church and playground
A wonderful meeting place
Where the young and old can be found
From all the church clocks around
The bells ring their beautiful chimes
There’s a delightful sense of confusion
They ring at four different times
There are plenty of places to wander
Through orchards of oranges, olives and pears
If you’re tempted by a ripe fresh fruit
You can savour what the bountiful bush bears
The area is awash with walks
It’s ‘here’ where you get a great deal
There’s no fear for losing your way
‘Cause you can always take along Neil
And what an idyllic performance
Of a goat herder and his flock
Had Neil arranged our meeting
And of our journey to block?
The shepherd’s words were enigmatic
But like some kind of barrr-code
The ladies in his care did stop
Immediately in the middle of the road
I imagine he asked their preference
And how they wanted their day spent
There was some utters and nodding
Then off down the road they went
If doing very little is required
Plonked on the patio more your style
Snooze with the rest of the town
And then go to the town pool for awhile
It’s the pool with the best panorama
Nothing between you and the hills
And when siesta time is over
With laughter and happiness it fills
There maybe a night of paella
On the spectacular roof to dine
With Caroline’s ‘special’ recipe
And plenty of sangria and wine
Even from 26,000 kilometers away
I’d love to go back again
As my poem will certainly attest
It was a highlight of our stay in Spain
Heather Lindsay
26/8/08
Thank you Heather, we sincerely hope that you two pass this way again sometime. There's always Paella and Sangria available!
Sunday 21 December 2008
Wednesday 5 November 2008
House hunting in Spain? We know just the place to stay!
Paul and Daisy from Holland have been staying with us while house hunting in the area. They were in the region earlier in the year and decided then that this was the part of Spain that they wanted to settle in.
We were able to offer advice based on our own experiences of finding and buying property here. We also recommended a Gestor (lawyer) to them as they were concerned about how to find someone reliable to act for them when they found a property to buy.
They found a lovely casita that ticked all the right boxes and have returned to Holland while the lawyer sorts out the, sometimes complicated, purchase process for them.
They wrote:
We would really like to thank you for your hospitality, your help, and your kindness. We are really glad we've met you and hope to stay in touch.
Thanks again for everything and hope to meet you in our new house, so we can take care of you like the way you did to us.
Muchas gracias para todos y hasta luego!
Paul and Daisy
We wish them the very best of luck and look forward to meeting up with them again in their new home!
We were able to offer advice based on our own experiences of finding and buying property here. We also recommended a Gestor (lawyer) to them as they were concerned about how to find someone reliable to act for them when they found a property to buy.
They found a lovely casita that ticked all the right boxes and have returned to Holland while the lawyer sorts out the, sometimes complicated, purchase process for them.
They wrote:
We would really like to thank you for your hospitality, your help, and your kindness. We are really glad we've met you and hope to stay in touch.
Thanks again for everything and hope to meet you in our new house, so we can take care of you like the way you did to us.
Muchas gracias para todos y hasta luego!
Paul and Daisy
We wish them the very best of luck and look forward to meeting up with them again in their new home!
Thursday 2 October 2008
A walking holiday in Spain
Colin and Evan, two brothers from Suffolk and Norfolk have just stayed with us for a walking holiday. Unusually the weather was not too kind, but, as experienced walkers they were well prepared and spent their week exploring some of the many beautiful walks around here.
On their return to the UK they sent us the following write-up:
“Monticheivo is a small village in the mountains some 40 kms south of Valencia , we (Evan and Colin, two very mature walkers) were met by Caroline and Neil and driven to their home, a converted town house offering a home from home holiday with all the benefits of English speaking guides, they also offered a transfer service to and from the walks that begin and end high in the mountains, complete with detailed maps of the area and details of the walks in terms of distance approx time and interesting things to see while on route.
The area offers walks for all requirements from circular wanders through olive groves, acres of orange and peach trees of between 2 –20 kms all starting within 50 metres of the house on flat roads in the valley.
For a longer walk after a 30 min car ride we followed a well marked path from the small village of Lorcha climbing through the La Safor mountains to a height of 400 metres before descending to a disused railway track alongside the river Serpis which we followed for around 11 klms, the total length of the walk is 22 kms. For us this was a good walk offering views from the mountains and along the river an abundance of wild life, rabbits, birds and fish to watch as we ambled along passing through some tunnels made by English Victorian engineers who built the railway.
The second longish walk was very different, we set out to climb Benicadell - this mountain towers to a height of 1078mtrs. Again we started by being taken by car (around 20 mins), the walk is well marked and the smell of the pines, wild mint and rosemary seems to be everywhere on the mountain, only the last 60 metres is a bit of a scramble but the view from the top makes it all worth while, on a clear day it is possible to see the sea.
In conclusion the holiday offered wonderful walking, good food, and friendly hosts. The weather for us was unkind with 6 days of rain but we still enjoyed our stay and as a reward on the final day the sun came out to show us how much better the area is in the warm sun.”
Colin and Evan have spent many years walking together in many countries around the world and we are delighted that they have looked so favourably on our part of “Real Spain”. We look forward to their next visit.
On their return to the UK they sent us the following write-up:
“Monticheivo is a small village in the mountains some 40 kms south of Valencia , we (Evan and Colin, two very mature walkers) were met by Caroline and Neil and driven to their home, a converted town house offering a home from home holiday with all the benefits of English speaking guides, they also offered a transfer service to and from the walks that begin and end high in the mountains, complete with detailed maps of the area and details of the walks in terms of distance approx time and interesting things to see while on route.
The area offers walks for all requirements from circular wanders through olive groves, acres of orange and peach trees of between 2 –20 kms all starting within 50 metres of the house on flat roads in the valley.
For a longer walk after a 30 min car ride we followed a well marked path from the small village of Lorcha climbing through the La Safor mountains to a height of 400 metres before descending to a disused railway track alongside the river Serpis which we followed for around 11 klms, the total length of the walk is 22 kms. For us this was a good walk offering views from the mountains and along the river an abundance of wild life, rabbits, birds and fish to watch as we ambled along passing through some tunnels made by English Victorian engineers who built the railway.
The second longish walk was very different, we set out to climb Benicadell - this mountain towers to a height of 1078mtrs. Again we started by being taken by car (around 20 mins), the walk is well marked and the smell of the pines, wild mint and rosemary seems to be everywhere on the mountain, only the last 60 metres is a bit of a scramble but the view from the top makes it all worth while, on a clear day it is possible to see the sea.
In conclusion the holiday offered wonderful walking, good food, and friendly hosts. The weather for us was unkind with 6 days of rain but we still enjoyed our stay and as a reward on the final day the sun came out to show us how much better the area is in the warm sun.”
Colin and Evan have spent many years walking together in many countries around the world and we are delighted that they have looked so favourably on our part of “Real Spain”. We look forward to their next visit.
Wednesday 1 October 2008
House hunting in our part of "Real Spain"
Last week we had Clare and John staying with us from Pembrokeshire. They were spending a couple of weeks in the Valencia region house hunting. We were delighted with the guest book entry they left.
Clare and John wrote -
We have enjoyed 4 memorable, if damp, days at the Casa Blanca Rural in Montichelvo. Our hosts, Neil and Caroline, couldn't have been more welcoming and helpful. Through emails, we explained that we were visiting the area with the intention of finding a simple retreat in rural Spain and, by the time we arrived, they had drawn up a list of trustworthy English speaking estate agents and even found a couple of local properties for us to consider.
Casa blanca Rural is beautiful – clean, comfortable, full of character and homely touches. Neil and Caroline went out of their way to help us in our search, keen to impart local knowledge. Having sold up and moved into a small Spanish community themselves, who better to ask for opinions and advice? Each morning we would chat about our plans for the day and each evening, discuss the results. They know the area, the people, the culture and the geography. They fit in here and have been accepted into village life – we would recommend anyone looking for property in Real Spain to spend a few days here – they have so much information that they are keen to share.
Although we did not see the village at it's best because of the weather, we could see from photos that the views are fantastic. The access to the coast via the CV60 is fast and easy. It is a perfect base to search – quiet and relaxed yet close to the amenities of towns where the estate agents are located.
We will be back to see Montichelvo in the sunshine. Thanks Neil and Caroline.
We have always been very fortunate with the guests that have stayed with us here at Casa Blanca Rural. It is always lovely to spend time with family and friends when they are able to visit and it is also lovely to meet new people such as Clare and John. Hopefully they will find their property in Real Spain and we look forward to seeing more of them in the future.
Clare and John wrote -
We have enjoyed 4 memorable, if damp, days at the Casa Blanca Rural in Montichelvo. Our hosts, Neil and Caroline, couldn't have been more welcoming and helpful. Through emails, we explained that we were visiting the area with the intention of finding a simple retreat in rural Spain and, by the time we arrived, they had drawn up a list of trustworthy English speaking estate agents and even found a couple of local properties for us to consider.
Casa blanca Rural is beautiful – clean, comfortable, full of character and homely touches. Neil and Caroline went out of their way to help us in our search, keen to impart local knowledge. Having sold up and moved into a small Spanish community themselves, who better to ask for opinions and advice? Each morning we would chat about our plans for the day and each evening, discuss the results. They know the area, the people, the culture and the geography. They fit in here and have been accepted into village life – we would recommend anyone looking for property in Real Spain to spend a few days here – they have so much information that they are keen to share.
Although we did not see the village at it's best because of the weather, we could see from photos that the views are fantastic. The access to the coast via the CV60 is fast and easy. It is a perfect base to search – quiet and relaxed yet close to the amenities of towns where the estate agents are located.
We will be back to see Montichelvo in the sunshine. Thanks Neil and Caroline.
We have always been very fortunate with the guests that have stayed with us here at Casa Blanca Rural. It is always lovely to spend time with family and friends when they are able to visit and it is also lovely to meet new people such as Clare and John. Hopefully they will find their property in Real Spain and we look forward to seeing more of them in the future.
Sunday 3 August 2008
It's that time of year again......
Moros y Cristianos
Or, in English, Moors and Christians is a specular celebration held in many different Spanish towns and villages. This festival acts out a part of Spanish history demonstrating the battles between the Arabs and the Christians that took place in the region centuries ago.
Soldiers march, sergeants wave to the crowds and horsemen show off their skills.
Just one example of subjects for a photography holiday in Spain.
We visited our neighbouring village of Benicolet last evening....
Thanks for looking, please feel free to leave a comment.
Or, in English, Moors and Christians is a specular celebration held in many different Spanish towns and villages. This festival acts out a part of Spanish history demonstrating the battles between the Arabs and the Christians that took place in the region centuries ago.
Soldiers march, sergeants wave to the crowds and horsemen show off their skills.
Just one example of subjects for a photography holiday in Spain.
We visited our neighbouring village of Benicolet last evening....
Thanks for looking, please feel free to leave a comment.
Thursday 3 April 2008
To the top!!!
Today we climbed a mountain! Well, to be precise we walked up a mountain. Benicadell rises to over 3000ft and has a very sheer side that involves special climbing skills and a more gently sloping side that has become our top walk!
Keith, Alison and Sandra are visiting their home-from-home in Montichelvo this week and they love walking as much as we do. In fact it was Keith and Ali that first showed us a track up into the mountains of the Penyes Albas behind our village last year. So we decided to tackle Benicadell as a group, Caroline and I had made the summit before, in January, but it was to be a first for our friends.
We drove up to a refuge on the side of the mountain and started our walk from there. Moderate to hard going would be an honest description of the tracks that lead to the top but after an hour and a half of good healthy exercise we made it!
The scenery is truly breathtaking with 100 km views in all directions. We sat and ate our packed lunches at a comfortable spot just below the summit.
We were then treated to a fantastic display of ridge-soaring by two large eagles who came into view at a height lower than us, but soon swirled round and round in the gentle up-currents and moved away into the distance high above us – a very special moment and a great time to share with friends. (Click to photo for a larger view, although you may still not be able to make out the eagles – they are right in the centre, honest!)
When we got bored with the scenery (NOT!) we made our descent via a “Nevera” which is an igloo-like building built of stone for storing ice centuries ago.
Back in the car we called in at Beniatjar for a much deserved cold beer – a real “Ice Cold in Alex” moment, and the locals, not used to seeing strangers in their village, were entertaining to say the least…..
There is a wealth of information about Benicadell and the towns that surround it here http://www.valldalbaida.com/rutes/benicadell_en.php (this should show as a link that you can click on but,for some reason you will have to copy and paste the webaddress into your browser window to get to the website)
Keith, Alison and Sandra are visiting their home-from-home in Montichelvo this week and they love walking as much as we do. In fact it was Keith and Ali that first showed us a track up into the mountains of the Penyes Albas behind our village last year. So we decided to tackle Benicadell as a group, Caroline and I had made the summit before, in January, but it was to be a first for our friends.
We drove up to a refuge on the side of the mountain and started our walk from there. Moderate to hard going would be an honest description of the tracks that lead to the top but after an hour and a half of good healthy exercise we made it!
The scenery is truly breathtaking with 100 km views in all directions. We sat and ate our packed lunches at a comfortable spot just below the summit.
We were then treated to a fantastic display of ridge-soaring by two large eagles who came into view at a height lower than us, but soon swirled round and round in the gentle up-currents and moved away into the distance high above us – a very special moment and a great time to share with friends. (Click to photo for a larger view, although you may still not be able to make out the eagles – they are right in the centre, honest!)
When we got bored with the scenery (NOT!) we made our descent via a “Nevera” which is an igloo-like building built of stone for storing ice centuries ago.
Back in the car we called in at Beniatjar for a much deserved cold beer – a real “Ice Cold in Alex” moment, and the locals, not used to seeing strangers in their village, were entertaining to say the least…..
There is a wealth of information about Benicadell and the towns that surround it here http://www.valldalbaida.com/rutes/benicadell_en.php (this should show as a link that you can click on but,for some reason you will have to copy and paste the webaddress into your browser window to get to the website)
Saturday 29 March 2008
How quickly Spring heads towards Summer!
To make the most of some quiet time between guests and the lovely weather we popped into Gandia and then spent a relaxing afternoon at a beach side restaurant and then onto the beach at Daimus which is about 20 minutes from Casa Blanca Rural. In Gandia the temperature was an impressive 29 degrees
and the wonderful scent from the roadside orange blossom was almost overpowering.
Daimus is a small town just south of Gandia. There are numerous bars and restaurants serving traditional tapas and main meal dishes, not quite as cheap as inland prices but very good value nonetheless. We enjoyed a couple of ice cold beers and tapas for two for the equivalent of about £10 at Tapas Rigo sitting outside at a table on the promenade watching the sea and the world passing by.
With a light breeze, sitting on the beach was a real pleasure. The beach is very clean, well maintained and has as much personal space as anyone could want. In fact when we left at about 4 o'clock ours were the only footprints to be seen.
A typical week on holiday at Casa Blanca Rural
Vicki, Perry and their two daughters, Georgia and Maddi, exchanged snow and sub-zero temperatures in the UK for a week with us in Montichelvo. They were in need of some R&R and a break from the routines of their busy lives at home.
The weather treated them very kindly with temperatures between high teens and low twenties and wall-to-wall sunshine. They had hired a car from the airport (which we recommend) so had the freedom to explore independently and to experience the thrills of driving in Spain!
Once settled in they were able to take advantage of our local knowledge and accompanied us on our most popular walk which is up a valley in the mountains behind us and across to a Moorish ruined castle for a picnic.
The girls installed their Barbie and Ken dolls as King and Queen for the duration of our visit!
We also took them on a mountain 4x4 ride to show some of the amazing views around these parts.
Luckily their visit coincided with Las Fallas and other festivities so we all went into Gandia, which is our local main town, to experience fireworks like you wouldn’t believe and burnings of the monuments late into the night.
Local cuisine was sampled at the Moli Canyar (a large converted mill) that serves a splendid all-you-can-eat menu del dia. They also had our in house barbeque and on another night our “Paella de la casa”.
A couple of different days were spent at the beach which Georgia and Maddi loved and became very relaxed too……..
We also took them on our most popular excursion which is a trip by 4x4 along an old disused railway line that winds its way along the route of the river Serpis. Beautiful scenery in every direction – we never tire of it. And before returning to the house we stopped for a very leisurely tapas lunch sitting in the sunshine outside a bar in a village mostly in the middle of nowhere – a world away from day to day life back home. And just to show that we really enjoy what we do - this is me being a very happy host...
Apart from the trips out there were shopping trips, visits to the local bar (25 yards away in our church square) meeting the friendly locals, practicing long forgotten Spanish. Amazing how jokes can be enjoyed between people who barely understand what the other is saying!
All too soon the week came to an end and our guests traded the warm sunshine for snow and sub-zero temperatures once more. So, were they relaxed and refreshed? – Yep, no doubt!
The weather treated them very kindly with temperatures between high teens and low twenties and wall-to-wall sunshine. They had hired a car from the airport (which we recommend) so had the freedom to explore independently and to experience the thrills of driving in Spain!
Once settled in they were able to take advantage of our local knowledge and accompanied us on our most popular walk which is up a valley in the mountains behind us and across to a Moorish ruined castle for a picnic.
The girls installed their Barbie and Ken dolls as King and Queen for the duration of our visit!
We also took them on a mountain 4x4 ride to show some of the amazing views around these parts.
Luckily their visit coincided with Las Fallas and other festivities so we all went into Gandia, which is our local main town, to experience fireworks like you wouldn’t believe and burnings of the monuments late into the night.
Local cuisine was sampled at the Moli Canyar (a large converted mill) that serves a splendid all-you-can-eat menu del dia. They also had our in house barbeque and on another night our “Paella de la casa”.
A couple of different days were spent at the beach which Georgia and Maddi loved and became very relaxed too……..
We also took them on our most popular excursion which is a trip by 4x4 along an old disused railway line that winds its way along the route of the river Serpis. Beautiful scenery in every direction – we never tire of it. And before returning to the house we stopped for a very leisurely tapas lunch sitting in the sunshine outside a bar in a village mostly in the middle of nowhere – a world away from day to day life back home. And just to show that we really enjoy what we do - this is me being a very happy host...
Apart from the trips out there were shopping trips, visits to the local bar (25 yards away in our church square) meeting the friendly locals, practicing long forgotten Spanish. Amazing how jokes can be enjoyed between people who barely understand what the other is saying!
All too soon the week came to an end and our guests traded the warm sunshine for snow and sub-zero temperatures once more. So, were they relaxed and refreshed? – Yep, no doubt!
Sunday 23 March 2008
It's Fiesta time!
Our guests over the last couple of weeks have been able to enjoy some of what Spain does best!
Last week was Las Fallas and because Easter is early this year, that led immediately into Santa Semana.
Las Fallas lasts for 5 days and always ends on March 19th. The last night is when the fantastic detailed monuments, that have taken the last year to build, are burned where they stand in the streets. We watched the proceedings in Gandia where 20 odd of these monuments had been on display. The intricate detail is quite amazing to see. The monuments are cartoon like, the characters depicted with subtle humour and slightly risque poses!
A couple of photos give an indication here but there will be far more appearing shortly on our Casa Blanca Rural website.
On each of the Fallas days at 2pm a "mascleta" took place in the centre of Gandia. These are incredible firework displays that literally shake the town centre with violent explosions. An amazing spectacle!
On Good Friday was the silent procession in Gandia, a long procession of hooded participants slow marching to heavy drum beats and subdued music from brass bands.
Bare footed volunteers shrouded in black gowns and hoods carry heavy wooden crosses on their shoulders, the only sounds that accompany this group are the chains dragging behind them that are shackled to their ankles, a pretty haunting sight to see.
Back in the sleepy village of Montichelvo on Easter Saturday night was a midnight service at the church opposite our house this was accompanied by loud explosive fireworks during and after the service. Last year it caught us by surprise and we thought the house was collapsing - but this year we were ready for it!
Last week was Las Fallas and because Easter is early this year, that led immediately into Santa Semana.
Las Fallas lasts for 5 days and always ends on March 19th. The last night is when the fantastic detailed monuments, that have taken the last year to build, are burned where they stand in the streets. We watched the proceedings in Gandia where 20 odd of these monuments had been on display. The intricate detail is quite amazing to see. The monuments are cartoon like, the characters depicted with subtle humour and slightly risque poses!
A couple of photos give an indication here but there will be far more appearing shortly on our Casa Blanca Rural website.
On each of the Fallas days at 2pm a "mascleta" took place in the centre of Gandia. These are incredible firework displays that literally shake the town centre with violent explosions. An amazing spectacle!
On Good Friday was the silent procession in Gandia, a long procession of hooded participants slow marching to heavy drum beats and subdued music from brass bands.
Bare footed volunteers shrouded in black gowns and hoods carry heavy wooden crosses on their shoulders, the only sounds that accompany this group are the chains dragging behind them that are shackled to their ankles, a pretty haunting sight to see.
Back in the sleepy village of Montichelvo on Easter Saturday night was a midnight service at the church opposite our house this was accompanied by loud explosive fireworks during and after the service. Last year it caught us by surprise and we thought the house was collapsing - but this year we were ready for it!
Tuesday 8 January 2008
Busy, busy, busy!
We have been preparing for the start of this new year by stepping up a gear with our advertising.
So - our NEW website has gone live!
Enquiries are filtering in so if any of you are planning a visit (and we hope you are!) then please book asap to get the dates you would like. Just for information there are big fiesta/parades going on locally at Easter and its our own village fiesta in early May - not to be missed, but don't expect too much sleep!
We have also started a Walking Holidays operation which is an extension of our existing website -
Please have a wander around it :-)
On a completely different subject The White Cat Company www.thewhitecatcompany.com who are credited at the bottom of our website has also had a website revamp. If you want a website putting together or an old one re-worked then why not drop them an email?
So - our NEW website has gone live!
Enquiries are filtering in so if any of you are planning a visit (and we hope you are!) then please book asap to get the dates you would like. Just for information there are big fiesta/parades going on locally at Easter and its our own village fiesta in early May - not to be missed, but don't expect too much sleep!
We have also started a Walking Holidays operation which is an extension of our existing website -
Please have a wander around it :-)
On a completely different subject The White Cat Company www.thewhitecatcompany.com who are credited at the bottom of our website has also had a website revamp. If you want a website putting together or an old one re-worked then why not drop them an email?
Sunset at Montichelvo
Just thought we would share this photo taken from our roof terrace yesterday evening...
Not bad eh?
Not bad eh?
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