Costa Del Sol Attractions (9)

Gibraltar
The British rock holds many attractions for the visitor. Gibraltar has a long history having a strategic location close to Africa. The rock has diverse wildlife, lovely scenery, and architecture. Gibraltar has become famous for its VAT free shopping in Main Street.

Perhaps it is most famous for the apes that reside at the top of the rock. Certainly they are a bit hit with the tourists. The Barbary Apes, (Macaca Sylvanus), are tail-less monkeys and they are the only free-roaming monkeys in Europe. Natives of North Africa. How did the apes get to Gibraltar ? It is believed likley that they were taken to the rock as pets by members of the British garrison, or even as game?

Another legend claims that should the apes ever disappear, the British will leave Gibraltar. During the last war, natural causes had diminished the ape numbers. Winston Churchill took an interest and additional animals were imported. There are 6 ape packs residing on the rock. The apes do wander into town and forage for food but all in all they are much loved by the full time inhabitants. Whilst on your trip ask your guide, (if you have one) to put an ape on your shoulder for a photograph session.
Whilst on your trip to Gibraltar watch out for the Dolphins leaping in the bay. As whole families of dolphins visit there is a goo chance of seeing some of them.

LOWER ST.MICHAEL’S CAVE TOUR
Lower St. Michael’s Cave was discovered in 1942, accidentally, whilst blasting a second entrance at St Michael’s Cave in order to prepare it for use as an emergency hospital during the Second World War. There are organised tours available to the general public priced at £5.00 per head. The tour normally lasts around three hours, however due to the fact that there is some scrambling and minor climbing with ropes involved, duration times may vary. The cave is totally in its original natural state (although it is fully lit). This cave could be referred to as a show cave as most known formations may be found here. One of the sites visited during this tour is a beautiful underground lake and fortunately for the visitor, who will no doubt not want to forget this wonderful espeleological experience, photography is permitted.
People are advised to wear stout shoes and casual clothing. Group sizes range from a maximum of ten and a minimum of five. Due to the unusual nature of this tour, children under the age of ten years are not allowed.

WALKING TOURS
This is an opportunity for you to go on a gentle and interesting walk. The tour starts at Casemates Square at the entrance to the Main Street in Gibraltar. Licensed tour guides will take you on a tour of the City Centre. You will travel back through time and find out all about Gibraltar and its history during the Moorish, Spanish and British periods. You will learn about the development of its people and its culture. The tour is based on themes elaborated at different stops. The Tour takes about one hour to an hour and a half and is mostly wheelchair friendly. Total tour distance approximately one kilometre. The Tour will leave you with lasting memories of Gibraltar, its people and places so ….Let’s go!

WORLD WAR II TUNNELS
These tunnels were excavated during 1939-1944 by the Royal Engineers and a contingent of Canadian Engineers, and are an extension to The Great Siege Tunnels excavated during The Great Siege of 1779-83. The Rock is in fact honeycombed with a 32 mile-long network of tunnels. There are fascinating tours of these tunnels, which are conducted by a guide from H.M. Forces.
Persons wishing to go on these fascinating tours are advised to bring a torch and to wear comfortable shoes. Recommended party sizes are a maximum of fifteen and a minimum of six or seven and the price for the tours is £2.00 per person. The average duration of a tour is three hours.

ROCK AND FORTRESS TUNNEL TOURS
Licensed tour guides will take you on a tour lasting approximately 52 minutes with a 15- minute comfort break where refreshments are available. Tour includes static exhibitions and photographic displays.

CABLE CAR TOUR
The Cable Car is the best way to the "Top of the Rock" and a must-see attraction for all visitors to Gibraltar. The journey takes passengers 412m above sea level in approximately 6 minutes offering spectacular views all the way. From the Top Station one has uninterrupted views southwards across the Strait of Gibraltar to Africa; westwards, of the City of Gibraltar and across the Bay to Algeciras; a birds eye view of Gibraltar airport and Spain to the north; and the blue expanse of the Mediterranean and the beaches and cities of the Costa Del Sol to the east. A self-service restaurant is located within the Top Station complex where passengers will be able to pick up a quick snack and a drink whilst taking in the spectacular views around them. Group bookings can be taken in advance.
Pocket Multimedia Tour: A personal state-of-the-art Interactive Multimedia Guide is available to all passengers on arrival at the Top Station, allowing passengers to gain an insight into Gibraltar's fascinating history whilst being guided around the Top Station terraces. The commentary is available in eight languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Swedish, Portuguese and Hebrew and was the first of it's kind to be offered in Europe.
A cable car runs a continuous shuttle to the top of the Rock, daily excluding Sundays

Enjoy your trip to Gibraltar.

To stay in the area look at our quality properties on offer. Casares which is only 25 mins away, or Calahonda which is approximately 60 mins away. To look through a larger selection of properties look at Costa Del Sol.

Once you have been to Gibraltar please add comments to our blog. We would love to hear your views and this will help other visitors.

Costa Del Sol Attractions (8)

Mijas Pueblo
Mijas or Mijas Pueblo has been described as a jewel of the Costa Del Sol. Having a population of 7.5K it is perched 428 meters above sea level. The village is easily reached form the N340 highway near fuengirola. The tourist is very welcome in Mijas and even the Town Hall has a helpful English speaking section to assist with any queries.

Whilst having quite a few non-Spanish residents living in the village it has managed to hang on to it's true Andalucian identity.

Around the village there are viewing points where once can see the fine views of the area. Make sure you visit Muralla Gardens, where the flowers bloom all year round due to clever selection of plants. Visit also The Plaza de la Virgen de la Pena, you might see a band playing in the bandstand!

Wander through the streets and visit the many shops displaying local goods such as paintings, leather work, ceramics, ideal for gifts to take home.

Many think that one of the nicest things found in Mijas is the taxi service. This quite simply consists of a 'donkey service'. For approximately 6€ you can take a donkey ride around the streets, or if you are feeling wealthy for 12€ you can take a small cart, again pulled by a donkey. Horse and carriages work the summer months and can be found in Plaza de Pina.

In the middle of the village you will find a lovely fountain where the birds drink. This fountain was carved by Galiano. The square is surrounded by cafes and shops.

A must is a visit to Santuario de la Virgen de la Pena, carved out of solid rock and a tribute to the patron saint of Mijas. Built in 1586 following an image of the Virgin appeared. It is recorded that later an image of the Virgin was found concealed in a recess in the tower, hidden for 500 years!

If you wish to look for rental accomodation in the area look at Mijas, Fuengirola, or to look further afield look at Costa Del Sol.

Costa Del Sol Attractions (7)

Gaucin

Gaucin is a lovely whitewashed mountain village, a short drive from the equally delightful village of Casares. The village has views to Gibraltar and North Afirica.

The village has a population of 2000 and is 626 metres above sea level. Gauchin's name is derived from 'guazan' meaning strong rock in Arabic. Due to its position the vilage was a Roman settlement and the roman signautre was perhaps the castle called Castillo del Aguila which means Eagles Castle. The castle was later devleoped into a fortress by the Arabs.

Look out for eagles circling overhead while kestrels regualry nest in the walls.of the medieval convent.

Gauncin was once a haven for smugglers of brandy and tobacco who travelled the district. Gaucin has a checkered history and in the first year of the Spanish Civil War, (1936-1939), nationalists captured the village and killed more than fifty people.

Today Gaucin is a quiet village, and is famous locally for the 'bull run' which takes place over Easter weekend where bulls are run through the streeets, (they are not harmed) and the local males and the odd intrepid tourist, take their chance by standing in front of the bulls.


When you walk through the streets you will see the handholds on the walls used to help get people out of the way of the bulls.

If you want to stay near to Casares follow this link. If you wish to look further afield look at CostaDel Sol.

Costa Del Sol Attractions (6)

Casares
Casares is one of the typical Spanish whitewashed mountain villages found in in this part of Spain. It has population of 3000 and is one of the most famous and most photographed villages.

Casares can easily approached from the A7 coastal road and my favourite route is from the N340. The journey is only 9 miles. On route stop off to look over the scenery you might spot some eagles on the way up!

As you enter the outskirts of the village you will find a car park on the right hand side of the road, (free). If you prefer drive just a few metres more and park outside a bar or restaurant.

Then you walk just a few steps to fantastic views below to the village. You can drive down into the village, (best for those less able), but if you can, walk down the steep winding steps to be treated to a close up of the lovely houses which look just like sugar cubes from a distance.

The main square is called 'Plaza de España' In the square notice the statue of Blas Infante the Andalucia Nationalist leader who was born here on July 5th 1885 and executed by Franco's own rebels at the start of the civil war. Off the square in Calle Carrera his birth house has been turned into a museum and tourist office.

Follow the narrow street next to the Virgin del Rosario chapel when you reach the top you will be 1,400 feet above sea level. Visit the old fortress. There is an old fortress. There is also a derelict church, Iglesia de la Encarnación, (currently being rejuvenated). The church remained in use the mid 1800's. and was damaged by anarchists during the Spanish Civil War. From here you are likely to spot peregrine falcons and kestrels flying around the gorge. If the weather is kind and clear you may spot the African coast and the Rock of Gibraltar.

Near the church is the Hermitage of Vera Cruz. All that is left is a domed alcove which may have been an altar room. Look out for bullet holes. During the civil war it was common to hurl the bodies of enemies into the deep gorge below. Look across the gorge to the right of Restaurant la Teraza a simple iron cross marks and remembers another civil war hurling site.

Behind the church next to the cemetery there are the interesting signs of an outdoor auditorium.

When you leave Casares, unless you want to return by the same route, go past the visitor centre and when you get to the T junction you can either turn left for Manilva and the coast, or turn right for another visit to the whitewashed village of Gauchin.

If you select the route to Manilva after 1.5K you will see a small track. This was once the main route to Jimena and San Martin. It is bumpy ride but still usable. Travel over a cattle grid and past a farm house you will eventually come to a ruins of a 30 foot high wall. This is the remains of the Iberian and Roman town of Lacipo.

If you want to stay near to Casares but in more luxury look at this link. If you wish to look further afield look at Costa Del Sol.

Costa Del Sol Attractions (5)

Crocodile Park
Situated in Torremolinos, the heart of the Costal del Sol. In Crocodile Park you will find yourself in front of prehistoric monsters which have miraculously survived 200 million years of evolution - carnivores which knew the dinosaurs and use the distance of less than 2 metres, you can wonder at the gigantic crocodiles by silently walking beside them, observing the secrets of one of the most fascinating creatures of our world.

Crocodile Park Torremolinos
C/ Cuba, 14 29620 Torremolinos (MÁLAGA)
Telf: 952051782
E-mail: arkosaurio@crocodile-park.com

15 minutes from Torremolinos center
Taxi service and parking

Prices
Adults: 10,00 €
Kids: 7,50 €
Senior citizens (+65): 8,00 €
Children under 4 years: Free

Opening time
March, april, may, june, october, november: 10.00 to 18.00
July, august, september: 10.00 to 19.00
December, january, february: 10.00 to 17.00

To obtian a rental property in the area look at our site Costa Del Sol

If you have been, or go to the Park please do let us know what you thought as this will help other visitors plan there trips.

Costa Del Sol Attractions (4)

Selwo Marina
Selwo Marina can be found on the seafront in just one street back from the sea front in Benalmadena Costa opposite the Parque de la Paloma.

Selwo Marina management team has developed an environment where you can experience some of the marine life of other paprts of the world.


Dolpinarium
There is a Dolphinarium (dolphins and sea lions) where you can easily view these lovely marine creatures. You can even see their antics underwater!

Ice Island
The Ice Island is home to an extensive range of species of penguins

Amazonia
Amazonia as you would rightly guess takes you to the tropical jungle to experience the marine life.

For childrenSelwo Marina is great for children and there is a playground, a touch and explore pool and many other areas to enjoy.

Opening hours
Selwo Marina is open every day from February 12th to October 31st, check the Selwo website for full details. You can and also purchase a discount card allowing repeat access to this and other attractions.

For suitable quality rental properties we suggest you look at the following link: Costa Del Sol or more specifically at the following,
Calahonda, Mijas, and Rivera Del Sol

Costa Del Sol Attractions (3)

Benalmadena Cable Car

Situated right next to Tivoli World, (see Costa Del Sol Attractions (1) the Benalmadena Cablecar runs to the summit of Monte Calamorro. The cable car is owned by Selwo Park. You can enjoy fantastic views over the Costa del Sol, Sierra Nevada from the summit. On clear days you will be treated to views to Gibraltar and the North African coast. Each of the cars can take four people and the journey lasts approximately 15 minutes.

At the summit is a cafeteria. Included in the price of the cable car is Donkey rides, exhibitions of birds of prey and Spanish horse riding exhibitions.

Thought for the day: Why not ride up to the summit in the cable car, and then get fit walking down? Even better perhaps take your cycle up in the car and cyle down!

The Cable Car is open every day from 10am to 9pm.

If you wish to visit other local attractions visit Selwo website where you will find a link to pre-purchase tickets. You can and also purchase a discount card allowing repeat access to this and other attractions.

For suitable quality rental properties we suggest you look at the following link: Costa Del Sol or more specifically at the following,

Calahonda, Mijas, and Rivera Del Sol.

Costa Del Sol Attractions (2)

SELWO ADVENTURE PARK
Selwo Adventure Park on the Costa Del Sol is one of my favourite attractions of the area. Close to Estepona and Marbella on the coastal road, the park is easily reached. Selwo's management team aim to really involve the visitor in the attractions. The park is amazing and the animals live as free as is possible. The animals roam around frequently and are easily seen either on foot, or by camouflaged trucks. The park holds in the region of 2000 animals and 200 species.

Selwo Adventure Park presents five basic ecosystems, adapted to the characteristics of the animals and to their daily lives. When I was there last Summer (2007) I got a fantastic photograph of a giraffe feeding and was almost levels with its head!

Two things you must not miss are the Bat cave, (fruit bats, you can see them flying and eating fruit at fast speeds), and the Aviary where you can walk down through a natural valley and see all kinds of birds nesting and flying. Soem of the birds are huge, but also look out for the tiny specimens!

You will see all the normal range of animals like monkeys, crocodiles elephants and tigers and there is also a lovely children's petting zoo/farm.

There are good walkways so ideal for pushchairs/wheelchairs. However bear in mind the park is set in natural surroundings so it includes making use of hills! Do not forget the suntan cream as you will be in the open for most of the time!

There is a great food facilities in the park, as an example the one at the top of the hills offers benches under an African style straw hut. Sit a while and you can look down over open ground to the sea!

I will be next visiting the park in May 2008 with my first grandchild Dylan. I am very much looking forward to seeing his face light up when he sees some the animals for the first time in his life. He will be 1 year old then I will certainly be adding more detail following our trip!

If you have been to the park we would love to have your feed back which we will publish. This will help other tourists to build a picture of the park for themselves.

Entrance FeeADULT 23,50€

CHILD 16,00€

SENIOR 16,00€

PARKING 2,50€

If you wish to visit other local attractions visit Selwo website where you will find a link to pre-purchase tickets. You can and also purchase a discount card allowing repeat access to this and other attractions.

If you want to stay fairly local to Selwo we suggest you look specifically at the following links:Calahonda, Mijas, and Rivera Del Sol.

Costa Del Sol Attactions (1)

Tivoli World
Tivoli World Amusement Park is located in approximaley 2 km inland from Benalmadena Costa, and easily be reached by:

• train which runs from and can be reached by the train which runs from Malaga to Fuengirola


• Buses which run along the coastal road


• Car ample parking provided

Tivili world is the largest amusement park on the Costa del Sol. The park offers and offers both rides and a varied program of shows including Wild West and Flameco shows. It even has a new section for children called 'Tivolandia'.

Opening hours.

From November to March it is open only on Sundays from 12 noon till 8pm, in October and April it is open on Saturdays and Sunadays from 12 noon until 8pm, in May it opens from 1pm to 9pm (11pm at weekends), in June it opens from 4 or 5pm to midnight and in July August and the first half of September it opens from 6pm to 2am. For more information you can visit there site Tivoli World

INDIVIDUAL Entrance: ............................... 4.00 €uros(From 1m. height)Supertivolino ........................ 12.00 €uros(Only in Ticket Office inside the park)Supertivolino ticket allow you enjoy the rides included in its offer as many times as you like, (more than 38 rides, due to height and security norms).

Enjoy a Bric-a-Brac Garden Market, prying between all kinds of miscellaneous objects. You'll surely find the original gift you were looking for.From 11am to 1pm, the price of the entrance is only 1 €uro.Enjoy a phenomenal day in Tivoli World's magic enviroment.

Villas Costa Blanca

Villas Costa Blanca is the latest of our sub sites, and completes Spain for the time being. As other areas start to become better represented on our database, we'll add more Spanish locations.

Villas Costa Blanca has a large number of villas and other properties in almost 30 different regions.

Javea Villas are well represented on this site - currently there are around 20 properties there alone. There are also around 12 Benidorm Apartments and other properties. There are also over 30 villas and apartments in Altea.

Again, the Costa Blanca Travel Guides are in place, thanks to the hard work of the advertisers. One describes the Javea coastline as having 'scenic rocky coves, wonderful beaches and dramatic cliffs' and for the active types 'Nearly every kind of watersport is catered for in Javea, and for those who dont want to get their feet wet there is golf, bowls, tennis, cycling, horse riding and hiking to name but a few.'

Well worth taking a look if you are travelling to that region.

Costa Del Sol

Nearly 2 million tourists pass through Malaga Airport each year heading for the sunshine, (300 days per year, annual average 18*c), offered by the internationally famous Costa Del Sol stretching from Nerja to Gibraltar. The Costa del Sol is serviced by both Malaga and Gibraltar Airports.

The most popular resorts are those well known resorts lie west of Malaga beginning with Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Fuengirola and Mijas Costa. Further along the coast lies Marbella with its famous marina at Puerto Banus, Estepona, Sotogrande and finally Gibraltar.

So what is it that makes the area so special? Well for one thing it is the range of sporting activities on offer. Here are just a few examples:

• 70 Costa Del Sol golf courses


• Sailing


• Scugba diving


• Horce riding


• Dolphone safaris


• Zoo's


• Pleasure parks
  

If you want to get away from the beach and do something cultural one can visit the cities of Granda, Cordoba, Seville and Ronda. However if you wish to go further afield whip across to visit Morocco.

The Costa del Sol has numerous typical Andalucian whitewashed villages and my favourites are Casares, Gaucin and Mijas.

If you want to have a general look for a rental property go to our site Costa Del Sol Apartments where you will find plenty of properties at good prices.

Pop back to this blog as we will be adding more information about the Costa Del Sol in the coming weeks.

Mijas Costa

MIJAS COSTA

The lovely region of Mijas Costa is made up of three areas. Firstly the mountain village of Mijas Pueblo, a typical Andalucian white village, secondly Las Lagubas, a modern commercial area and thirdly Mijas Costa, which stretches along 12 km along the coast.

Mijas Costa covers the popular tourist resorts/areas such as El Chaparral, La Cala, El Combo and Calahonda and takes in the two major urbanizations, Rivera Del Sol and Sitio de Calahonda. You can be step back in time and soak up the flavour of Spain in Mijas Pueblo in the morning, and be back in the 21st century after lunch.

There is a vast range of rental properties available along this stretch of coastline and on offer is everything from small studios for 2 persons to major villas. This is the area for beach life and offers water sports ranging from jet skis, water skiing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, and more.

The two large areas of Sitio de Calahonda and Riviera del Sol are catchment areas in their own right. This stretch of coastline is very popular with tourists since it is only a 20-30 minute drive from Malaga airport and approximately 50 -60 minutes from Gibtalar Airport depending which part you holiday in. The main A7 motorway does split most rental properties from the Mediterranean but I am of the opinion that it is well worth being slightly up an incline to get spectacular views of the sea!

La Cala de Mijas has become the central point is the central point of Mijas Costa and has grown form being a typical Spanish fishing village, to being an area known for ex pats with some 10K inhabitants. It is a lively area with everything you need, and as you would expect most of the shop keepers etc speak English which is very useful.

La Cala has a very popular street market which is held every Wednesday and Saturday morning. As one would expect the market sellers display local produce and have everything from fresh fruit and vegetables, crafts, ceramics and pottery, flowers and plants and lots more.

If you holiday in the area around this time visit the annual fair which begins on the 25th July. Expect to be entertained by dancing, eating and wine tasting!

One of the many delight sin the area is Puerto Cabopino, a beautiful small marina with nice restaurants and a secluded beach.

If you wish to book a holiday in the area go to our site where you will find a good selection of rental properties both in the region of Mijas and further afield.

Costa Del Sol Apartments

It's been a few days since we completed the Canary Islands sub sites with Gran Canaria Villas, but the technical offices have undergone a total redecoration, so we lost a bit of time putting everything back in place. But now we're back on track with Costa Del Sol Apartments as we head towards completing the main areas of Spain.

Costa Del Sol Villas has a lot of properties in 16 different resorts (so far...). From Calahonda with a choice of 2 villas or 5 apartments, to Mijas with 4 apartments, 3 villas and 2 houses to Rivera Del Sol with 8 apartments and a villa.

There is, of course, the well supported Costa Del Sol travel guides, thanks to the efforts of our advertisers and even a few events on the same pages.

Trinidad and Tobago Rental Recipes

If you are reading this article I would guess that you have either a. been on holiday to Trinidad or Tobago or b. are thinking of going or c. are just interested in food or cooking. Whatever the reason welcome! I and my partner have purchased a property and are now going to rent it out. As a nice idea we came up with the concept of leaving a selection of recipes in our rental property for customers to prepare and enjoy. Hopefully over time customers will leave their own copies of recipes so we will build a portfolio, so we both gain. Do you have a recipe for food from this region you would like to share? If so write and share it with us in our blog. So to set you thinking here is typical recipe for chicken wings.

Trinidad and Tobago chicken wings by Ed Baines
Serves 4-6
Preparation time over 2 hours
Cooking time 10 to 30 mins

Ingredients:
For the marinade
2 tbsp olive oil
1 red chilli, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 tbsp curry powder
small bunch fresh thyme, finely chopped
1 lemon, juiced and sliced
200ml/7fl oz sweet chilli sauce
For the chicken
1kg/2lb 2oz chicken wings
500g/1lb 1oz plain flour
1 tbsp olive oil, for greasing
½ lime, juice only
1 lime, cut into wedges

Method
1. To prepare the marinade, warm one tablespoon of the olive oil in a frying pan.
2. Add the chilli and garlic and fry gently over a low heat.
3. Add the curry powder, fresh thyme, lemon juice, lemon slices and the sweet chilli.
4. Stir over a low heat for 2-3 minutes, then remove from the heat and allow to cool.
5. Place the chicken into a large dish or bowl and pour over the marinade. Mix well to coat the chicken thoroughly and place into the fridge to marinate for at least two hours, preferably overnight.
6. To cook the chicken wings, preheat the oven to 190C/385F/Gas 5.
6. Dredge the marinated chicken wings in a bowl of the flour and dust off the excess.
7. Dip the chicken wings into the marinade.
8. Cover a baking sheet with greaseproof paper and grease with olive oil to stop the wings sticking.
9. Place the chicken wings onto the greaseproof paper and transfer to the oven to roast for 25 minutes, or until cooked through.
10. Remove from the oven when cooked and place the wings into a serving bowl. Drizzle the lime juice over the wings and drizzle over the remaining sweet chilli. Serve with lime wedges.

So enjoy cooking and eating your dish and enjoy a nice drop of Cretan wine with it! We look forward to seeing your recipes.

If you want to visit the caribbean you will find some quality properties on our site.

Crete Rental Recipes

If you are reading this article I would guess that you have either a. been on holiday to Crete or b. are thinking of going or c. are just interested in food or cooking. Whatever the reason welcome! I and my partner have purchased a property and are now going to rent it out. As a nice idea we came up with the concept of leaving a selection of recipes in our rental property for customers to prepare and enjoy. Hopefully over time customers will leave their own copies of recipes so we will build a portfolio so we both gain. Do you have a recipe for Cretan food you would like to share? If so write and share it with us in our blog. So to set you thinking here is typical Cretan recipe for Moussaka.

Moussaka
INGREDIENTS

1 kg aubergines (large or/and elongated variety) 160 ml vegetable oil (about 1 teacup) 1 large onion, finely sliced 450 gr. minced beef 1 glass white wine (not retsina, but aretsinoto) 350 gr. fresh tomatoes, 1400 gr. tomatoes, drained of some of their juice and chopped teaspoon ground cinnamon teaspoon ground allspice salt and black pepper 1 teaspoon oregano 25 gr. grated parmesan, kefalotiri, or Gruyere cheese some chopped parsley

Bechamel Sauce 80 gr. butter 80 gr. flour 600 ml warm milk salt and white pepper 30 gr. grated Parmesan or Gruyere cheese 2 egg yolks

Toppingz 60 gr. grated Parmesan,Gruyere or kefalotiri cheese 4 tablespoons toasted breadcrumbs

METHOD
Moussaka should be baked in the oven. Use a roasting container, eitber square or oblong, approximately 25x25 cm or 39x28 cm. It is recommended that you spread the work involved over two days for your convenience; one can easily cook the meat the day before, witbout the Moussaka suffering at all. Do not do the same with the aubergines; they should be fried on the day.

Aubergines
Top and tail the aubergines, without peeling them. Rinse them, cut them lengthways in 75-mm thick slices and immerse them in salted water, for 30 minutes.Take them out, squeeze gently, rinse, then squeeze them again. Drain them in a colander and pat dry. Fry them in hot vegetable oil until they become pale golden on both sides; you can either deep-fry them, which is easier but they absorb a lot of oil, or shallow-fry them. In either case, drain them on absorbent paper on a flat platter before serving, so that most of their oil will dribble away.

Meat
Sautee the sliced onion in 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, until it looks glistening. Add the meat and sautee together, stirring, until all the lumps are broken down and the meat starts to change colour. Pour in the wine, add tomatoes, sliced finely, the spices, salt and pepper and the oregano. Cover and cook for 20 minutes, stirring from time to time in case it sticks. Then mix in the grated cheese and parsley.

Bechamel Sauce
Melt the butter and, away from the heat, gradually add the flour and stir to amalgamate. Return to the heat and gradually add the milk and seasoning, stirring continuously. Simmer for 9-10 minutes, stirring, until it has thickened considerably. Withdraw the pan from the heat, let it stand briefly, then add the cheese and the egg yolks. Stir to amalgamate them. Do not let the sauce boil after this. It should by now be a thick bechamel, to enable it to sit on top of the meat mixture and form a kind of crust.

To assemble, cover the base of the roasting dish with half of the fried aubergines, then spread half of the meat mixture evenly on top of them and cover neatly with the remaining aubergines. Spread the remaining meat and sauce evenly over the top and cover neatly with the bechamel sauce. Sprinkle the grated cheese all over the top, and the breadcrumbs. Moussaka from Macedonia may contain a layer of thinly sliced roun potatoes which have been fried first. Bake in a pre-heated oven, gas no.4/ 350 grades F/ 180 grades C, for 1 hour, untit a golden crust is formed all over the top. Let it stand for 5 minutes before serving, in order to be able to cut it more easily. To serve, cut into square or oblong-shaped pieces, about 8 cm thick. It should be quite dry by then and the pieces should ideally stay intact.

So enjoy cooking and eating your dish and enjoy a nice drop of Cretan wine with it! We look forward to seeing your recipes.

If you want to visit Crete you will find some quality properties on our site.

Cypriot Rental Recipes

If you are reading this article I would guess that you have either a. been on holiday to Cyprus or b. are thinking of going or c. are just intrested and food or cooking. Whatever the reason welcome! I and my partner have purchased a property and are now going to rent it out. As a nice idea we came up with the concept of leaving a selection of recipes in our rental property for customers to prepare and enjoy. Hopefully over time customers will leave their own copies of recipes so we will build a portfolio over time, so we both gain.

Do you have a recipe for Cypriot food you would like to share? If so write and share it with us in our blog. So to set you thinking here is a recipe by Tonia Buxton.

Antigoni's Cypriot Chicken with Cumin Potatoes and Village Salad
by Tonia Buxtonfrom Good Food Live
For a hearty meal try Tonia Buxton's tasty recipe for spiced roast chicken, cumin-flavoured potatoes and green salad
Servings: 4
Level of difficulty: Easy
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Ingredients
1 chicken, around 1.4kg
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 large buffalo tomato, sliced into 8 pieces
1 large onion, sliced into rings
sea salt, and freshly ground pepper
1½ heaped tsp dried oregano
1½ heaped tsp ground cinnamon
village salad, (chopped fresh coriander, parsley, Greek rocket and tomatoes, dressed with lemon juice, olive oil and salt), to serve
For the cumin potatoes:
5-6 medium to large Cypriot potatoes, peeled and halved
1 large onion, thinly sliced into rings
1½ tsp ground cumin
1½ tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
sea salt, and freshly ground pepper
400g canned tomatoes, drained
100ml water
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas 4.

2. Place the chicken in a roasting tray and rub with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

3. Place tomato slices on the chicken breast and legs and surround the chicken with onion rings.

4. Season the chicken with sea salt, freshly ground pepper, oregano and cinnamon.

5. Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the chicken.

6. Roast the chicken in then oven for 1½ hours or until the chicken's juices run clear and the chicken is cooked through.

7. Meanwhile, cook the cumin potatoes. Place the potatoes in a roasting tray and mix in the onion rings.

8. Sprinkle over the cumin and cinnamon and season with salt and freshly ground pepper.

9. Drizzle over the olive oil, mixing well.

10. Crush the tomatoes by hand and layer over the potatoes. Pour over the water.

11. Cover with kitchen foil and bake in the oven with the chicken for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and bake uncovered for 30 minutes, until cooked through.
12. Serve the roast chicken with the cumin potatoes and village salad.

So enjoy cooking and eating your dish and enjoy a nice drop of Cypriot wine with it! We look forward to seeing your recipes.

If you want to visit Cyprus you will find some quality properties on our site.

Spanish Rental Recipes

So you have purchased a property in Spain and are now going to rent it out? Having done likewise my partner and I thought that as a nice idea we would leave a selection of recipes in our rental property for customers to prepare and enjoy.

Hopefully over time customers will leave their own copies of recipes so we will build a collection over time, so we both gain.

Do you have a recipe for Spanish food you would like to share? If so write and share it with us in our blog.

So to set you thinking here is a recipe for Spanish Paella

Spanish Paella Serves 4-6 people
Ingredients
600 grams rice (short grain)
Half a chicken in pieces
2 artichokes
2 medium-sized red peppers
2 mature tomatoes
Black pepper
Garlic
Parsley
A strand of saffron
Olive oil (one glass, about 1/4 litre)
1/2 lemon
A sprig each of rosemary and thyme
Salt

Steps:

1: Fry the chicken in some olive oil. Put the browned chicken pieces into a pan with 8 glasses of water, and bring to the boil. Leave simmering for half an hour.

2. Cut the artichokes and red pepper and fry them.

3: Fry the tomato and garlic in olive oil in the large paella (special paella pan), then add the rice, stir for a minute and then add the chicken, chicken stock (there should be 6 glasses), artichokes, red peppers, the juice of half a lemon, black pepper, parsley, thyme, rosemary, the saffrón strands (grind them first. If you haven't got a grinder, use Colorante which you'll find in the spice and herbs racks in supermarkets) and salt.

4: Once all the ingredients are in the paella pan, turn the heat up to maximum and boil for about 10 minutes. Then lower the heat and leave to simmer for another 10 minutes. After 20 minutes, the liquid should have evaporated. Turn off the heat, and leave to stand for five minutes. If possible cover while it is standing (many Spaniards use paper to cover the pan).


So enjoying cooking and eating your dish and enjoy a nice drop of Spanish wine with it!

We look forward to seeing your recipe's.

If you want to visit Spain you will find some 300 quality properties on our site.

Villas Gran Canaria

The last of of Canarian villa sites is now available - Villas Gran Canaria.

One of our advertisers has summed up the contrasts nicely in their Maspalomas Travel Guide - "Maspalomas is a very popular holiday resort adjacent to the island's largest and most hectic package-tour resort, Playa del Ingles.".

The area of Gran Canaria with the most villas on our site is Puerto Rico, a popular resort built along both sides of a narrow shallow valley. Although I think it has probably expanded somewhat since I was last there - almost 11 years ago.

There's plenty to see and do in Gran Canaria, and any of the villas listed would be an excellent base to start your holiday, whether you are exploring the volcanic landscape or just relaxing in the sun.

Villas Fuerteventura

After a bit of a false start - because of my faulty spelling of Fuerteventura - Villas Fuerteventura is now ready.

Not a huge number of villas, but Fuerteventura is a growing location as far as ClickRentStay is concerned. We currently have 7 Caleta de Fuste villas and double that number of Corralejo Villas. There are also a couple of other villas in other Fuerteventura locations.

Both of the main locations are well represented in our Fuerteventura Travel Guides, with one owner saying "Corralejo has expanded dramatically over the last few years to become a large, bustling resort on the north of the island" and another "Caleta de Fuste is a lovely family resort. Very safe horseshoe shaped sandy beach".

Sounds well worth a visit!

Villas Lanzarote

The latest in our series of subsites, Villas Lanzarote, is now ready for visitors.

As usual, it's got a fantastic set of Lanzarote Travel Guides, covering Costa Teguise to the east of Arrecife Airport, Puerto Del Carmen, just to the west of the airport and Playa Blanca further along the coast.

We are currently displaying details for around 60 villas in Lazarote - quite a good choice - with the majoruty situated within Puerto Del Carmen.

If you are looking to book a villa, or even to advertise your own, then Villas Lanzarote is a good place to start.

Calahonda

Calahonda on the Costa Del Sol has grown into a mecca for the tourist over recent years. It is so large one could easily mistake it for a town in its own right.

The council for Calahonda have put much thought into lifestyle for its inhabitants and tourists alike. For example there are at least 10 golf courses within a small radius, one can try it an array of water sports, and there are tennis courts and a fitness centre for those who want something a little more active.

Calahonda even has its very own port, Puerto Cabopino which is very small and very charming. Next to the port there is a glorious beach.

We recommend staying at Las Palmeras

Las Palmeras is a brand new development which is set in an elevated position at the rear of Calahonda giving magnificent views over rural areas to the sea. We are delighted to be able to offer 7 different types of rental apartments, ranging from 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, (sleeping 6 persons), to 3 bed roomed penthouses. Each block of apartments has its own swimming pool. The apartments are of a very generous proportion being approx 110sm internally and having balconies of 42.5sm.

To view all of out Calahonda rental portfolio go to Calahonda

Flora and Fauna of Cyprus

Cyprus is rich in flora and boasts at least 2000 plant species. Many however and were bought to the island from other far flung continents. The most important of the 'locally produced' are found on the two mountain ranges of Troodos and Pentadactylos, Paphos forest and the Akamas peninsula. At whatever time you visit Cyprus you will see lovely specimens so make sure you take your camera or sketchpad with you!

As for fauna the island has a good variety, but sadly has very few species of mammal, which number approximately 30. Zoologists say that the early arrivals to the island were in fact hippopotami and elephants, both excellent swimmers. Where did they come from? If you know please do get in touch, we would love to hear from you!

Today however Cyprus has lost some of its old species. For example the mesopotamian deer or wild boar have not been so lucky and are extinct from the island. However it is not all sad news and The moufflon, a wild European sheep hoever has managed to bounce back from a few dozen in the last century. Depending where you go in Cyprus you might well spot one or two. If you spot any on your travels though please do let us know!

However ecologists feel that the monk seal will soon disappear from Cyprus unless a huge effort is made. Cyprus has a very healthy colony of bats and are very important to the islands economy derived from agriculture as they keep inspects down.

Whilst Cyprus lacks in mammals it more than makes up for in birds, with over 400 reported species being spotted. Some use Cyprus as a migration stop-over, and who can blame them, whilst others make Cyprus their permanent home. Cyprus is a bird watchers paradise!

Cyprus lists about 25 reptile species amongst its inhabitants. One of the best loved species and one which all tourists enjoy watching is the sea turtle. Cyprus is doing all it can to protect two endangered species of turtle, namely the Loggerhead and the Green turtle.

To book one of our quality properties in Paphos visit Paphos Villas. If you want to look at the whole of our portflio of Cyprus properties visit Cyprus

Cyprus

Cyprus as a holiday destination is very attractive and boasts something for everyone. It was allegedly in Cyprus that the phrase was first penned "Skiing in the morning and swimming in the afternoon". Indeed certainly both are achievable at certain times of the year!

The island has lots of charm and has many small hilltop villages to explore. A 'must do' is to sample some of the locally produced wines.

Cyprus is steeped in history and it was due to that fact that I visited Paphos. For those interested in history or even if one is dimply curious Paphos has numerous Greek and Roman historical sites to visit. They include Roman villas, where you can see fantastic mosaic flooring a fort and burial tombs.

If you want a great trip go on a jeep safari into the countryside. You will see some of the local flora and fauna and your local guide will give you lots of interesting stories and folklore. Our guide even took us into his Auntie's house to see her lace making.

To book one of our quality properties in Paphos visit Paphos Villas. If you want to look at the whole of our portflio of Cyprus properties visit Cyprus

Villas Tenerife

The latest in our suite of area specific sub sites is now ready for our public - Tenerife Villas. This brings the total of the mini sites to 5 and continuing to grow.

All of the popular areas in Tenerife are covered, Playa De Las Americas, Los Gigantes, Golf Del Sur, Costa Adeje and Santiago Del Tiede.

And, of course, there are plenty of Tenerife Travel Guides information on offer from our owners.

Larnaca Villas

Larnaca Villas became the latest addition to our list of sub sites yesterday.

Only 2 areas within Larnaca at the moment - Kalavasos Villas with 4 flats and a house, all from the same owner and Oroklini Villas a little busier, with 5 properties from what looks like 3 owners.

Both areas feature in the Larnaca Travel Guides and the Larnaca Events Guide, so the owners have been busy putting up plenty of information. Over time this area should grow nicely.

Flora and Fauna of Corfu

Corfu has lots of flora for the tourist to see and the best time for wild flowers being springtime. However the visitor in May and June is equally likely to be impressed with a vibrant display. Like most Greek islands July and August in Corfu tends to be hot and dry. Indeed the tourist is not privy to the best of what the island has to offer again until September onwards, whereby the island seems to come alive again.

One of the plants not to miss is in Corfu are the Orchids, of which there are some
36 species or so on species. Please do not pick them or dig them up as some of them are endangered. Other wild plants you will come across are Oregano, Bay, Mint and celery.

Corfu is home to over 150 species of birds, many of them rare. Birds such as the The Glossy Ibis, the Spoonbill, the Gull-Billed Tern, and the Great White Egret are some of the rarest. Amongst the wild flowers look out for Corfu's array of butterflies. Inhabitants include the Swallowtail, the Common Blue and the splendid Two-Tailed Pasha.

Corfu is also home to a number of amphibians which include freshwater terrapins, bullfrogs,(you will hear them before you see them), weasels, foxes, hedgehogs and otters.

If you have spotted any of the local wildlife on your holidays please do let us know where and when and what you saw.

If you want to visit Corfu and see the Flora and Fauna find your accomodation at Click Rent Stay

Flora and Fauna of Crete

The lovely island of Crete has numerous types of flora. However not many know that it is also home to some 130 or so species of wild flowers and herbs which are unique to the island alone.

When is the best time to visit to see the flora? This is likely spring is the best when the fields are full of colour. I visited in May a couple of years ago and was delighted to see an abundance of wild flowers, and the air was full of the smell of lemon and orange blossom. However visit Crete at any time of year and you will be treated to colour in one form of another, for example in the summer oleander and osier bloom in the ravines. During winter, anemones are abundant.

The rarest Cretan plants grow in the ravines or on the steep mountain slopes, however you do not need to climb to see rare plants. Indeed The Cretan palm grows along the beach at Vai. Other rare plants found along the shore include the sea daffodil, knapsweed), and chamomile.

The fauna of Crete is as varied as the flora. The unique Cretan wild goat, the agrimi or "kri-kri" is most likley to be spotted found in the Lefka Ori, in the Samaria National Forest than elsewhere.


The Cretan "prickly rat" is also unique in the world. Other inhabitants include the marten, badger, and wildcat. These are shy creatures however. You might more easily spot one of the several kinds of lizard which inhabit Crete. Look out for The Balkan green lizard which can grow to be over one metre in length. Do not walk barefoot through undergrowth however as there is one poisonous snake. This is despite local folklore portraying St. Titus drove all poisonous snakes off the island.

For those interested in birds Crete has it's golden eagle and the lammergeyer, a subspecies unique to Crete. The mountains and ravines are home to griffon vultures. Warblers and swallows are common and goldfinches are occasionally seen.

You might spot some more familiar birds during your holiday as migratory birds make Crete a stopover each spring and autumn.

During a trip to Crete amongst other birds I was delighted to see a young owl just sitting on a post at the edge of am olive grove, in the evening darkness.

If you have spotted any of the local wildlife on your holidays please do let us know where and when and what you saw.

If you want to visit Crete and see the Flora and Fauna find your accomodation at Click Rent Stay

Spain and the travel industry

The diverse cultures and scenery of Spain make it unique. Spain is made up of many regions which include include Andalucía, Aragon, Asturias, Basque Country, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castilla La Mancha, Castilla León, Catalonia, Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra and Valencia.

With the world becoming a much smaller place due to travelling getting easier you might well ask the question "Is tourism still big business for Spain"? Well you might well be surprised to discover that over 52 million tourists holidayed there last year, making Spain the world's second most popular tourist destination. (Source: World Tourism Organisation).

It is projected that Spain is so popular as a tourist destination that more than one million foreigners will set up home on the Spanish coast in the next six years, a figure expected to treble by the year 2025. Part of the atrraction for those making their 1st or 2nd homes in Spain is that Spanish properties have a quality of construction and finish as well as good proportions versus properties in other countries.

For the tourist this of course means that there is an abundance of quality properties for holiday rental. To view our quality rental properties in Spain visit
Click Rent Stay