Hello all you sun lovers – and those of you who, like us, tend to enjoy the sunshine from the relative cool of a shady spot these days! July has arrived and we’ve had a short break after a busy May and June with our guests so I used the time to give you this quick update on all things Xanadu.
First the weather. The last few years have been very dry here in southern Spain. In February the huge Negratin reservoir was so low that one end of the lake had receded uncovering a forgotten hot springs pool, which was quickly brought back into use by many locals….although unfortunately not as a naturist pool. However, since the end of February we have had an unusually long spell of cool and sometimes wet weather which only really started to lift towards the end of May. Fortunately, we still had plenty of sunshine, our guests had the hot tub to keep them warm (although almost everyone took a dip in the pool at some point) and we dined in the conservatory where we could still see the magnificent view of the town below us.
On the subject of food, the time spent trying out recipes while I couldn’t walk (some of you will know that I fractured my ankle in February) seems to have paid off and, at the risk of sounding a bit smug, our guests all complimented the food. Our Dutch guests said my Banoffee Cheesecake was “Better than the one everyone queues for at Jamie Oliver’s restaurant in Rotterdam!!” I guess that means the pressure is on now to maintain standardsJ.
We also organised a few excursions to take our various guests to places that most tourists wouldn’t find. In addition to a trip to Lake Negratin, we also visited a natural park with a restaurant hidden amongst the trees with several whole jamon hanging from the ceiling, a wood fire for cooking and serving THE best lamb chops and patatas a lo pobre! Their jamon y queso (Spanish ham and cheese) is not bad either! We also went walking in the botanical gardens and had a visit to the beach at Vera, which is only 40 mins away. We love showing our guests this beautiful part of Spain and are always happy to either point you in the direction of interesting places to visit or – other guests’ needs permitting – to take you ourselves. All part of the service.
In the garden and on the lower terrace the new bar is finished and a very comfy covered seating area installed. It’s a lovely place to spend time with a cool drink and good company – or on your own in the shade with a good book. Palm Trees and other shrubs have been planted on the lower terrace and it is all definitely going in the right direction.
It was also great to meet Tim who owns Clover Spa & Hotel in Birmingham who visited us briefly in early May. Tim is a keen naturist and from his wealth of experience gave us some useful tips and very positive feedback and really boosted our confidence. We look forward to visiting his naturist Spa later in the year.
Back to the weather – at last summer arrived last weekend and we are now enjoying 27-30 degrees during the day and around 17 at night! The pool is currently around 28 – 30 degrees and is fantastic for swimming or just for cooling off which, as you can see from the pic, is exactly what Richard and I have been doing.
If you want to enjoy the lovely surroundings of Finca Xanadu and the beautiful Spanish countryside while still only being 40 mins drive from one of the biggest and best naturist beaches in Spain, just drop us a line for current availability. If you are touring around, looking for just a few nights break or want a longer chill out holiday, you will find a warm welcome here in Xanadu.
Contact us at:
Fincaxanadu.com
fincaxanadu@gmail.com
Richard and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Gina Xx