Monday Morning Photo - Guggenheim Museum and Mamen Spider at Fog Art time, Bilbao

Hotel Cortijo del Marques - A Return Journey

One of my favourite types of hotels is owner-run and historical. I´m a lover of ancient wooden doors, that have seen generations pass through their doors. On a recent one night escape I headed to the wonderful Hotel Cortijo del Marqués deep in the countyside of Granada province yet only twenty minutes drive to that incredibly fascinating provincial capital - Granada city. The city was not my destination on this quick get away, it was peace and enforced relaxation that I sought, and got. After leaving the main Madrid - Granada road a decent 4km track winds through olive groves and farmland to the Cortijo an ancient manor house bestowed to a Marques when Granada fell from Moorish control. The walled manor house has a gorgeous wooden gateway into a cobbled courtyard where tinkling fountains sit between the restaurant and the hotel reception. Pass by the chapel and through an inner entranceway into another cobbled courtyard surrrounded by the hotel rooms, one corner of which hides the sw

Finally I got to visit Bilbao. I´d driven pretty near, got the ferry back to there once but had never stayed in the city. Last week I flew from Malaga to Bilbao for a two night, three (ish) day trip and it only happened because I won the trip via an Instagram giveaway.

Bilbao not so easy to get to within Spain, most flights I looked at were not direct, which meant going via Barcelona, from my nearest airport Granada there is one direct flight a week - why would I fly to Barcelona and not stay there? Bilbao was on the very long term (if I still have long term) drive to northern Spain trip plan. If you get the chance go - with an umbrella. It´s an easy, flat city with bus, tram, metro and train station right in the centre. I´ll be going back!