TRAVEL REPORTS
From Jean Laikin - Travel Co-ordinator
FOUR DAY TRIP TO CENAJO - SEPTEMBER 16TH - 19TH 2007
What a wonderful hotel the Cenajo proved. This hotel set in a remote corner of unknown and underdeveloped La Mancha, was an oasis of delight for the 50 members who spent the four days their from Sunday, September 16 - mind you the weather helped. The sun shone fiercely all the time making the outdoor pool, and surrounds a very attractive lounging area when time permitted away from sight seeing.
There was only one problem. The steps. There were 100 down to the indoor pool, the gym and the table tennis room, another 50 up to the second bedroom floor (fortunately most were accommodated on the ground and first floors) but the quality and quantity of the food made up for any potential grumbles on that score. The hotel really was a delight, so much so that people were extremely pleased to have the arrangements for a visit to Moratalla cancelled in favour of a few extra hours around it! Missing that wasn't such a disaster as the rest of the programme proved so worth while. The rafting was popular despite original fears but it was the only way to see the magnificent Caņon de Almadenes.
Later we saw the wonderful sanctuary built into the rock - the sanctuary of Esperanza - at Calasparra (the home of world renowned rice which is the only one with denomination of origin), and the legendary city of Caravacca - one of the five most holy places of pilgrimage in the world. The Cross of Caravacca is a "Lignum Crucis", a piece of wood belonging to the Cross on which Christ was crucified, which is kept in a reliquary in the shape of a cross with twin arms.
The old town, the sanctuary and the castle are all built on a steep hill so it was a relief to find that a "noddy train" was available for a tour of the town and the long climb up to the castle. It was all so worth while. A spectacular visit.
The last visit was to Riopar and its bronze museum installed in the original bronze factory which closed its doors 11 years ago. It was the first to be built in Spain and only the second in the world. (I remember it well when it was a working factory - totally dangerous for visitors and workpeople alike).
This was followed by a climb to the naciemiento, or chorro, of the river Mundo. An exhilerating experience prior to a substantial lunch in Riopar setting every one up for the homeward journey.
Hardly a member of the party but decided they would visit this hotel again as soon as possible!
Jean Laikin
Photos by Robin Garbett
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