L a Cabana
Finca Buena Vista s/n 30120
Murcia – tel; 968 889 006
Very Near El Palmar (between El Valle resort and Murcia exit 148 on A30 signposted to hospital) take bridge over motorway and then straight on over three roundabouts and then left into urbanizacion Buenavista.
In the style of an African cabin with views through the large windows to the lovely gardens and water features.
Very imaginative modern cooking and high quality table service. Menu changes weekly depending on market produce available. Just fabulous for a special meal or celebration. Opens daily for lunch and Thursday evenings only. Booking essential.
Menu Degustacion 60 euros approx.
Friday, 22 May 2009
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Lo Pagan
LO PAGAN
An old fashioned seaside town with a long promenade and a fantastic walk across the lagoons to La Manga Strip, (several miles)although you can't actually walk all the way acroos.
Lo Pagan has many hotels offering thermal, salt and mud baths but you can try these for free in the lagoons here.
Mud is supposed to be very good for your skin. If you decide to do this then be prepared and do as the locals do. Take a plastic bucket and towel, a sponge or small flannel (to wash bits of mud left behind after rinsing off).
If you do decide to cover yourself in mud, then take a bucket or small container (you can watch how others do it first) take mud from under the water and cover yourself with the stuff, you can put it on your face like a mask and even your hair, then walk around, it’s important that you don’t sit down at this stage until it all dries and turns a grey colour (about 30 minutes) Then enter water, the mud will be squashy and warm under your feet, cooler water lies on top, just float around like everyone else at least 20 minutes and then wash it off with the cooler sea water.
Next walk across the pier until you see the clear salt lagoons and enter the water and float around for another ten minutes or so (you will find the flamingos have joined you). Finally rinse off and walk across the quay to the actual beachside and into the clear sea for a swim or final rinse, your skin will feel good and it’s very good fun.
Walk along the pier (Windmill is now behind you – see directions below) and very soon you will see people with bits of body covered in mud, or their whole body, face and hair totally covered in mud walking about drying......
From El Valle take the C3319 in the direction of San Javier as for Los Alcazares except when you reach the end of the motorway, when you follow the signs for San Pedro del Pinatar via the Alicante – Cartagena motorway. Take the exit for San Pedro proceeding straight across the next roundabout in the direction of Lo Pagan, leaving the Dos Mares shopping centre on your right hand side. Follow the road down to the sea and then turn left and continue on until road bears left, and you will pass a funfair on the right hand side and take the next right hand turn. Follow the road passing along the sea front until you reach the windmill and park as near you can.
There are quite a few restaurants and bars all along the promenade. They include:
Restaurante Venezuela - Lo Pagan Tel. 968 181 1515
Very good seafood, meat and rice dishes – especially worth trying are the Mar Menor Prawns. In the summer there’s an outdoor Terrace or air conditioned restaurant inside. Ideal for dinner or family Sunday lunch on the terrace. Booking essential in the summer.
An old fashioned seaside town with a long promenade and a fantastic walk across the lagoons to La Manga Strip, (several miles)although you can't actually walk all the way acroos.
Lo Pagan has many hotels offering thermal, salt and mud baths but you can try these for free in the lagoons here.
Mud is supposed to be very good for your skin. If you decide to do this then be prepared and do as the locals do. Take a plastic bucket and towel, a sponge or small flannel (to wash bits of mud left behind after rinsing off).
If you do decide to cover yourself in mud, then take a bucket or small container (you can watch how others do it first) take mud from under the water and cover yourself with the stuff, you can put it on your face like a mask and even your hair, then walk around, it’s important that you don’t sit down at this stage until it all dries and turns a grey colour (about 30 minutes) Then enter water, the mud will be squashy and warm under your feet, cooler water lies on top, just float around like everyone else at least 20 minutes and then wash it off with the cooler sea water.
Next walk across the pier until you see the clear salt lagoons and enter the water and float around for another ten minutes or so (you will find the flamingos have joined you). Finally rinse off and walk across the quay to the actual beachside and into the clear sea for a swim or final rinse, your skin will feel good and it’s very good fun.
Walk along the pier (Windmill is now behind you – see directions below) and very soon you will see people with bits of body covered in mud, or their whole body, face and hair totally covered in mud walking about drying......
From El Valle take the C3319 in the direction of San Javier as for Los Alcazares except when you reach the end of the motorway, when you follow the signs for San Pedro del Pinatar via the Alicante – Cartagena motorway. Take the exit for San Pedro proceeding straight across the next roundabout in the direction of Lo Pagan, leaving the Dos Mares shopping centre on your right hand side. Follow the road down to the sea and then turn left and continue on until road bears left, and you will pass a funfair on the right hand side and take the next right hand turn. Follow the road passing along the sea front until you reach the windmill and park as near you can.
There are quite a few restaurants and bars all along the promenade. They include:
Restaurante Venezuela - Lo Pagan Tel. 968 181 1515
Very good seafood, meat and rice dishes – especially worth trying are the Mar Menor Prawns. In the summer there’s an outdoor Terrace or air conditioned restaurant inside. Ideal for dinner or family Sunday lunch on the terrace. Booking essential in the summer.
Friday, 20 February 2009
Markets
Markets
Most villages and towns in the area have a market once a week in the mornings (10am – 1pm). You can buy everything from shoes, clothes, crafts, things for the home, as well as fruit and vegetables. Cabo de Palos market on Sunday morning is a large market and has very good shoe stalls – further down from the market is the fishing port and a good place for a Sunday lunch paella or seafood.
Monday San Pedro del Pinatar
Tuesday Los Alcazares, La Union, Los Belones
Wednesday Santiago de la Ribiera, Cartagena
Thursday San Javier, Los Urrutias
Friday El Algar, Torrevieja, Pilar de la Horadada
Saturday Los Narejos
Sunday Cabo de Palos
Please take care of your personal belongings in busy market areas.
.
Most villages and towns in the area have a market once a week in the mornings (10am – 1pm). You can buy everything from shoes, clothes, crafts, things for the home, as well as fruit and vegetables. Cabo de Palos market on Sunday morning is a large market and has very good shoe stalls – further down from the market is the fishing port and a good place for a Sunday lunch paella or seafood.
Monday San Pedro del Pinatar
Tuesday Los Alcazares, La Union, Los Belones
Wednesday Santiago de la Ribiera, Cartagena
Thursday San Javier, Los Urrutias
Friday El Algar, Torrevieja, Pilar de la Horadada
Saturday Los Narejos
Sunday Cabo de Palos
Please take care of your personal belongings in busy market areas.
.
Thursday, 19 February 2009
Shopping
Cartagena City
Cartagena or Carthage was Hannibal’s capital city in Roman times and a strategic port for the Romans.
Like many Spanish towns the approach to Cartagena is not very appealing, but once past the industrial area and by the port and harbour, this town is really worth a visit. The old town with its' superbly restored Colonial buildings, cobbled streets, shops, cafes and restaurants is charming and it's easy to spend quite a few hours here browsing around.
Cartagena makes for a lovely day out; whether shopping or sightseeing. There is a maritime museum, churches, city tours, as well as harbour tours, Roman villa, amphitheatre and also a submarine dating back from 1888. Shops close for lunch about 1pm until 5pm but then stay open until 8.30 pm normally, so if shopping or sightseeing it's nice to stay on the evening and have a meal in one of the many restaurants in town or near the harbour.
Many of the cafes serve “Churros con chocolate” freshly made crispy long doughnuts (you have to try it! Difficult to describe) to dunk into very thick hot chocolate ...
In July, the Mar de Musicas festival presents some of the best in world music and in November the city hosts a nationally famous jazz festival.
Shopping: Cartagena old town has many boutiques and a variety of small shops near the port. In the newer part of the town there is the department store “El Corte Ingles” and many shops including Zara on the Calle Mayor. There is also a large market on Wednesdays.
Directions to Cartagena: from El Valle resort:
Take the Murcia road from El Valle, and take left hand fork where road splits in about a mile signposted Cartagena. Follow dual carriageway to Cartagena and once in the city look for signs for Puerto - park in underground car park in the port area. The Shopping area is across from car park leaving the old walled area on your left and then straight on across the plaza.
Shopping in Murcia City.
The main shopping area in Murcia is in the modern part of the city near the El Corte Inglés department store which sells everything, and also has a supermarket and underground parking. The Gran via has shops on both sides of the road, Mango, Zara, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Pull and Bear and many more. Nearby is the daily market of San Esteban.
Further up the road behind the smaller El Corte Ingles (originally Galerias)
take a left turn you will arrive at the Romea Theatre and onto the Traperia (cloth merchants) and Plateria (silversmiths) area of Murcia where originally the merchants worked and where there are still silversmiths making jewellery.
Pass through the arches to the Plaza Santo Domingo where there are many interesting shops, cafes and restaurants.
Shopping Centres: (outside Murcia City)
There are two modern shopping centres just outside Murcia - if you like shopping these are worth a visit.
Cool and comfortable to shop in, these centres have a variety of restaurants, multi-screen cinemas and free parking. They are open all day from 10am until 9.30pm.
Nueva Condominia: Has the usual Spanish chains, like Zara, Massimo Dutti, Pull and Bear, Bershka (affordable fashion) and designer shops as well as shoe shops, handbags, jewellery etc, and Primark! Also a large supermarket (Eroski) and gift shops as well as restaurants and bars
Nearby is The Thader Shopping Centre which is smaller than Nueva Condominia.
Directions from El Valle Golf resort:
How to get to Murcia City and the Shopping Centres from El Valle
From last roundabout on the resort access road, take the road sign-posted Murcia – Cartagena and stay on the right hand side where the road splits in about a mile. Follow dual carriageway. If you are going to the centre of the city – take turn off to CENTRO CIUDAD and follow it to centre. You will now be entering the city with the river on your right (do not go over any bridge) but keep to right hand lane and enter into underground parking which is more or less opposite Aguas de Murcia building.
Come out of car park and any of the alleyways inbetween the government buildings take you into the Cathedral and old part of Murcia.
For the new shopping centres (including Ikea) follow dual carriageway direction Alicante (AP7) past the turn off to the University and take exit 763a (you will see Ikea on your right) follow signs for Centro Comercial and Nueva Condominia which is very near the new football stadium.
Cartagena or Carthage was Hannibal’s capital city in Roman times and a strategic port for the Romans.
Like many Spanish towns the approach to Cartagena is not very appealing, but once past the industrial area and by the port and harbour, this town is really worth a visit. The old town with its' superbly restored Colonial buildings, cobbled streets, shops, cafes and restaurants is charming and it's easy to spend quite a few hours here browsing around.
Cartagena makes for a lovely day out; whether shopping or sightseeing. There is a maritime museum, churches, city tours, as well as harbour tours, Roman villa, amphitheatre and also a submarine dating back from 1888. Shops close for lunch about 1pm until 5pm but then stay open until 8.30 pm normally, so if shopping or sightseeing it's nice to stay on the evening and have a meal in one of the many restaurants in town or near the harbour.
Many of the cafes serve “Churros con chocolate” freshly made crispy long doughnuts (you have to try it! Difficult to describe) to dunk into very thick hot chocolate ...
In July, the Mar de Musicas festival presents some of the best in world music and in November the city hosts a nationally famous jazz festival.
Shopping: Cartagena old town has many boutiques and a variety of small shops near the port. In the newer part of the town there is the department store “El Corte Ingles” and many shops including Zara on the Calle Mayor. There is also a large market on Wednesdays.
Directions to Cartagena: from El Valle resort:
Take the Murcia road from El Valle, and take left hand fork where road splits in about a mile signposted Cartagena. Follow dual carriageway to Cartagena and once in the city look for signs for Puerto - park in underground car park in the port area. The Shopping area is across from car park leaving the old walled area on your left and then straight on across the plaza.
Shopping in Murcia City.
The main shopping area in Murcia is in the modern part of the city near the El Corte Inglés department store which sells everything, and also has a supermarket and underground parking. The Gran via has shops on both sides of the road, Mango, Zara, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Pull and Bear and many more. Nearby is the daily market of San Esteban.
Further up the road behind the smaller El Corte Ingles (originally Galerias)
take a left turn you will arrive at the Romea Theatre and onto the Traperia (cloth merchants) and Plateria (silversmiths) area of Murcia where originally the merchants worked and where there are still silversmiths making jewellery.
Pass through the arches to the Plaza Santo Domingo where there are many interesting shops, cafes and restaurants.
Shopping Centres: (outside Murcia City)
There are two modern shopping centres just outside Murcia - if you like shopping these are worth a visit.
Cool and comfortable to shop in, these centres have a variety of restaurants, multi-screen cinemas and free parking. They are open all day from 10am until 9.30pm.
Nueva Condominia: Has the usual Spanish chains, like Zara, Massimo Dutti, Pull and Bear, Bershka (affordable fashion) and designer shops as well as shoe shops, handbags, jewellery etc, and Primark! Also a large supermarket (Eroski) and gift shops as well as restaurants and bars
Nearby is The Thader Shopping Centre which is smaller than Nueva Condominia.
Directions from El Valle Golf resort:
How to get to Murcia City and the Shopping Centres from El Valle
From last roundabout on the resort access road, take the road sign-posted Murcia – Cartagena and stay on the right hand side where the road splits in about a mile. Follow dual carriageway. If you are going to the centre of the city – take turn off to CENTRO CIUDAD and follow it to centre. You will now be entering the city with the river on your right (do not go over any bridge) but keep to right hand lane and enter into underground parking which is more or less opposite Aguas de Murcia building.
Come out of car park and any of the alleyways inbetween the government buildings take you into the Cathedral and old part of Murcia.
For the new shopping centres (including Ikea) follow dual carriageway direction Alicante (AP7) past the turn off to the University and take exit 763a (you will see Ikea on your right) follow signs for Centro Comercial and Nueva Condominia which is very near the new football stadium.
Monday, 9 February 2009
Restaurants near Murcia
La Ermita
Taberna – Restaurante
Calle Pedro Garcia Villalba 58
La Alberca – near Murcia
Tel: 868 95 07 21 or 616 48 26 19 (closed Sundays)
In this cosy friendly family restaurant your menu depends on the produce of the day in the market just across the road. The young owner is so welcoming and a super Chef. Family style cooking with several starters (various tapas) and very good hot bread followed by main course and dessert. Saturdays is rice day, so again several tapas and a paella or similar – the paella dish is served from hob to table with as many forks as needed to share. A taste of local food and reasonably priced.
(This restaurant is very near the El Valle National Park ( which has many walking trails) and the small Hermitage church of San Antonio el Pobre ( San Antonio the poor) which has a video showing of how hermits lived a solitary life in the caves nearby - they now have an English translation.
Also there is a very nice indoor food market just opposite selling fruit, fish, meat and vegetable (closes at 2pm).
For details of El Valle National Park and directions see Days out in the area.
Directions from El Valle Golf Resort:
From El Valle take the main road direction Murcia and once past the green mountain area - take first turning on right to La Alberca (and El Palmar) just as you enter town take first turning on right signposted El Valle and follow directions to National Park.
Just as you start up the hill you should see the indoor market on the right and restaurant is situated opposite on the left corner.
ROLDAN
After La Torre Resort and just after Industrial Centre take exit sign-posted Roldan and follow signs to village. There are several restaurants here on the main road as well as a gourmet shop and cafe.
GENTE’dePASTA
This is a very good modern pizza and pasta restaurant which is worth trying – has an excellent “menu del dia” menu, but gets very busy lunchtime. Near Church.
Directions:
From El Valle take the C3319 direction San Javier. After La Torre on your right take the Exit to Balsicas & Roldan. At the roundabout take the Roldan Exit right and follow the road to the town. The Pizza Restaurant is on your left as you enter the town before traffic lights.
LAS MIL Y UNA Restaurante
Plaza de la Iglesia
Roldan. Tel: 968 589 532
Situated in the square by the pretty church in Roldan (see directions above –very near pizza restaurant) this is a small but very cosy restaurant. Recently opened and refurbished, the small restaurant with just five or six tables is situated at the back of the tapas bar and has been beautifully refurbished. There is no menu – the specialities are from the day's market. Fish or meat and several tapas starters, all superbly cooked and presented. Booking is advisable in high season. Open lunchtimes and evenings
Taberna – Restaurante
Calle Pedro Garcia Villalba 58
La Alberca – near Murcia
Tel: 868 95 07 21 or 616 48 26 19 (closed Sundays)
In this cosy friendly family restaurant your menu depends on the produce of the day in the market just across the road. The young owner is so welcoming and a super Chef. Family style cooking with several starters (various tapas) and very good hot bread followed by main course and dessert. Saturdays is rice day, so again several tapas and a paella or similar – the paella dish is served from hob to table with as many forks as needed to share. A taste of local food and reasonably priced.
(This restaurant is very near the El Valle National Park ( which has many walking trails) and the small Hermitage church of San Antonio el Pobre ( San Antonio the poor) which has a video showing of how hermits lived a solitary life in the caves nearby - they now have an English translation.
Also there is a very nice indoor food market just opposite selling fruit, fish, meat and vegetable (closes at 2pm).
For details of El Valle National Park and directions see Days out in the area.
Directions from El Valle Golf Resort:
From El Valle take the main road direction Murcia and once past the green mountain area - take first turning on right to La Alberca (and El Palmar) just as you enter town take first turning on right signposted El Valle and follow directions to National Park.
Just as you start up the hill you should see the indoor market on the right and restaurant is situated opposite on the left corner.
ROLDAN
After La Torre Resort and just after Industrial Centre take exit sign-posted Roldan and follow signs to village. There are several restaurants here on the main road as well as a gourmet shop and cafe.
GENTE’dePASTA
This is a very good modern pizza and pasta restaurant which is worth trying – has an excellent “menu del dia” menu, but gets very busy lunchtime. Near Church.
Directions:
From El Valle take the C3319 direction San Javier. After La Torre on your right take the Exit to Balsicas & Roldan. At the roundabout take the Roldan Exit right and follow the road to the town. The Pizza Restaurant is on your left as you enter the town before traffic lights.
LAS MIL Y UNA Restaurante
Plaza de la Iglesia
Roldan. Tel: 968 589 532
Situated in the square by the pretty church in Roldan (see directions above –very near pizza restaurant) this is a small but very cosy restaurant. Recently opened and refurbished, the small restaurant with just five or six tables is situated at the back of the tapas bar and has been beautifully refurbished. There is no menu – the specialities are from the day's market. Fish or meat and several tapas starters, all superbly cooked and presented. Booking is advisable in high season. Open lunchtimes and evenings
Restaurants - Roldan
GENTE’dePASTA
This is a very good modern pizza and pasta restaurant which is worth trying – has an excellent “menu del dia” menu, but gets very busy lunchtime. Near Church.
Directions:
From El Valle Golf Resort take the C3319 direction San Javier. After La Torre on your right take the Exit to Balsicas & Roldan. At the roundabout take the Roldan Exit right and follow the road to the town. The Pizza Restaurant is on your left as you enter the town before traffic lights.
LAS MIL Y UNA Restaurante
Plaza de la Iglesia
Roldan. Tel: 968 589 532
Situated in the square by the pretty church in Roldan (see directions above –very near pizza restaurant) this is a small but very cosy restaurant. Recently opened and refurbished, the small restaurant with just five or six tables is situated at the back of the tapas bar and has been beautifully refurbished. There is no menu – the specialities are from the days market. Fish or meat and several tapas starters, all superbly cooked and presented. Booking is advisable in high season. Open lunchtimes and evenings.
This is a very good modern pizza and pasta restaurant which is worth trying – has an excellent “menu del dia” menu, but gets very busy lunchtime. Near Church.
Directions:
From El Valle Golf Resort take the C3319 direction San Javier. After La Torre on your right take the Exit to Balsicas & Roldan. At the roundabout take the Roldan Exit right and follow the road to the town. The Pizza Restaurant is on your left as you enter the town before traffic lights.
LAS MIL Y UNA Restaurante
Plaza de la Iglesia
Roldan. Tel: 968 589 532
Situated in the square by the pretty church in Roldan (see directions above –very near pizza restaurant) this is a small but very cosy restaurant. Recently opened and refurbished, the small restaurant with just five or six tables is situated at the back of the tapas bar and has been beautifully refurbished. There is no menu – the specialities are from the days market. Fish or meat and several tapas starters, all superbly cooked and presented. Booking is advisable in high season. Open lunchtimes and evenings.
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
San Pedro del Pinatar Resort
SAN PEDRO DEL PINATAR
Facing the tranquil waters of Mar Menor, San Pedro del Pinatar is one of the main tourist destinations on the Murcia coast. Traditionally a seafaring and agricultural centre, San Pedro del Pinatar has become one of the principal tourist towns on Murcia's Costa Calida. It has a beautiful long beach and promenade and street market on Mondays. A small funfair in the summer.
The main attractions of San Pedro are concentrated around the beach. Here you will find Lo Pagan, a lively tourist centre which has all kinds of holiday facilities, hotels, bars, restaurants and shops. Next to the long promenade facing the Mar Menor are extensive beaches such as La Puntica or Villananitos.
San Pedro has an excellent marina and water-sports facilities, windsurfing, fishing, sailing, water skiing, scuba diving, snorkelling, jet skiing, and of course mud bathing further along in Lo Pagan.
The surrounding area near the Quintin Mill contains the Salinas de San Pedro del Pinatar Regional Park, with marked walking trails, and many species of migratory birds and flamingos. You can also benefit from the Therapeutic mud and salt water lakes for bathing.
Facing the tranquil waters of Mar Menor, San Pedro del Pinatar is one of the main tourist destinations on the Murcia coast. Traditionally a seafaring and agricultural centre, San Pedro del Pinatar has become one of the principal tourist towns on Murcia's Costa Calida. It has a beautiful long beach and promenade and street market on Mondays. A small funfair in the summer.
The main attractions of San Pedro are concentrated around the beach. Here you will find Lo Pagan, a lively tourist centre which has all kinds of holiday facilities, hotels, bars, restaurants and shops. Next to the long promenade facing the Mar Menor are extensive beaches such as La Puntica or Villananitos.
San Pedro has an excellent marina and water-sports facilities, windsurfing, fishing, sailing, water skiing, scuba diving, snorkelling, jet skiing, and of course mud bathing further along in Lo Pagan.
The surrounding area near the Quintin Mill contains the Salinas de San Pedro del Pinatar Regional Park, with marked walking trails, and many species of migratory birds and flamingos. You can also benefit from the Therapeutic mud and salt water lakes for bathing.
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