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Where to Stay in Spain - Eco-friendly Casa Valle de Oro B&B

For peace and quiet, wonderful views and pure relaxation, with option to go exploring in Andalucia´s stunning interior, there are few better bases than Casa Valle de Oro.  Located in the north of Malaga province near the town of Villanueva de Algaidas and very close to the border with Cordoba and its lovely lake town Iznajar and easy access to Granada and Cordoba cities.  Casa Valle de Oro, which in Spanish means Valley of Gold or Golden Valley nestles in a shallow vale of olive trees from which is produced liquid gold or extra virgen olive oil, Casa Valle de Oro´s oil, as the ethos of the house, is ecological. From the terrace, which overlooks the swimming pool and down the valley, there are golden sunsets, two very different  reasons for one good name for the lovely Casa Valle de Oro B&B.  There are also two yurts, Marrakesh and Oriental, between the olive trees which provide lovely, dappled shade in the summer, with a path to their own shower room and a trickling stream to add t
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Chocolate Belen in Rute

A Belen is a Nativity Scene, a common find in nearly every Spanish home for the Christmas festivities. The Chocolate Belen made by the Galleros factory in Rute, Cordoba province, is rather outside the norm and is the largest in Europe.



The Belen, in the factory itself, is open daily for viewing from early November until early January, but not Christmas or New Year´s Day.

An incredible 1,450kg of chocolate was used to produce this year´s scene of Malaga, as well as the 180 figures made of sugar and marzipan.


Don´t, if at all possible, go at the weekend. It was packed. Coach after coach pulled into the parking area and although they try and stagger the coach loads, it does get really busy.

Pressure was on to keep moving along, which made it tricky to take any decent photos of the Belen, let any study the intricacy of the work.


After seeing the Belen and a measly sample the exit is through the gaily decorated shop oozing with shiny packages of various cakes and nougats. Hard, soft or sugar-free nougat with nuts or dried fruit also crystallised fruit. Too much choice, too many dislikes from the kids, so I bought nothing and escaped for a spot of fresh air, space and sanity before heading back to my coach seat.

This was just one visit in my day packed with factory visits and samples, there´s more to come, watch this space.




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