Fabled Castle Dropt From Heaven

Located in the county of La Vera, Cáceres, snuggly nestled in the Gredos Mountain Range, the XV century restored castle of Emperor Carlos V, the royal gem of the Renaissance awaits you.

Emperor Carlos V was the most powerful man in the world during his reign and resided in this historic 15th century castle for a few months before retiring to the Yuste Monastery,  8 km away in Cuacos. This renovated four star hotel is a fortified 15th century castle which dates back to the Counts of Oropesa and was built over the ruins of a fortress that had been reconstructed  centuries later and was inhabited by King Alfonso XIII.

It has all that a castle should have, a Blue Room with a fireplace and 15th century tapestries, a Salon of Portraits, a Patio of Arms,  robust corner towers, migrating storks, embrasures, machicolations, turrets which are the small projecting armed structures for gunners, and heraldic shield crests.  The Italian Renaissance prevails throughout and the dining room views lookout onto a beautiful courtyard.  The grounds include walking paths with delightful gardens chock full of orange trees, ancient eucalyptus trees, palm trees, lilac bushes and a lovely swimming pool.

Without sacrificing the original structures, one enters across a drawbridge between two cubic fortress towers. The courtyard is a sanctuary covered in ivy, shaded by palms depicting the region’s micro climate and houses a fountain, creating the privileged paradise for after dinner conversation through late autumn.  Conquering visitors’ emotions, this is a nobleman’s castle in every sense of the word.

Nobel Room 219 With Balcony Over Gardens

Our room, one of the best in the house, can be found nestled amidst the gardens, complete with balcony, providing royal refuge in this privileged paradise of sweet dreams.

Capacity Data For Bookings

The three story castle houses 52 renovated rooms which seduce and house the treasures of royalty in its salons and communal spaces. Emperor Carlos V dwelled in the castle from November 12th, 1556 until February 3rd, 1557 prior to his retirement. Debonaire Maîtré Julian Sevila informed us that the hotel is fully equipped for those requiring handicapped railings, business conventions, christenings, celebrations and weddings with a capacity for 250 people. The restaurant ‘s capacity holds up to 80 people and special breakfasts for up to 60 people.

Chef Juan Antonio Ramos De La Calle

  • Mar:  Tell us about the  specialties of the house.
  • Juan:  Firstly, designation of origin, La Vera is renowned for their goat cheeses and the 4 varieties  I believe you both would enjoy are:  QUESUCO BLUE VEIN which has a very creamy texture and is similar to Asturian Picón Azul, PIMENTON which has a paprika cayenne rind and is a semi soft variety, the French style roll or RULO and the ECOLOGICAL mild semi soft.
  • Mar:  What is your culinary philosophy  ?
  • Juan:  It has always been clear. To cook with what the environment produces, a united team, to teach, the content, the affection, new technology and the traditional with the regional and seasonal, the product and the textures. I am sort of an Extremaduran Santi Santamaria.
  • Mar:  Where are you from Juan Antonio ?
  • Juan:  Across the street,  I was born in the historic town of Jarandilla de La Vera.
  • Mar:  What are the autumn products you employ in your menus?
  • Juan:  Partridge, quail, rabbit, wild mushrooms, Boletus Eduli and Niscalos, boar, fresh figs, La Vera paprika varieities, Iberian acorn fed ham, codfish, fresh river carp, fresh trout and herrings.
  • Mar:  Dream trips?
  • Juan: China culturally and Seychelles to relax.
  • Mar:  Where have you studied and in which Parador Hotels have you worked to date?
  • Juan:  I studied at the Gastronomic Institute in La Bañeza, Leó close to Astorga. I have worked in various Parador Hotels including, Valle de Aran, Málaga, Zamora City and since 1998, in my home town of Jarandilla de La Vera.
  • Mar:  Which celebrities and/or famous well knowns have you cooked for?
  • Juan: I have cooked for the various members of the Royal Family, former Prime Minister, Felipe Gonzalez,  government officials, singers Shakira and Alejandro Sanz who have homes here in Jarandilla de La Vera.
  • Mar:  Tell us about innovation and the road to success.
  • Juan:  A lot of  Innovation, fusion of ingredients, evolutionary technology, textures, colors, research, experimentation and “A to Z” styles.
  • Mar:  This is a stunning area, however, what products do you miss the most ?
  • Juan:  A larger assortment of Ribera del Duero red wines and shellfish. We can obtain the ocean´s fresh catches however, we have to utilize them much more promptly.
  • Mar:  Do you listen to music in your kitchen while preparing?
  • Juan:  I am a flamenco guitarist and this inspires me.

The Emperor’s Table

  • White wine Lar de Barros 100% Macabeo Grape 2009
  • Assorted designation of origin cold cut Deli Meats and Cheeses
  • French style onion soup created with fowl stock
  • Warm smoked herrings with scalded eggs
  • Stuffed aubergines stuffed with hake and baked apple sliced
  • Seared on flame tender mouthwatering octopus
  • Quail in port wine and spiced pear
  • A buñuelo, fusion between a Doughnut  & French toast bread,  pine nuts & creamed goat cheese filling

Parador  Hotel & Restaurant Carlos V

Avda. García Prieto 1

Jarandilla de La Vera,  Cáceres 10450

Multilingual Website:  www.parador.es

Madrid Central Reservations:   91. 561. 6666

Headquarters at   Calle Requena 3

Metroline 5 / Ópera

Chef Luis Mora’s Autumn Roast Lamb, Wild Mushrooms & Potatoes

Ingredients:

Tell your Butcher to prepare 800g – 1 Kilo Milk fed baby lamb de-boned & split open like a book

  • 150 g  Extremaduran Potatoes called Criadillas ( Galician or Peruvian potatoes can substitute )
  • 150 g  sweet spring onions
  • 100 g  leeks
  • 1 dozen small Boletus mushrooms
  • 5 or more  fresh garlic cloves
  • Thyme & Rosemary
  • Salt & Pepper
  • 1 D.L.  Jerez white Sherry wine

Procedures:

Preheat oven  210  degrees centigrade or 425 degrees fahrenheit

  1. Put the lamb bones which the butcher separated, spring onions chopped finely and the Jérez in a saucepan on low to medium flame
  2. Place the lamb roast in a large roasting pan
  3. Mince the sweet  spring onion & the leek
  4. With a sharp small knife, make 1 inch deep slits in the lamb
  5. Stuff the lamb with the leek, spring onion, minced garlic and finely chopped Boletus mushrooms
  6. Rub or brush  olive oil on the lamb roast top and underside
  7. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, rosemary & thyme
  8. Peel and slice the potatoes in 1” ovals & place the lamb on top of the tubers

These potatoes are going to serve as the foundation bed for the lamb

Reduce the sauce and cover.  Baste lamb and add a little more Sherry & Water to pan.

Te Papa – The National Museum of New Zealand

Te Papa is the national history  museum of New Zealand and is located in Wellington the country’s capital city.  This is a quick video of the front entrance to the museum.  Here are a few features of the museum:

  • Built on reclaimed land at the edge of the bay.
  • Features many interactive exhibits and works of art that are important to national and Maori history.
  • Free internet over wifi (even the library a few buildings away doesn’t have that)
  • A nice cafe and cool gift shop are located on site.
  • It’s a must visit and it’s free!


Wellington Skyline – Mount Victoria Lookout

A stunning view of Wellington on one of the few calm and clear days.  This city has a very high average wind speed. Some notes about this city:

  • Lookout includes the Byrd Memorial
  • Due South, in the direction of the airport is Antartica
  • Forest below is a popular movie set location
  • trails are great for mountain biking
  • Green belt that surrounds the city was to reduce city sprawl and size
  • You can easily spot Te Papa Museum, the stadium and the airport from this location


Sunset Across The Lake Against The Mountains

Queenstown – New Zealand's Adventure Capital

Driving into Queenstown we can feel our blood pressures rising.   Maybe it’s the advertisements for all of the activities?  Or perhaps it is the incredible energy of the natural beauty of the area permeating through to our souls, somehow resonating a wakeup call deep within, down where the kid in us lives?  One may never know but there is something special about New Zealand, and Queenstown in particular.  Summertime fills the streets with all ages.  The ambiance of the town is that of a mountain village.  Quaint, yet has all of the modern day conveniences you could want, including an organic food store.  Not only do they have extra long days, oftentimes adventure seeking tourists will be found frolicking between the amazing glacier fed river and the rugged, mountainous peaks.  It is there that we see the occasional dingy, the odd parachute, sometimes occupied, sometimes not.  Almost always there was someone talking about doing something “on the edge”, as it should be.  NZ is known for it’s extreme sports.  Queenstown is an amazing place to get the thrill of your life and come out virtually unscathed if you follow every safety precaution, and to take your chances with Lady Luck if you don’t.

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Welcome to the land of extreme… EVERYTHING!  Bungy jumping was invented here, among otherterrifying things you can do with and to our bodies.   The bungy bridge, from which you would throw yourself, crosses a raging ice cold river, with steep, completely unforgiving cliffs on either side setting the stage for the full-on adrenaline rush!  The amount of adrenaline junkies that come to Queenstown is staggering, and they come year round.  Why?  Oh, because the other activities may include, but are certainly not limited to: jet boating, sky diving, heli-skiing, swinging, paragliding, white water rafting and canyoning, all of which is world class.

Queenstown was born out of New Zealand’s Gold Rush.   It has relatively easy access to the river, lake and most of the region.  Driving from Dunedin is quite quick but there are many stops you can take if you so choose.  We even went panning for gold at an old gold rush operation.  Yes, it’s a tourist trap, but a fun and educational one.  Tourism took over later here than in the US, so the charm of Queenstown has been carefully scripted as you will see when you take a quick tour of the little town.  There are a few old buildings which are in use as public spaces and restaurants, but the Queenstown you see today is mostly new.  A plethora of shoppes and restaurants await, not to mention excellent day spas and alternative health care for your ailing body.  Be sure to book ahead and make your appointments for body repair immediately after you’ve gone out and done your worst to it.

Certainly one of the main attractions to Queenstown is the fact that it has a dual dichotomy.  It has both the extreme and the serene.  It was a lovely walk along the crystal blue lake just made us wish we were better painters and photographers so that we could do nature justice.  Hot summer days repeatedly turned our minds to the turquoise waters of the lake.  The mercury rising made those shimmering waters look oh so inviting, until we thoughtfully reminded ourselves that it’s colder, much, much colder than we could ever want it to be.  So, if you are adventurous, impervious to cold, (AKA: are a superhero), or are willing to don a drysuit, surely there is a fun time to be had by all!

Dusk approached and seemingly, out of nowhere, a handful of street performers dotted the pier area while the sun did it’s final dance of the day on the water.  A fiery blur of gold giving way to wavy swirls of magenta, indigo and ending on the edges with the darkness of night creeping in brought a perfect ending to a lovely day.  It was so relaxing and the weather was perfect.  Spending a summer holiday in Queenstown is superb on every level.  It’s one of those places that you might daydream about and find yourself saying quietly, “I could live here… or maybe at least have a little hideaway”.

Queenstown is perfectly situated as a stop over point when on your way to a Doubtful sound cruise.  We booked a Christmas Eve Cruise Special and decided to try the smaller, family-owned Deep Cove Charters.  It turned out to be an excellent choice and one of the most amazing experiences we have had in NZ.   Summer in Queenstown is warm, chilly and everything in between, so pack accordingly.  If you plan on being outside for any duration, get the Tui Balm and slathe it on all exposed areas.  The sand flies love and live off of the tourists.  They might be small, but they’re mighty… mighty painful!  The locals say that after a few years they don’t get bothered by them anymore but if you’re not bug resistant, get the balm.  Sand flies are a formidable force to reckon with on a hike, camping trip or just getting out of the car at certain times of the day.

Overall, summer is beautiful here, don’t forget the musthave’s are a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, bug repellent, to bring clothes with long sleeves and pants, good hiking boots, an extra jacket and your sense of adventure.  I can’t imagine anywhere else being more exciting than Queenstown.  Luckily, it’s my job to keep looking!  Having hardly begun our drive back to Christchurch, our conversation had turned almost immediately to our next visit to the Queenstown area during the winter to do a more in depth review it’s fine accomodations, excellent restaurants, the Remarkables and other attractions.

Travel Checklist

Home Checklist
  • ________Arrange for pet and plant care
  • ________Stop routine deliveries
  • ________Make your home seem lived-in while away by putting lights and a radio on timers
  • ________Turn down thermostat
  • ________Leave keys and itinerary with a friend
  • ________Lock windows, garage, and doors

Before Leaving
  • ________Guide books and maps
  • ________Passport and visa(s)
  • ________Foreign currency of your destination country
  • ________Credit cards
  • ________Travelers checks or ATM card
  • ________Insurance: Trip Cancellation/Medical
  • ________Personal Identification
  • ________Photocopies of documentation
  • ________Birth Certificate (if necessary)
  • ________Marriage License (if necessary)
Basic Essentials
  • ________Appropriate Luggage
  • ________Luggage Locks & ID Tags (Do NOT Lock checked baggage)
  • ________Appropriate Clothing
  • ________Comfortable Footwear
  • ________Rain Protection
  • ________Camera and Film (Place film in carry-on baggage)
  • ________Telephone Plugs for Modem
  • ________Small Flashlight
  • ________Travel Alarm Clock
  • ________Small Binoculars
  • ________Brimmed Hat or Visor
  • ________Reading Materials
  • ________Playing Cards/Games
  • ________Address Book
Maintenance Items
  • ________Batteries for camera and flashlight
  • ________Mini Sewing Kit (place in checked baggage)
  • ________Travel Iron or Steamer
  • ________Sink Stopper
  • ________Folding Scissors (place in checked baggage)
  • ________Laundry Soap Packets
  • ________Laundry Bag
  • ________Ziplock Plastic Bags
Medication
  • ________First Aid Kit
  • ________Aspirin/Pain Reliever
  • ________Cold/Sinus Medication
  • ________Diarrhea Medicine
  • ________Laxative
  • ________Insect Repellent
  • ________Contact Lens Preparations
  • ________Antibiotic Ointment
  • ________Alcohol Wipes
  • ________Sunscreen
  • ________Motion Sickness Medicine
  • ________Personal Hygiene Items
  • ________Personal Prescriptions
Toiletries
  • ________Comb/Brush
  • ________Toothbrush/Paste
  • ________Dental Floss
  • ________Shampoo
  • ________Blow Dryer
  • ________Deodorant
  • ________Lotions/Creams
  • ________Cologne
  • ________Lipbalm
  • ________Towelettes
  • ________Shaving Cream
  • ________Towel/Washcloth
  • ________Earplugs