OUT &
ABOUT
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 18TH 2010
Your Weekly Entertainment Guide
Comares – high point on the “Route of the Raisin”* WRITTEN BY Jean Joss
P
erched some 739 metres above sea level, though only 25 km away from the coast at Torre del Mar, Comares is one of the highest pueblo blancos in Andalucia and on clear days is visible for miles around in the surrounding countryside. At night the twinkling lights merge into the sky and could almost be mistaken for a scattering of stars.
L
ittle wonder, then, that historically it grew up because of its defensive position, with origins dating back to the third century BC. Here the Romans had an outpost and the Moors built one of their principal forts in the Axarquia (two of the towers in the wall are still standing). Rebellions against Muslim and Christian rulers are depicted in a series of colourful ceramic plaques set at intervals into the town walls, which also house beautifullycared-for little shrines to various saints.
T
o reach Comares you follow a series of winding roads up from Velez Malaga, passing through the villages of Triana and Benamargosa and then turn left after the mysteriously named hamlet of Salto del Negro with its ancient flour mill. The climb then becomes steeper with dips, curves and hair-pin bends until eventually you arrive at the top and enter the pueblo itself. (You may be lucky and find one of the few parking spaces on the square but it is usually wiser to stop further down and walk.)
T
C
*
extreme – with majestic mountains to the north and rolling hills covered in olive and almond trees reaching down to the south and the sea. he village is also celebrated for its long association with “Verdiales”, the traditional music of the countryside sung and danced to guitars, lutes, violins and tambourines (there are many video clips on the internet if you want to know more). The village hosts a Fiesta of Verdiales each year in July.
omares offers a series of fascinating walks, and footprints have been set into the paving tiles to guide visitors round the old part of town and on to the viewpoints. The hotel on the square, El Molino de Abuelos, has a beautiful terrace if you are unwilling or unable to walk very far. The views, understandably, are spectacular in the
The Route of the Raisin passes through the municipalities of Totalan, Comares, Cutar, El Borge, Almachar and Moclinejo, taking in parts of both the Axarquia and the Montes de Malaga. The chief crop in the small towns and villages en route is the vine from which the grapes are used to make sun-dried raisins and muscatel wine.
El Carnicero
EVERYDAY MENU TODOS LOS DIAS MENU
€15,
00
PRIMEROS
STARTERS
Gazpacho Andaluz Cóctel de Gambas con Piña Carpaccio de Salmón Paté de Campo Casero Champiñones Gratinados Rellenos Alcachofas con Jamón Serrano Esparragos verdes al Vapor
Andalusian Gazpacho Prawn Cocktail Carpaccio of Salmon Home Made Country Pâté Stuffed Mushrooms au Gratin Artichokes Sautéed with Ham Steamed Green Asparagus
SEGUNDOS
MAIN COURSES
Lomos de Solomillo de Cerdo a la Mostaza Marmita de Gulasch Húngara Pollo Tikka sobre Placa Marmita de Cordero con Ciruelas Solomillo de Cerdo a la Brasa Bacalao Fresco Frito Salmón a la Salsa Cremosa de Eneldo
Loin of Pork with Mustard Hungarian Goulash Hot Pot Chicken Tikka on a Hot Stone Lamb with Prunes Hot Pot Grilled Pork Fillet Fish and Chips Salmon with a Dill Cream Sauce
POSTRES
DESSERT
Helado de Moka y Croccanti Flan Casero Tarta de Almendras Sorbete de Limon
Coffee-Moka and Croccanti Ice Cream Home made Crême Caramel Almond Cake Lemon Sorbet
MENU NIÑO
Spaguetti o Escalope Milanesa y helado €8,00
CHILDREN’S MENU
Spaghetti / Breaded Escalope and Ice Cream €8,00
BOOK YOUR TABLE ON RESERVE SU MESA EN
952 886 307
El Carnicero Grill Pueblo Viejo Cancelada Entre San Pedro y Estepona Cambio de Sentido Cancelada
12:30PM - 4:00PM / 6:30PM - 11:00PM SUNDAYS & FESTIVALS OPEN ALL DAY FROM 12:30PM TO 11:00PM CLOSED ON MONDAY FOR LUNCH - OPEN AT 18.30PM DOMINGOS Y FESTIVOS ABIERTO TODO EL DÍA DE 12:30H A 23:00H CERRADO LOS LUNES PARA ALMUERZO - ABRIMOS 18:30H