When Life Throws You Lemons!

You make lemonade right?

So when you get the opportunity to make the positive of a bad situation you take the bull by the horns and do it!

It was while we were sitting having a coffee the other day that the subject of needing a break came up! A change of scenery, a break from the norm, an hour later it was booked! Puerto De La Cruz was the destination and the duration was for one night! all on a small budget of course. The hotel was the Monopol and the company was Eddie and me, along with four friends.

We´d never stayed at the Monopol before but we know a few people that have. Its an old hotel, probably one of the oldest in Puerto. The rooms aren't that big, but they more than adequate for a one or two night stay. It has a swimming pool, a Jacuzzi, friendly staff and it was perfect for what we needed.

After checking in, and meeting up with our friends we headed to the main square for a bite to eat. A lovely setting, great food and 25% discount on the bill just for being residents. From there it was a walk around the local area where it was quite obvious that Covid and its restrictions had hit this town in the same way that it has hit many other tourist resorts. Although there was plenty open and the town seemed to be buzzing, this was mainly due to it being a bank holiday weekend and probably the last time that families could go away before the start of the new school year. Sadly there are many places closed for business and quite a few premises up for rent or transfer. We returned to the hotel and spent the afternoon at the pool area, Swimming, sunbathing and sitting in the Jacuzzi. A few drinks were consumed and between us we put the world to rights.

That evening we were booked in to Titos´s Bodequita, a new restaurant for us but one that our friends had visited in the past on several occasions. There were eight of us as purely by coincidence, another couple who we knew were also staying close by and had booked the same restaurant. 

My Pork medallions with sauteed potatoes were delicious as was the bread and Ali Oli. Sometimes the simple things are the best, and bread and Ali Oli, as simple as it is, is one of my favorite things to eat. Just sit me in a corner with a glass San Val, and a plate of bread and Ali Oli and I´m more than happy!!

Eddie chose the beef chop although when it arrived it was more like half a cow on a plate! OK, maybe I'm exaggerating a little but it was huge, bigger than the plate. Eddie said it was delicious and managed to almost make his way through it, only leaving a few vegetables. The setting at this restaurant is beautiful, see the photos enclosed, and a great night was had by all!

Its been a fabulous weekend and just the tonic that we needed in these times. Its very difficult to stay positive especially when all you hear about is so many places closing and so many people leaving. 

Keyboard warriors are a big bug bear of mine, and while scrolling through the book of face a few days ago, someone made a comment about a restaurant they had been to. They hadn't enjoyed their food. Fair enough, this happens but was there really any need to post all over social media? and if they had enjoyed their meal, would they then have been so keen to tell all their friends? I'm not sure

In my opinion, now more than ever, we need to look for the good, and support each other. My philosophy is, if you've got nothing nice to say then say nothing. Its that simple!

Stay positive people, we have this! but most of all.........stay safe!

xxx