Guest review
“I was keen to get my parents-in-law out to Spain for a holiday in April, and we bought them flights for a Christmas present. In their late 70’s and very keen to try things both new and varied, here is their lovely account of their stay at Casa Verde. (PS. My father-in-law became the oldest person to zipwire from Spain to Portugal – I was impressed!)
A completely glorious week in Casa Verde! The steepest imaginable short walk up the narrow street to find the green door but when you get there, wow! It’s magical, with that stunning view from the giant sofa on the terrace. Everything so beautiful, comfortable and welcoming in the house, we could hardly bear to leave it. All the hills were covered with little white rock-roses, wild lavender and every kind of wildflower and herb – and orange trees everywhere in fruit and flower simultaneously – all smelling like a dream.
Highlights were the nightingale singing full blast right beside us as we explored and picked oranges off the trees in Casa Verde’s finca, 20 minutes’ walk down river. Also the Donana National Park near the coast – a huge area of wetlands – was magical. Big shady trees, water everywhere. Spoonbills, glossy ibises, marsh harriers and many other fabulous birds we had never seen before . Nesting cranes on just about every pylon and pink flamingos fishing in a big lake at El Rocio with a crowds of coots swimming round their legs picking up whatever they had stirred up. The town of El Rocio where there is a colossal annual pilgrimage in honour of the Virgin Mary was spectacular. Everyone arrives on horseback or in horse-drawn wagons. Every road and the vast square in front of the cathedral is sand with Wild West stockyards and posts-and-rails for the horses outside every house, down every street. Delicious fish, straight-out-of-the-sea, to eat outside, wherever we went.
On our last evening, as the sun was going down, we zip- wired from the hill behind the town into Portugal. What a fabulous moment it was taking off and flying down the hillside, across the river at about 50 mph and being stopped by a very efficient braking system and a beaming Portuguese to pull you sideways onto the landing platform!
This was the first time we had been in Spain since our honeymoon (in an old leaking tent – what a contrast!). We had a brilliant time in Casa Verde and will always treasure the experiences.”
Jim and Sarah.
