Romeria
and Feria. Starting with a great walk up a mountain following
the procession, and then fun and food at the peak. Bands play
until late in the town square
June
0
Corpus
Christi
July
25
Santiago
Apostol
August
15
Feast
of the Assumption (not banks)
Feria.
Starting with a great walk up a mountain following the procession,
and then fun and food at the peak.Lots of late nights with bands
playing in the town square
The
charming mountain village of Montejaque is situated 15km from
Ronda and boasts a spectacular setting in the Serrania of Ronda
and the Grazalema Natural Park.
It is nestled amidst spiky angular mountains,
above a green fertile valley full of olive and almond trees, where
donkeys and pigs graze freely in the meadows on acorns and grass.
The villagers, traditionally farmers, are happy to see visitors.
The area specialises in ham and pork products and there is a local
family who specialise in jams and 'marron glace', using the local
chestnuts.
This
region has a complex and diverse series of pageantry,
culture and celebration. Most weekends you can experience
the excitement of a fiesta; from religious processions
to the spectacular sight of flamenco or toros. All are
accompanied by music and fun in the village or in the
vicinity of Montejaque.
The
neighbouring villages of El Gastor, Zahara de la Sierra
and the famous town of Ronda have numerous fiestas and
carnivals attracting many visitors from all over Europe.
The main fiestas are held during the summer months and
especially the middle weekend in August when all Spain
celebrates.
A
typical Andalucian village fiesta lasts a few days and
is a great excuse for celebration for the local people
who love to dress up for the special occasion. There
is entertainment throughout the village and temporary
bars and refreshment stalls erected. During the evening
bands play in the village square and the music and dancing
does not stop until 5 or 6 am when it is time for everybody
to take some hot chocolate and churros (long thin doughnuts).
It
would be useful to know the exact dates of all fiestas,
but sometimes these are not finalised until a month
or so before and can be changed at short notice, so
here (in the left hand panel) we can only suggest provisional
dates.
Ferias:
Ferias
(fairs) are a fiesta of dancing and horses. There
are competitions and usually a traditional fairground
with all the usual rides and dodgems etc. Dancing
and drinking fino (cold dry sherry) usually goes
on into the early hours.
Romerias:
Romerias
are pilgramages usually carrying the patron saint
of a village from its "Santuario" to the
main parish church. Romerias are celebrated with
picnics, paellas cooked over campfires, displays
of horsemanship, flamenco singing, dancing and sherry.
Semana
Santa:
Semana
Santa - not to be missed. Solemn, mystic intensely
religious processions that take place in every town
and village. Effigies of saints, the Virgin Mary
and Christ are carried through the streets with
an accompaniment of robed "Nazarenos"
singing and bearing candles and incense.
Fiestas:
Fiestas
in Summer are more like the traditional fairs you
see in England. These fairs are strictly night time
affairs so don't expect to go out until 10 or 11
pm to see the action. Dancing, both traditional
and modern, fairground rides and general partying
are the norm here - lots of fun for all ages!
Spanish
eating times vary depending on the time of year. As a rough guide
most Spaniards have lunch between 2-4 pm and dinner between 8:30-10:30
pm, but in summer anytime after 10:00 pm. However most restaurants
serve lunch from 12:00 noon and evening meals from 8:00 pm.
Tipping - a tip is not included in your bill and it is customary
to leave approximately 10%.
Most restaurants have a "menu del dia" (menu of the
day) which is a reasonably priced 3 course meal. This is normally
shown on a blackboard and priced from €5.
Eating out will be one of the most enjoyable experiences of your
holiday. Fish and seafood straight from the sea, wonderful fresh
salads, homemade spicy sausages, stews and game of all sorts are
served in various restaurants.
Seafood:
Without
doubt fried fish here is the best in the world, as it is cooked
with very fresh hot oil, the result is crisp and not greasy. Acedias
(small wedge sole), rosados, jureles, cazon (shark), marinated
overnight and crisply fried, cuttlefish (choco) rings that look
like potato chips and small calamares are just a few varieties.
Try a surtido (mixture). Cadiz, by the seashore, is a special
place to eat fried fish, fish a la plancha (grilled) or del horno
(baked). Many different sorts of sea bream or bass, large calamares
or slices of pez espada (swordfish), pez limon and so on are delicious
done this way.
If you like shellfish (mariscos) go to Puerto Santa Maria and
eat them as you watch the boats go by on the river. Sanlucar is
another great place for langostinos. Try the choco con papas (squid
with yellow potatoes), a specialty here.
Other
Andalucian specialties are gazpacho, a cold soup made with summer
vegetables, and ajo blanco made with garlic and almonds. Cocidos,
in which all the vegetables of the season are cooked in one pot
with a little sausage or meat, and often with beans or chickpeas,
are a treat in cold weather. They are usually served as part of
the menu or dish of the day.
Tapas:
Tapas
represent both a style of eating and a way of life that can make
your holiday even more enjoyable. Strolling from one tapas bar
to another you can eat a meal which includes all the best of Spanish
cooking. Seafood, marinades, garlicky salads, green sauces and
almond sauces, little pies (empanadas) made with tuna or spicy
meat. Tapas serve an important function in social life and fill
the long gaps between meals. Spaniards love talking to friends
over a drink and a bite to eat.
"Mesons"
are rustic restaurants with tapas and full meals. "Cervecerias"
serve the beer with shellfish. In most places you can just choose
from the display on the bar. In this region fresh and creative
tapas are served with pride.
Enjoy the great Spanish pastime of browsing for tapas.
Breakfast
- (Desayuno) - during the morning, around 9.30am, most Spaniards
have coffee and toast in a bar. These breakfasts are not usually
cooked, or with cereals. Media tostada - open toasted sandwiches
with sobrasada (manteca colorada, a type of bacon fat or dripping)
or zurrapa de lomo (dripping with pork scraps). Instead of sliced
bread or Vienna rolls try a "mollete," a tea cake sometimes
tasting a little like crumpet.
Lunch
- Almuerzo - Spaniards tend not to have their main meal at lunch
time however lunch is served in most restaurants from 2-5pm.
Dinner
- Cena - During the evening you can enjoy tapas (snacks) in one
of the typical bars. Wine, sherry or beer is normally drunk with
tapas. Dinner is normally served from 8pm to 12pm.
Tapas
- You can order a small dish, which is a tapa, or a "media
racion" (half portion), or a "racion" (full portion).
Suggestions:
Definitely try the "jamon Iberico de pata negra" (air-cured
ham of the black pig from the Jabugo area of Huelva province)
- delicious but not cheap
Drinks:
Wines
- There are some very fine wines from the Rioja region of
Spain and also from Penedes in Cataluña. Cheaper wines
come from Valdepeñas south of La Mancha. Combined with
Casera (white lemonade) the local red wine makes a pleasant refreshing
drink called "tinto de verano"
Sherry - There are many varieties of sherry:
Fino
(dry)
Manzanilla
(very dry - actually from Sanlucar de Barrameda)
Amontillado
or O loroso (sweet).
Ice
cold fino is exceptionally good on a hot day accompanied by a
few tapas. In some areas tapas are brought to you automatically
with a drink. In "Bodegones" (sherry cellars/bars) you
get minimal tapas - olives, cheese and shellfish among the barrels.
If you visit Seville we recommend you try the bodegon "Torre
del Oro" or any around the bullring.
Liqueurs
- There are some fine brandies from Jerez (nowadays without
much caramel sweetener) and some old-fashioned ones from Penedes
such as Torres 10 Years Old. Try a "licor de manzana,"
"licor de pera" or "licor de melocoton" (apple,
pear or peach liqueur). Another popular liqueur is "Pacharan"
(liqueur made from "endrinas" - sloes, and flavoured
with aniseed).
Coffee
(café) - always automatically served as expresso
café
solo (black)
café
con leche (white)
café
cortado (with a little milk)
café
Americano (not so strong)
café
mitad (half milk, half coffee)
Opening
hours:
09.00-13.00 for breakfast
13.00-16.00 for lunch.
& 19.30 'til late for dinner.
Closed Tuesdays
There
are also several bars in the Plaza which serve tapas.
Shopping
Banks:
Unicaja & Caixa
Open:
08.30-14.00
Post
Office:
Correos
Open:
0930-11.00
Groceries:
Open:
0900-13.00 and 17.00-20.00
There are a few local supermarkets in the village which will supply
you with your daily needs
Large
hypermarkets can be found in the town of Ronda. These are usually
open until at least 20.00hrs or 21.00hrs. There is a Cobreros
supermarket if you carry on around the bypass, near the turning
to Campillos. Out of season or normal hours it is difficult to
find shops open in this area, so we suggest you stock up at petrol
stations, most have a good supply of basics.
Bakery:
Panaderia
Open:
0700-13.00
Tobacconist:
Estance Tobacalero
Open:
08.00-21.00
Fishmonger:
Pescaderia
Open:
0900-13.00 and 17.00-20.00
Health
& Safety:
Doctor:
The
medical centre is located in the village, down to the left before
the 'Unicaja' (bank),
Police:
(Guardia Civil)
Building
with flags outside, located on the left near to the bank.