Thanks eleanor - here goes!
Part three
The spa itself still manages to combine the old with the new, a tall dark wood and glass hat and umbrella stand combines effortlessly with smart display cupboards. After taking off our shoes we push through the the glass doors into the indoor pool area, with side jets along one side which can be started individually. The ceiling again is like a high barn beam effect. The walls are painted, as is found in most of the main building, with lovely frescos and arches. Soft music drifted throughout all the spa and as we were the only ones there, it was a magically quiet time. There is also a whirlpool in the same area. Through adjacent glass doors you can find the ice room, steam room, foot spa and a couple of other rooms. Unfortunately for us, they were not working at the time, we should have complained I know, its the only thing that you dont pay for and they were not working!!
Anyway, we didn't so that's our fault.
There is also a couple of lovely rest rooms, one dark with candles and couches, and one bright with a fantastic coloured glass chandalier and huge full length glass windows overlooking the outside pool and area.
Our therapist was one of the best I have come across. I had a hot stone massage treatment which lasted nearly 2 hours and was absolutely amazing. I felt better than I have in ages - whilst I was still in the room!
I came out and was given a cold fruit drink and relaxed looking out to the pool outside. When I finally started actually taking things in, I noticed that hubby was outside. This is not right, as he was supposed to be starting his massage treatment half an hour after mine so we finished at almost the same time, and was supposed to be meeting up in this room!
The therapist went out to get him and I followed with a nagging feeling that something was not quite how it should be. As I got there, I could hear him saying " Im not happy, I have been waiting for two hours with no therapist in sight!" He had had an argument with reception about it, who had not been very sympathetic saying that we hadnt booked so had to take it as it was!
As we had booked these treatments by email before we came out, and had them confirmed, then asked to change as they were "over booked", which we did, although it meant changing our
car hire days, hubby was naturally rather annoyed. He made them check back on their emails and they agreed that we had made the bookings, but only one therapist was on so one treatment had to follow the other, which was not what we had expected. Anyway, we calmed him down and he did decide to go ahead with his treatment, whilst I wandered back to the room and relaxed on the terrace.
We had also seen that they actually had not been over booked, rather the opposite, they had only had us booked, so decided to move us to this day, which only added to the annoyance actually. Still, the treatments were lovely and we were very impressed with what we had, and the professional way there were given.
That night, we decided to try the 7 course taster menu with matching wines. We were lucky that the evening was still lovely and we were able to have our meal outside again. The breeze rustled through the trees and we could see the
hotel cat and dog stalking through the grass.
Each course was described to us, and the somelier also described the wines he had chosen for us to accompany each course. We didnt actually have 7 different wines, I think there were actually 4.
We had a wonderful evening, and Iris - Mrs Read - came over and chatted to us, sending the waiter with two complimentary digestive drinks at the end. This was to be my undoing!
I had felt fine with the wines - virtually less than a glass of most - but this drink obviously did not mix and went straight to my head!
I managed to elegantly leave the table - I hope - and we walked round the grounds to clear our heads.
We wandered up to a couple of open terraces and took in the night time views over the countryside and then returned to our room.
This is where things go a bit wrong with the holiday!
I awoke at about 5am, feeling a little light headed, but not too bad. However, one of the shutters had obviously not been locked properly, and the breeze was making it bang.
I asked if hubby was awake - as you do - twice!! He then grumbled what I wanted, and I asked him to please get up and close the shutter as I didnt feel too well.
He got up, looking a little unsteay, but that would be natural at 5am in the morning. He wandered round out of sight and I heard the terrace shutter being locked.
He came back into view.
Staggered - then just collapsed, smashing into the wardrobe then out like a light straight down onto the stone floor!
I rushed round to him and after a couple of seconds he turned his head and in the dark I could make out that there was a dark gap where his front teeth should be!
He then passed out again, giving me the fright of my life.
He does have low blood pressure, and occassionaly this happens, usually at the doctors, dentist or when children come into the world, but he can usually tell just beforehand. This time he had had no idea.
Needless to say the rest of the night was not a comfortable one, with me being a very nervous Florence Nightingale and asking every time he moved if he was ok.
He decided he did not want to see a local dentist as they would be bound to give him injections for something and then we wouldnt be able to fly home for 48 hours. So pain killer tablets were the only option.
We had to cancel our next day arrangements, which included the hire car for another day out, and a long looked forward to meal at a restaurant in Santa Maria, C'an Calet.
When we went to reception, the car actually hadnt arrived anyway, so we just told them not to bother about it.
Marcus, the son, was there are the time, and as usual stopped to talk to us. I explained what had happened, and his response was - Well at least you weren't hurt, thats the main thing. Have a lovely day.
See what I meant about them not really listening!! I found this a couple of times actually, They dont seem to remember guests as well as the owners of the PP restaurants do!!
We decided to give our complimentary bottle of Cava to the therapist as we hadnt had an opportunity to drink it, and didnt want to risk taking it home. She was thrilled to get it and I think she deserved it.
All the staff work so hard, and we often heard them being told off about something or other by the owners, but we had no complaints about them ourselves.
After sorting out the bill - which needed redoing, as did about 3 o the departing guests that we saw over the days we were there - we went back to our room where we found a parting gift of a bottle of wine, a bottle of oil and some hibiscus salt.
It took a lot of convincing for my husband to agree to find a way to pack the bottles in order to take the risk of taking them back home!
We had a lovely driver taking us back to the airport, where we heard a bit of inside gossip that they are planning a new terminal to accept planes direct
from America!
I loved this hotel. It mixes so much with such grace and interest, both old and new. It has an amazing development history, and the foresight Mr Read had is incredible.
It is however, extremely expensive and that would be the reason for thinking twice about returning, although there were many there who were previous guests and return again and again. Lucky them!
I would definately recommend it for a special break, or even a special meal in either of their restaurants.
Hubby has since been to the dentist and has to have 4 teeth dealt with. I think our Pearl anniversary has been pretty expensive with having to deal with his Pearly Whites too!!