Friends, I am 65-yrs old and use a wheelchair for mobility. I can use a cane to maneuver small steps, but cannot climb more than three or four steps. I am very interested in traveling to Spain with three friends, renting a car and driving, exploring the countryside along the way, about September/October 2013. We are not interested in major tourist sites necessarily, except maybe Andalusia, but wish to experience the food and wine within the towns and villages of Spain, "conocer y disfrutar de conversaciones con gente del campo y disfrutar de restaurantes locales, tabernas y hoteles." My Spanish isn't the best, but I can get by as needed. I would appreciate any insight you might provide. Mikail Davenport
Posted by
Victoria, BC, Canada
101 posts
If you are interested in the food and wine, you might want to purchase a DVD called 'Rick Stein's Spain' I bought it for hubby for Christmas and we both really enjoyed it. I bought it via Amazon.co.uk I can't remember if it was region coded or not.. We've disabled the region code which is incredibly easy to do and doesn't require any tools or software just a case of punching a few numbers into your DVD player depending on what make you have. Here is one review ... Rick Stein serves up yet another culinary odyssey this time from Spain. Peppered with the usual literary anecdotes Rick takes us on a gastro-tour of all things Spanish. As always, Rick heads straight for the real side of the local cuisine.. We were in Spain in Sept/Oct 2011 and again in 2012 By chatting with some locals in Valencia we were told of a restaurant that Valencians travel to on Sundays despite it being over an hours drive away.. It's off the beaten track and despite them messing up the name and it not actually being in the town we found it and were so glad we did. The setting was fantastic, They specialize in Paella we had a starter to die for, the best boquerones frita on the planet! If you find yourself in the Valencia province check out this Restaurante Tipico Valenciano called Casa Salvador it's in l'Estany de Cullera
http://www.casasalvador.com/inicio2.htm
Posted by
OP
Austin, Texas, USA
3 posts
Teresa,
Thank you. Will get the DVD and mark the restaurant as a definite! Mikail
Posted by
Victoria, BC, Canada
101 posts
Have you watched Made in Spain ? Here in Canada the show is aired on PBS on Sunday's we enjoy watching it, in fact I also bought the DVD's for hubby for Christmas, I purchased through Amazon not his website.. http://www.josemadeinspain.com/home.htm
Posted by
back in the Americas
723 posts
Here is a suggestion for lodging. Do a search for casas rurales. There are various websites where these are listed. These are small family owned options in small towns and in the countryside. Very reasonably priced and since you speak Spanish and will have a car you will have easy access to these non-traditional destinations. Sometimes these small inns also have their own restaurants/bars. You will get much more personalized interaction at these small inns.
Posted by
OP
Austin, Texas, USA
3 posts
Muchas gracias to Teresa and Pat. I'll get online and order the dvd and check out the casa rurales. Blessings,
Mikail
Posted by
Madrid, Madrid, Spain
80 posts
Small villages can be challenging if mobility is an issue where most are not whellchair-friendly. Streets can be gravely, uneven, or gravely. Mountainside towns are pretty notorious for having lots of steps up and down and without much car access except through the center. But there are plenty of valley properties for rent, I'm sure - and a few without the bedrooms on the second floor. But don't dispare! There are plenty of town where you no more have to park in the central plaza and walk/roll to the nearest plaza bar for some good food, drink, and conversation with locals. Saludos, MadridMan