On Aug 4 We saw a sign... From now on: ( When we dream away) In our mind: We hear the sound of the water, the birds, the bells from the animals. We see the shapes of the fantastic-wonderfull, peacefull surroundings. In our nose: We smell the flowers and the balance of the nature. In our mouth: We smell the taste of the fabulous meals made by your expressive top cooking man. For other travellers: Do you admire nature? Do you want to relax? Just give your self a try! Visit La Fuente del Sol! 22 aug 2006. Room Higuera 9. Ficus Carica

La FUENTA del SOL an amazing hotel We have just returned refreshed from our visit to this special place and would really like to share our experience with you and recommend it wholeheartedly. We were directed to this lovely hotel by friends who had travelled extensively in Andalucia over the past 7 years and in their experience they had not visited a better appointed inland 4 star hotel that had all the elements and more to make for a luxury holiday on a reasonable budget. We were taking a short break from our hectic lifestyles and this turned out to be the prefect tonic away from the maddening world we now live in. Our friends had shown us the hotel web site and we where immediately impressed by the beautiful pictures and scenery in this part of the Sierra del Torcal National Park. These pictures of course we now know are very authentic and true to life especially the rolling hillside scenery and all the featured hotel facilities. We were looking for a small hotel in the rural countryside between Granada and Seville with easy access to the highway system and Malaga on the coast. We wished to visit the old town of Malaga together with several museums including the Picasso Museum as well as visiting the cities of Granada and Cordoba. We also wished to visit some wine and olive cooperatives along the way with fresh lively tapas bars to give us a real Spanish experience and of course lots of sunshine, personal service and relaxation. La Fuente fit’s the bill-- this amazing hotel nestled in the hills above the small village of La Joya at approx 850m above sea level a short 20 minute drive through stunning scenery from the ancient town of Antiquera was the perfect base. The local scenery and the Torcal mountain range reminded us of mountain ranges in the western cape of South Africa. We took the A343 from the motorway from Malaga and drove through unspoilt rural farmland with well tarmaced main roads and concreted local roads which would put ours to shame (see google earth). On arrival at the hotel we were thrilled to see a flock of eagles soaring on thermal air currents overhead , the hotel’s aspect is due south with a view over the rolling hills down to the Mediterranean sea in the distance at Malaga.. A warm welcome from Ester and Estelle on reception awaited us and Luis the general manager showed us to our beautiful appointed room which had a very comfortable palatial bed, sumptuous bathroom and robes and great views. The local wild life was fabulous and so many different finches and skylarks, we also walked from the hotel at dusk some evenings to take the clear air before dinner and one evening saw a huge skein of geese on the distant skyline with hundreds of birds at 10,000 ft on there way to North Africa for the winter. The sunsets were stunning My husband used the well equipped gym and we both relaxed in the spa facilities and plunged into the sparkling heated indoor pool ( the 22m length outdoor pool was a little chilly for November) this was just the tonic after a days sightseeing trip before a superb dinner in the elegant restaurant. The chef David Munzo, originally from Madrid gave us an excellent choice of menu with some inventive Spanish/Mediterranean dishes, his staff especially Jose the head waiter, where very efficient and attentive. There is a very good feeling in the hotel and it has an elegance of an authentic Spanish corteja with spacious height in all the rooms and lush plants throughout the hotel to delight the eye. .We shall certainly return to this delightful amazing hotel next year. GSS.