"... We felt we were staying at the home of family. El Membrillo was the perfect place for us. The quiet days and evenings helped us get the relaxation we needed. We enjoyed the patio very much also - during the day to sit in the sun and in the evening to watch the myriad of stars. The kitchen and laundry facilities also made us feel right at home... We made many fond memories at El Membrillo and would return again should we have the opportunity."
Robert P. - Chicago - USA
"... I truely enjoyed our stay at El Membrillo I would have no problem being used as a reference. I feel that anyone wanting to experience the Spanish life away from the large cities would find it hard to find anything better. "
Chris W. - North August - South Carolina - USA
"... the romantic nature of its age and location. The location of the house is stunning, the view is magnificent, and it is ideally situated for exploring some wonderful country..."
Jo A. - Corvallis - Oregon - USA
" As a business man who spends too much time in hotels with
less than adequate services (at more than adequate prices), El Membrillo was
the perfect holiday for my wife and I. For me, to be able to stand in the
courtyard or on the patio and see the landscape that Andalucia offers
without the clutter associated with other "tourist" areas is truly
wonderful. We celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary at El Membrillo
and now hope to celebrate others there as well.
The privacy, scenery, and generous accommodations were of great value to us.
We look forward to returning to El Membrillo at our earliest opportunity."
John and Margaret S. (USA citizen living in Brussels-Belgium
(Note:They have returned two years latter with their fathers)
"...
I want to tell you again that we really enjoyed our stay at El Membrillo (
I hope we left everything in satisfactory condition). Not only was it a
pleasant place to stay, it was well located for our day trips in many
directions. We got as far as Granada and Gibralter and many places in
between.
"
Jim W. - Sioux Falls - South Dakota - USA)
"...
Sorry to take so long to respond to your messages. It has been an
unusually busy start of semester for us here. We arrived home safely after
a memorable vacation in Andalusia! We want to thank you very much for your
hospitality. We were treated with great cordiality, made to feel at home
immediately....
All of us were completely charmed by "El Membrillo" and found it difficult
to leave when our time was over! The house is lovely and inviting. We
lacked absolutely nothing in the way of "creature comforts," but were not
over-stuffed and distracted with unnecessary luxury. The very simplicity
of the place is its greatest attraction! The house is wonderfully situated
both for rest and activity -- one is able to choose from so many
opportunities for recreation and visits to towns and cities of great
interest and many delights. We found the surrounding country to be
awe-inspiring, and we spent plenty of time just watching the mountains and
fields change color as the day turned to evening and the afternoon turned
to night -- and the stars!! Such stars!! The owners made us feel truly at
home and they were available unconditionally to us to help us with all our
needs and questions, while also respecting our privacy competely. It is
not a question of "if" we will return to El Membrillo, but "when." We
want it to be very soon!
"
Dr.J. Mary L. - Somerville - Massachusett - USA (Professor in Andover Newton, the oldest graduate theological school in the United States)
(Note:She have returned one year latter with her fathers)
"...
El Membrillo, basic ingredient of a very special andalucian dish.
Some time ago, one night, wandering through the world wide, internet took
me to Spain and Andalucia, and in his web it caught El Membrillo. Internet
was very kind to me, a provider of answers to all my questions, giving a
full description with photos and all. And put me in contact with Mr
Francisco Ruiz de Francisco who handed me all practical info. I have to
confess, such temptation I could not resist . So off we went to El
Membrillo, in Arcos de la Frontera, Andalucia; our base on visiting
Andalucia.
You want to see, feel and taste the andalucian 'white village' way of
living, Arcos is a good place for it.
You want to visit places of special interest, from Sevilla to Cadiz, from
Huelva, the Donana, Sanlucar de Barrameda to Ronda, Grazaliema and Cordoba
from one central point, try Arcos.
You want to feel the Andalucian landscape and nature, the andaluz way of
living, try El Membrillo.
Leaving Arcos de la Frontera to your Membrillo home-base, leaving the main
road at about km11, it is waiting for you up the hill, white shining
hospitality.
We must express our truefull thanks to El Membrillo. We really felt at
home there.
Coming home, El Membrillo wellcomed us with with its fresh lofty air and
white warm atmosphere. The living room invites you for a rest. Quiet. Do
some reading, checking your traveller guides, chatting about the events
of the day, ...
The entire house, from income hall, kitchen, bathrooms, all rooms gave us
a feeling of home. The fridge served nicely cooled 'Fino Muy Seco' , the
dishwasher and the washing machine did their job while we went
sightseeing, the deepfreezer served nice ice cream on our return. The
bathroom washed away the heavy feeling in your feet.
The bedrooms at the top floor are lofty and sober decorated with comfy
beds, inviting.
Going out into the patio, admiring the place, the andalucian landlord
inside is wakening up, white washed walls all around, some flowers, a
couple of trees, the walls casting a refreshing shade in the afternoon.
What a pity our grandchildren could not come with us. This patio had been
an ideal playground for them.
Personally, I liked the 'outer patio' (parking ground?) very much.
Especially in the morning when the sun was peering over the hills in the
east and started colouring the landscape. The immensely wide view, birds
singing, the whistling busy sound of open space all around, far far away
a white village turning to the sun for warmth. It makes you religious.
It makes you think religion. What religion would turn me into an
andalucian haciendista in my next life ?? (Pfui, that's blasphemy; that
must be censured)It makes you think religion.
"
Marcel B. - Londerzeel - Belgium
"...
Hvis du reiser til Andalucia i desember, møter du et annet Spania enn du
forventer. Bøndene er i ferd med å avslutte våronna, og enkelte steder
spirer jordene allerede irrgrønt. Naturen på denne årstiden likner mer på
Irland enn på det solsvidde Spania som vi kjenner fra turistbrosjyrene -
nettene er kalde og dagene solvarme, omtrent som en fin september på
Østlandet. På denne tiden er du den eneste turist i området rundt Arcos de
la Frontera, og det er en opplevelse i seg selv. Vi feiret både juledag og
nyttårsdag på en av de lokale restaurantene sammen med spanske familier
og vennlige kelnere som forstår det meste selv om de ikke kan annet enn
spansk.
Cortijo el Membrillo kan ikke sammenlignes verken med en norsk hytte
eller et dansk sommerhus - du får ditt eget lille pensjonat med fire
lukseriøse bad, kjøkken med alle fasiliteter, mange soverom og en
hyggelig stue. Eieren og hans frue er meget vennlige mennesker som
hjelper dere til rette på alle måter. Mao: Cortijo El Membrillo
anbefales -uten forbehold.
"
Knut L. - Oslo - Norway
"...
Enige tijd geleden, op een donkere nacht, wandelend door de Wijde Wereld,
bracht Internet me naar Andalucie, en ik werd gevangen in het Web-net van
El Membrillo. Internet was heel vriendelijk, beantwoordde mijn vragen,
stuurde foto's. En bracht me in kontakt met Mr Francisco Ruiz die alle
praktische info bezorgde. Espana, Andalucia, El Membrillo, ik kon de
verleiding niet weerstaan. Dus op weg naar Arcos de la Frontera, onze
basis, onze thuis voor de verkenning van Andalucie. Niet zo'n slechte
keus ...
Als je het leven in de "witte dorpen" van Andalucie wil zien, voelen,
smaken, is Arcos een goed adres. Wil je steden, bezienswaardigheden
bezoeken, van Sevilla tot Cadiz, van Huelva, en Sanlucar de Barrameda tot
Ronda, Grazaliema en Cordoba , dit vanuit een centraal punt, Arcos is
een goede keuze. Wens je het andalusisch landschap, de natuur, de
levenswijze te voelen, probeer El Membrillo.
Vanuit Arcos ga je naar huis, El Membrillo, langs de hoofdweg. Waar je
km11 ziet wordt het tijd om het landaschap in te duiken, daar zie je de
witte glimmende Membrillo gastvrijheid op U liggen wachten.
Onze oprechte dank, El Membrillo, we voelden ons echt thuis bij U.
Bij de thuiskomst werden we verwelkomd in een wit-warme sfeer van frisse ,
zuivere lucht . De woonkamer zorgt voor een welkome verpozing. Rust.
Lezen, de reisgidsen bekijken, wat babbelen over de belevenissen van
de dag, ....
Ons gaf het ganse huis, van inkom tot keuken, badkamer(s), de ganse ruimte
gaf ons een 'thuis'-gevoel. De frigo zorgde voor een optimaal gekoelde
'Fino Muy Seco', de wasmachine, de afwasmachine, deden hun werk
terwijl wij op trek waren, de diepvriezer serveerde ons een koel ijsje bij
de terugkeer. De badkamer waste het zwaar gevoel uit de vermoeide voeten.
De slaapkamers op de verdieping zijn fris en luchtig, sobere dekoratie,
uitnodigend...
Het zicht van de binnenkoer maakt de andalusische landheer wakker,
witgekalkte muren rondom, wat bloemen, een paar boompjes, de muren die
hun frisse schaduw tekenen in de namiddag. Toch spijtig dat de
kleinkinderen niet zijn meegekomen; wat een ideaal speelterrein was deze
patio voor hen...
Persoonlijk vond ik de buiten-patio (parking?) echt prachtig. Vooral
in de morgen, wanneer de zon boven de bergen uit kwam kijken en het
landschap in warme kleuren zette. Een oneindig wijds vergezicht,
zingende vogels, de druk fluisterende klank van de wijdse open ruimte.
Ver ver weg een paar witte dorpjes die zich naar de zon keerden voor wat
warmte.... Bestaat Reincarnatie echt? Kon ik hier maar terugkeren als
een ware , een echte haciendista...
"
Marcel B. - Brussels - Belgium
"...
C'etait une nuit, sombre et orageuse, quand Internet me proposait un
voyage par l'Espagne et l'Andalousie, El Membrillo me prenait
discretement par la main, une invitation personelle. Mr Francisco Ruiz
m'expliquait les détails de la proposition. Je ne pouvais résister. Et
nous voila partis pour, l'Andalousie, Arcos de la Frontera, El
Membrillo.
A la recherche de vivre, de sentir la vie et l'ambiance typique des
'villages blancs' , Arcos est un bon choix.
Préférant visiter des sites d'intérêt touristique, de Sevilla à Cadiz, de
Huelva, la Donana, et Sanlucar de Barrameda jusqu'à Ronda, Grazaliema et
Cordoba, tout cela partant d'un point central, essayez Arcos. Cherchants
les sentiments que peuvent vous procurer le paysage et la nature
andalouse, la facon de vivre locale, essayez El Membrillo.
Sortant de Arcos de la Frontera, rentrant à la maison, on quitte la
route principale autour de km11, El Membrillo vous attend en haut de la
colline, une hospitalité étincelante de blancure.
Merci, El Membrillo, chez vous on se sentait vraiment 'chez soi'.
El Membrillo nous reçevait avec un air frais et une atmosphère blanche et
chaleureuse. Le salon invite au repos. Tranquilité. Un peu de lecture,
regarder les guides touristiques, discuter les événements de la
journée,... La maison toute entière, l'entrée, la cuisine, la (les)
salle(s) de bain, partout on se sentait 'chez soi'. Le frigo nous
proposait un 'Fino Muy Seco'; le lave-vaisselle, la machine à laver
faisaient leur bouleau pendant que nous on se promenait. Au retour, le
congélateur nous offrait une glace. Les chambres à coucher à l'étage sont
bien aérées, d'une décoration sobre, avec lits acceuillants,..
Sortant pour le patio, on est pris par un sentiment de noblesse andalouse,
les murs tout blanc, les fleurs, quelques arbres, l'ombre rafraichissant
des murailles dans l'aprés-midi. Quand'même tristes que les
petits-enfants ne sont pas ici, quel terrain magnifique et bien privé
pour leurs jeux.
Personellement, je préférais le patio extérieur, (le parking) .
Spécialemant le matin, avec le soleil se montrant juste au dessus des
monts lointains, mettant petit à petit la couleur dans la nature fraiche.
La vue immense, le chant des oiseaux, le son de cet espace ouvert et
énorme; très loin un ou deux villages blancs se tournant à l'est,
captant la chaleur solaire.
Vivre ici, c'est bien temporaire, quelle douleur, quelle peine...
"
Marcel B. - Brussel - Belgium
"...
... thank you for entrusting your lovely cortijo
tu us. The house was perfect and the view breathtaking, changing all day
with the sun and clouds. I've been in most parts of Spain, but Andalucia
is no doubt the most beautiful. We spent a great Christmas in El
Membrillo, everything was fine exept for the fact that we had to wait 8
hours at the airport in Malaga for our plane home, due to icing problems
at the new airport in Oslo.
My wife is already talking about coming back to El Membrillo, so don't be
surprised if your hear from us again in a year or two.
" Knut L. - Oslo - Norway
"...
We had a great time in your country but we did the typical American
thing by trying to see everything which was a mistake. However, we most
enjoyed our stay at El Membrillo and are hopeful we will be able to return
soon. The food, wine, and scenery were outstanding.
" Dr.Laurent G. - Savannah - Georgia - USA (Professor in Armstrong Atlantic State University)
19-26 Febrero 2000
"...
I hope that you are keeping well, I have previously hired your excellent
villa earlier this year, I wonder if you could let me know it's
availability for the following dates to allow me to plan for a return
October 21-28 2000
December 26 2000 - January 2nd 2001
December 26 2001 - January 2nd 2002
" Jonathan I. - 13 Cavendish Avenue - Sevenoaks - Kent - England
1-31 Mayo 2000
"...
Thank you again for your help and hospitality. We could not have asked
for a more gracious host. Give our regards to Teresa and your daughters.
Tell Maria that we are missing her meals already. Don't be surprised that
we contact you again to stay at El Membrillo!
" Terry and Sandra L. - Richvale - California - USA USA
11-18 Junio 2000
"...
Thank you for the wonderful stay at El Membrillo. We were very happy to
visit your home for a week, and we have great memories of our trip to
Spain.
After we left El Membrillo, we went to Cordoba, Granada, and Barcelona. We
enjoyed all of the places that we visited - they were so different from
California.
We are trying to download the video from our camera to send to you, but we
are having some trouble with the software. We will keep trying and will
send it to you when we get it to work. We hope that the puppies are doing
well, and we thank you again for our time at El Membrillo.
Tom, Kathy, Zack,Jeff and Ryan
" Thomas and Kathy S. - Auburn - California - USA
1-15 Julio 2000
"...
We are ashamed that we did'nt write you since we returned home. Our
holidays in your house were very nice and beautiful and we want to thank
you for all. We wish all good things to you and Therese and we hope that
you will never sell El Membrillo ! Most friendly,
" Dominique L. - Strasbourg - France
16 Septiembre- 7 Octubre 2000
"...
Jonathan and Toni LOVED El Membrillo - thank you so much for the delicious
wine - I am having a glass right now!
My 2001 plans are booked up - but I am looking at a 2002 calendar, but I
would love to book El Membrillo for 2002 at Easter (think it's called
Santa Misa?) but I might be wrong. anyway it's in April I think. Probably
for ten days.
I'll send you an E-Mail when I check with my calendar but in the mean time
could you please block out that space for me? In a week I'll know and
send you a check (snail mail which I love - which you think is weird)
I knew my friends would love your wonderful home - we're not telling
anyone about it because it's too nice!
Hey maybe you could come here and stay at my nice place?
Thanks for being a good host to my friends! They loved it!
Fondly,
PS: Toni and Jonathan tell me that the flowers in April are gorgeous.
Also the reason I can't come there this year is I'm going to Iceland for a
couple of weeks - a good traveling companion is from there and I've been
putting off that trip for a while
" Martin W. L. (Marty) -Lambertville NJ 08530 - USA
