Bounty in Abundance - Baza and Baños de Zujar
Numerous friends of ours have mentioned the Sunday Baza Car Boot sale to us, regaling stories of just how good it is for both buying and selling. Determined not to miss out, we sought instructions on how to find it. Simple. From the A92 motorway, take the exit to Baza hospital. On this junction on the opposite site of the motorway to Baza, is the Hotel Abadi and the car boot sale is right next to it, making parking very easy.
We were impressed with the wide variety of stalls offering good quality bric-a-brac, beautiful hand knitted scarves and berets, home made bread, brownies and cakes, aromatherapy natural creams for medicinal and holistic use, water colours from a local artist and lovely healthy plants and shrubs for the garden. There were numerous other stalls selling food, furniture, DVDs and books, etc. The whole atmosphere reminded us of an interesting artisan’s market.
Clutching our new purchases, we realized that all the excitement of the market had made us hungry, so we decided to head for the restaurant beside the Baños de Zujar.
Driving back along the motorway in the direction of Granada, we took the next turn to Castillejar, Castril and Huescar. About a km past Clavijas restaurante (where incidentally they serve some of the best tapas we have had in this area), we took a left turn signposted to the Baños de Zujar. This is a minor road but it is tarmaced and is perfectly driveable. Following the canal on our left-hand side, we passed through some pretty countryside before sighting the Embalse de Negratin in the distance. Shortly after reaching the lake we turned right into the road for the restaurant and the Baños de Zujar. It took us 10-15 minutes to get from the main road to the restaurant.
The Baños de Zujar is a natural hot spring pool that maintains a constant heat of 39C. The spring water has been used since Roman times for its therapeutic properties. With the construction of a dam in the early 1980´s which flooded the area the original spa building disappeared. This new spa was created in the 1990´s and during the winter months most of the bath is covered for those who feel the outside air temperature might be a little cool.
It is claimed that the therapeutic minerals in the water help to cure rheumatism, arthritis, neuritis, asthma and allergies, chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, dermatological afflictions and everyday stress to name but a few! That apart, we decided to have a soak for the princely sum of €2 each! There are some basic changing rooms available and also bathing costumes for hire.
The water was beautifully warm and we spent a delightful 30 minutes relaxing in the water and enjoying the lovely view over Lake Negratin. We emerged smelling slightly of minerals and definitely invigorated.
Just above the hot spring pool is the attractive lakeside restaurant (closed on Monday´s) and bar with an pretty outside terrace and a cosy inside dining area. We received a warm welcome from Manuel and Mariano, who take great pride in their restaurant. Interesting, there are some old photographs, gracing the walls of the restaurant, showing the baths in their original splendour.
Having eaten here before we were pleased to see that all our favourites were still on the menu and that the prices were still very reasonable. We opted for the Gourmet Salad (smoked salmon & king prawns) to start which we shared, followed by the “Speciality” roast lamb, which was very succulent and tender and the Bandeja Jabalcón, a gourmet Potatas a la Pobre with peppers, chorizo, black pudding, bacon and egg. Following this, we both had a Pudding de Café, which was excellent. With a bottle of vino de la casa, our meal came to just over €50. Excellent value for a very good meal.
Leaving the Baños de Zujar and turning right we continued along the very picturesque lake-side road until some 15 minutes later we reached Zujar. From there we connected back to the motorway for our drive home, laden down with our market bounty and sated appetites!
Sue Neilson was awarded the accolade of Corporate Travel Manager of the Year in 2000.
She also chaired the judging panel for the UK’s Business Travel Awards.
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