Yearly Archives: 2016

El Caminito del Rey 2016

caminito-del-rey-roadmap28 August 2016 I had the pleasure of hiking The Caminito del Rey together with Mar, Andreea, Renny and Peter.

Caminito del Rey is located approx. one hour drive from Malaga.

After the drive from Benalamadena, we had a very nice lunch at El Mirador. The restaurant has a fantastic view over the lake. Bring swimming clothes for a dip in the lake, before or/and after the walk.

caminito-del-rey-mapThe total length of El Caminito del Rey is 7.7 km. It’s divided into a 4.8 km long access way and a 2.9 km long walkway that you need a ticket to visit.

The walkway of Caminito del Rey, called El Hoyo, is of spectacular natural beauty, breathtaking and fantastic. The path is more than just a walk in the hills. Parts of the walkway is a hanging footbridge that rises over 100 metres above the river below with steep walls, that can make you feel dizzy. The path is “hazardous” because of the heights and its narrow parts. It was rebuilt so it could be used for active tourism in the natural surroundings. It requires certain level of physical effort and skilfulness. You are not risking your life at all, but  be aware of the strong impressions this place might have on you. That’s why this path is so spectacular. 

It’s a good idea to book in advance to access the walkway. They let in 50 persons every ½ hour.  

Note! The Caminito del Rey is linear, not circular. You need to make sure to come back to the start on your own. There are coaches between the northern access (Ardales) and the southern one (El Chorro), which go in both directions.

History
The walkway was originally built to provide workers at the hydroelectric power plants at Chorro Falls and Gaitanejo Falls with a means to cross between them, to provide for transport of materials, and to facilitate inspection and maintenance of the channel.

The construction began in 1901 and was finished in 1905. The original path was constructed of concrete and rested on steel rails supported by stanchions built at around 45 degrees into the rock face. An extra benefit with the path was that it created great joy for the locals that experienced easier access between the neighboring villages.

According to a local guide (that also was in the construction team for the new version) told us that approx. 200 persons died during the construction of the original walkway (the number of casualties was zero, building the new one).

King Alfonso XIII crossed the walkway in 1921 for the inauguration of the dam Conde del Guadalhorce and it became known by its present name – “The Kings Pathway“.

The old walkway deteriorated over the years and there were numerous sections where parts or all of the concrete top had collapsed. The result was large gaps bridged only by narrow steel beams or other supports. Few of the original handrails existed although a safety wire ran along the path. Several people lost their lives on the walkway and after two fatal accidents in 1999 and 2000, the local government closed both entrances. Even so, in the 4 years to 2013, four people died attempting to climb the gorge. It was known as the “The most dangerous walkway in the world”.

In March 2014, the cornerstone of the rehabilitation project was laid by specialized alpinists. The new walkway reopened on 29 March 2015.

Source: caminitodelrey.info | wikipedia

New York City 2016

nyc-panorama315 June

Arrived JFK – Airtrain to Jamaica – MetroCard – Took subway E to Rockefeller, changed to B “express” – Missed to get of at Columbus Sq. and ended up at 112 st. where we changed and returned to 59 st./Columbus Sq. – Walked 5 min. to 63 st. – Checked in at West Side YMCA.

16 June, DAY #1

High Line Park day. Little bit cloudy, warm.

Walked along Broadway to Ellen’s Stardust Diner for breakfast. They have singing staff, fun. – Times Square – M & M’s world, amazing a small chocolate candy can have 4 floors with a chemically smell of candy on Times Square – Hudson River Parkway –  High Line Park, (one of the highlights of the trip and can be recommended) – Visited a cool gallery next to the Whitney MuseumChelsea Market –  Coffee break at FIKA Madison Square GardenNYC Public LibraryBryant Park –  Grand Central Terminal with the Whispering gallery and we were allowed to stand at the doorway to Campbell Apartment Cocktail bar, admission 21!! (and our dress code was “maybe” not totally correct) – Passing Empire State Building (save the visit for later) and Chrysler Building – Dinner at Five Guys and Fries – Evening stroll in Central Park south end – Ice coffee break at Lincoln Center before heading “home”.

Map Day 1

broadway2 highlineday2 highlineday1 highlineday6bryantpark4 bryantpark2 highlineday4 highlineday5_statue

17 June, DAY # 2

Circle Line Landmark Cruise and Battery Park day. Sunshine and warm.

Walked down to Hudson River, booked the Circle Line – Landmark cruise at 11.00. Had a cup of coffee/water. Learned that one reason for long lines could be the taking of photos against a green screen for “tacky” backgrounds… – Lunch at Landmark Tavern, recommended by the guide on the boat. Nice place – Walked 47 st. with lots of small restaurants – Subway from 42nd str. to World Trade Center Station – One World Observatory – “Ground Zero” – Irish Hunger MemorialBattery Park (Pier A, East Coast Memorial, American Merchant Mariners’ Memorial)  –  Wall StreetCharging Bull – Visit to a local liquor store. Mickey was told “don’t touch!!!” the bottles, the 21 year syndrome!! –  Testing burger at Shake Shack on Murray Street – subway from Chamber st. “home” (59 st.).

Landmarkcruise Map Day 2

circularLine2_statueOfLiberty circuleLine4 circuleLine5_brooklynbridge circuleLine5 oneworld4 oneworld8 wallstreet_Charging-bull batterypark3

18 June, DAY #3

Central Park day. Sunshine and warm.

Breakfast, smoothie @ Starbucks – visit Best Buy (electronics shop) – Central ParkThe MallBelvedere CastleSwedish Marionette House – The Metropolitan museum and roof top – Lunch at Tom’s Restaurant (famous from Seinfeld) (Jerry’s Big Salad, nice) – Interesting outdoor photo exhibition by Matt Black, The Geography of Poverty @ St John the Divine, 110th. –  Strawberry Fields, Imagine, John Lennon – But where are all the roller skaters in Central Park? 

After Centrapark drink @ the “Y”, Gin & Lemon/Lime juice (no admission and no ID required in the room, don’t tell anyone) – Walked Down 8th Avenue to Thai restaurant, Chai Thai – Times Square by night – Soft ice Dessert @ MacD

Day 3 Centralpark

centralpark_baseball1 centralpark_imagine centralpark_photoexhibition2 centralpark_theMet1 centralpark1 centralpark5 centralpark7 tomsDiner

19 June, DAY #4

Brooklyn Heights day. Sunshine and warm

Subway to High Street st, Brooklyn – Walk Henry St. to Joralemon St. – Breakfast at Pier 6, a fruit bowl, $11 + coffee, same price as 4 big muffins!! …Burgers and fries cheaper… “It’s more expensive to be healthy…” – Walked along Brooklyn Heights Promenade to Brooklyn Bridge (another highlight of the trip and can be recommended) – Lunch at Pier 1, under the tent. Beer (for me), water (for Mickey, 21!!) and fries, “Alcohol consumed under the tent. ID required” – Manhattan Bridge – DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) – Jane’s Carousel – Sunday Flea MarketBrooklyn Bridge – Supreme Court – Chinatown, Mott st.- Little Italy – Pizza at Lombardi’s, first pizzeria in NYC, 1905 – Spring St. – Subway “home”.

“After walk drink”, nice gin/lemon/lime in the room – 6th,  Avenue of the Americas, to Empire State Building (did you know it was built in 13 months!!) – Museum at 80th floor – Looong line to the elevator to the top at 86th floor. Walked. Clear sky with stars and full moon, TOTALLY MAGIC!!! Did several laps around the deck (another high light of the trip and can be recommended) – Walked back “home” on Broadway.

Day 4 Brooklyn heights  Day 4 Chinatown  Day 4 Empire state

brooklynheights1 brooklynheights5 brooklynheights2 brooklynheights3 brooklynheights5 brooklynheights7 brooklynheights8 brooklynheights12 brooklynheights15 brooklynheights13 brooklynbridge2 chinatown1
empirestate1 empirestate2 empirestate3 empirestate4

20 June, DAY #5

South Manhattan day. Sunshine and warm.

Subway to Downtown – Staten Island Ferry (it’s free) with a nice view of Statue of Liberty – Staten Island Boardwalk – Lunch at the River Dock Café, Salmon salad, yummy – Return Manhattan – Stone Street, many bars and pubs, 21!! – Short visit to a performing art show, River to River at Native Americans Museum, “little” weird – Battery Park for a beer break, “Alcohol consumed inside the roped area, ID required” 21!! – “Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog“, 21!! ID required – Dinner at Chipotle – Subway “home”.

day 5 staten island

statenisland1 statenisland3 statenisland4 batterypark_PierAbatterypark4 statenisland2 statenisland5 batterypark1

21 June, DAY #6 

Check out day.

Luggage label challenge. Label machine no work, WHAT TO DO!!! “Stupid tourist who suggest a solution”… (Mickey overheard conversation between the staff…) – Smoothie at Starbucks (again) – Talked to a girl from Vice magazine about New York music: New York –  by John Lennon and what to spend the last ticket on, suggestion was visit the Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum – We spent over 3 hours there + at a Navy school ship + in USS Growler submarine. Very interesting visit – Testing burger at Island Burgers and Shakes – Walkabout in Hell’s Kitchen – Coffee break at Bryant Park – Time’s Square, talked to some “bus boys”,  salary 20% commission – 7th st “home”

Collect luggage – Subway “A” to Herman Beach, $2.75 x 2 – Air train to JFK Terminal 1 $5 x 2! “Who said free terminal shuttle?” – Mickey liked to get some special sorts of alcohol, e.g. Tito’s Vodka, St Germain… – For some reason we managed to get “Premium Check In” and “First Class Security Line”  – Flight departure was 2 hours+ late and not with a Norwegian flight but with Hi Fly, Portuguese low budget flight. No safety instructions, no information, no inflight entertainment, “nothing!!!”, they served “food”…it was NOT Norwegian standard…

intrepid1 intrepid2 intrepid5 intrepid6intrepid7 NYC_streets2 nyc_signs4 NYC_streets4 

PS:

Picasa photo gallery

oneworld3

New Year Menu 2015

Starter: Salmon Carpaccio with scampi and pine nuts

  • Sliced smoked salmon
  • Scampi
  • Lemon
  • Pine nuts
  • Rocket sallad
  • Roasted italian ham, e.g. Serrano

Roast the pine nuts golden in a dry frying pan, add little salt.
Place the salmon and scampi on the plate. Sprinkle with lemon peel, horseradish and chives (optional). Season with a little sea salt and black pepper. Top with rocket salad and ham flakes. Drizzle with olive oil and little lemon-/lime juice.

Main: Pepper steak with red wine sauce, roasted rose mary potatoes, selection of “grilled” veggies and cucumber salad.

Pepper steak
Fillet of beef
Coarsely ground black pepper
Butter

Cover and press black pepper on the beef. Let it rest for 1 hour. Fry the beef in butter for apprx. 3 min. on each side. Let it rest for 5-10 min.
Tip: At the end, lower the heat, add some more butter if needed, turn the meat every 15 sek. a few times. 

Roasted potatoes
Cut the potatoes in cloves. Put in a oven pan. Add cloves of garlic. Sprinkle with rose mary, lemon peel and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Bake in oven 180o until golden.

Red wine sauce
4 pers.
1 carrot
3 dl red wine
3 dl water
2 tbs soy sauce
2 tbs honey
1/2 – 3/4 tsp salt
1 – 1 1/2 tsp pepper
2 tbs butter
1 1/2 tbs cornstarch mix (dark) (alternative, use cream)
Optional: beef stock, tomato puré, balsamic vinegar, garlic… 

Peel and cut the carrots into small pieces. Boil them in the wine and water about 10 minutes. Remove the carrots. Add soy sauce and honey. Season with salt and pepper. Add the butter and whisk in cornstarch mix or cream. Cook for about 1 minute or until thickened.

Cucumber sallad
4 pers.
2 shallots
½ dl lemon juice
2 tbs honey
1 cucumber
½ dl sesame seed
crispy salad
olive oil, salt and pepper

Peel and chop the shallots finely. Mix onion, lemon juice, honey and 1 dl oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Peel and half the cucumber. Remove the seed and cut into fine dices. Roast the sesame seeds in a hot and dry frying pan. Mix Cucumber and sesame seed into the dressing and let it stand for approx an hour. Mix in the salad at serving. 

 

Dessert: Chocolate mousse, whipped cream and raspberry topped with roasted white chocolate

Serves 6-8

  • 3 egg
  • pinch of salt
  • 2½ dl cream
  • 100 gr dark chokolate (70%)
  • pinch of vanilla powder
  • optional: 1 teasp liquorice or coffe powder. I added a dash of Cointreau 

Separate the yolks from the white. Whip the whites hard with salt. Whip the crea, not too hard. Melt the chocolate. Remove from heat. Add the yolks, one by one. Stir the chocolate mix gently into the egg whites. Stir in the whipped cream. Pour into serving dishes and place them in the fridge for min. 2 hours. 
Garnish with whipped cream and raspberries, top with roasted chocolate and serve.