Can Cruanyes, We Are Delighted That You Have Chosen Catalonia and Especially Our House for Your Holiday
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Welcome to Can Cruanyes, we are delighted that you have chosen Catalonia and especially our house for your holiday. To help you and the other guests enjoy your stay, we ask that you keep the following in mind while you make yourself at home: ● Parking : Guests are kindly asked to park above the roundabout since this allows for access to the lower driveway for our neighbour. ● Pool : Please ensure that children are supervised when in and around the pool area. Please ask us if you would like to have the pool lights turned on at night. ● Heating & Stoves : To supplement this you are welcome to light a stove. There is a supply of firewood outside your apartment. A cleaning tip for the glass door is to use newspaper with cold water and some ash when the glass is cool. ● Water : The tap water in the apartments is perfectly safe to drink. ● Umbrellas : If you are not using your terrace umbrella please make sure that you close it to prevent damage from wind gusts. Please note that forcing any of the controls is likely to break them! ● Our Neighbour: Can Cruanyes property extends to all paddocks and lawns to the front of the house. However the back part of the building is our neighbour’s house. Please respect the privacy of our neighbour and stay within the bounds of Can Cruanyes. ● Noise: Please respect your fellow guests by being aware of noise levels particularly at night when some guests may be sleeping. ● Refuse : Your rubbish can be emptied in the community waste centre which is located on the left hand side of the road as you come down the hill towards Tortella. There is also glass, plastic and paper recycling there should you choose to separate your rubbish. ● Lightening : Due to our location we are prone to thunder and lightening storms at the house at certain times of the year. If the lightening knocks out your electricity you should be able to flick the fuses back up – the fusebox is beside your front door. ● Smoking : Can Cruanyes operates a strict no smoking policy. The house is centrally alarmed for fire, and cigarette smoke will activate the alarm. Ashtrays are provided for smoking outside at your terrace. ● Departure time : Check out time is at 11am. Please ask if you would like to stay later, we will try to accommodate you if possible. ● BBQ – We have a cooler box and some BBQ utensils for your use – we ask that you return them clean for use by the next guest. Can Cruanyes is in a protected area which is at high risk of forest fire. It is imperative that when using the BBQ you take all precautions necessary to keep this beautiful environment safe from fire: ■ Never leave the BBQ unattended while lit. ■ Only use special purpose BBQ charcoal easily available in local shops. This charcoal is less prone to sparks than wood. ■ Do not use the BBQ on windy days ■ If you notice smoke coming from any of the woods or growth around the BBQ, call 112 for Fire Services. ■ Use the BBQ at your own risk! If you notice anything in your apartment that needs attention please do not hesitate in contacting us. Also if you need help with anything or would like advice or recommendations please let us know. Medical Info and Emergencies Emergency Telephone Numbers : Fire / Police 112 Medical Emergency Besalu 607 07 23 42 or 972 59 00 32 Clinics/Hospitals In Besalu there is a daily medical service (CAP Besalu) located just behind ‘Oliveras’ restaurant – phone 972 59 00 32 ‘Sant Jaume’ Hospital is in the centre of Olot – phone 972 261 800 Pharmacy There is a pharmacy on the main square in Tortella. Tips Opening Times: Siesta runs from 12:30 until 4:30 approx. Most shops close for siesta –even in the large towns and cities (see exceptions in the Groceries section below). Many restaurants open for lunch from 1.30 to 3.30 approx and are usually open in the evening from 8:30pm approx. Most restaurants are closed Sunday evening (after 3:304pm) with the odd exception in Besalu and Girona. Groceries: The local village of Tortella will bring you back to a lifestyle which many of us have left behind. The butchers, bakery and corner grocers stock much of what you will need for your stay for excellent value. There is a fruit and veg market in the main square on a Sunday morning until 13:00. Some of the shops open until this time on Sunday. Besalu has a Spar shop with easy parking on the left as you enter the town from the Tortella side, opposite the Repsol garage. This is open all day until 20:30 every day except Sunday when it closes at 14:00. There is a market in Besalu on Tuesday mornings. There are large chain supermarkets like MaxiDia, Carrefour, Consum, Lidl and Aldi in Olot. These supermarkets are open all day Monday to Saturday until 99:30 pm. Cash Machine: There is a cash machine accepting all major credit cards in the main square in Tortella, and more in Besalu. Credit Cards: In Spain, you must show photo identification when using your credit card. Passport and driving license are always accepted. Local Activities Note: A detailed walking map with all local routes for the Alta Garrotxa can be found in your apartment. A nice walk: The Church of Sant Miguel de Monteia Follow the asphalt road up the mountain from Can Cruanyes. (30 mins up is nice viewing point down the valley to Tortella). The road will go from asphalt to dirt track and back again but the first building you come to, the Monteia farm, is about 15mins drive/2 hour walk. The old church of Sant Miguel de Montia is about a 30 mins trail on foot from there. There are old wooden signposts directing the path. River & Rock Pool swimming In Sales de Llierca, on the Riu Borro, near the house, there are a large series of rock pools in a gorge, where you can swim in clear, cool waters. Go back to the “1km” Can Cruanyes sign. Take the road for Can Bosch for 1.7 km. You will pass over a small concrete bridge. After the bridge you will see a house with raised solar panels. Park on the road and on the left you will see a trail – at the entrance to the trail there are 2 large rocks (one has a yellow marking on it). Follow this trail up the river bed for 1015 mins. The bottom of the pools are slippery so waterproof footwear with a grip is recommended. At the ancient Romanesque footbridge towards Sadernes, the Pont de Llierca, you park the car and walk down to the river below for a natural fresh river swim. About 10 mins beyond Olot towrds 'Santa Coloma de Farners' lies the region of 'La Vall d'en Bas'. Go to the picnic zone at Sant Privat d’en Bas where you can bring your own food and coals and set up a barbecue at their woodland BBQ and picnic area. Walk across the rocks by the river to swim in natural rock pools. Cycling: The tourist information centre in Besalu will arrange bike rental and has information on all the cycling trails in the area. There is a cycle path all the way from Olot to the coast which is great for all ages. The lake in Banyoles has a 12km cycle track all the way around, and bikes can be hired through the tourist office there. Golf: The closest recommended golf courses from Can Cruanyes are: ● Golf Girona: www.golfgirona.com ● Golf Torremirona: 20 mins from Can Cruanyes towards Figueres on the A26 then the N260. ● PGA Catalunya – A world famous course, and one of the best in Europe, just outside Girona. ● Golf de Pals: Close to the coast in the town of Pals. Horse Riding: In Montagut, Can Major, with beautiful surroundings. Just before Montagut follow signs for Sadernes and then for Camping Can Banal. A three hour trek through gorgeous scenery costs 35 euro per person. Beginners are welcome but it is more suited for people who have ridden before. Near Besalu, Can Genessa – www.cangenessa.com or 972 590 723 In the outskirts of Olot, the ‘Servei D’Equitacio la Fageda’ offers riding and demonstrations during the summer – 972 680 255 Beaches: San Pere Pescador is the closest beach from Can Cruanyes about 40 mins away. It is a vast, clean, unspoilt, undeveloped beach popular with kitesurfers and windsurfers. LlancaColera on the Northern part of the coast approaching the French border offers many small creeks and beaches, and more populated and developed resorts to the south include Begur, Empuriabrava, Roses and further south Tossa de Mar, Lloret de Mar. Callela de Palafrugel and Tamariu are our favourites. Day Trips and Outings Below are some suggested outings and day trips from Can Cruanyes for you to enjoy. Girona A beautiful old town housing a wealth of Romanesque and Gothic buildings climbs the hill above the Riu Onyar to the unmissable Cathedral and its gardens – Jardins de Francesca. Girona has more shops per capita than any other city in Spain, with many small boutiques and craftshops offering great value. Start at the Cathedral and its beautiful gardens, then, walk up the Rambla and cross the river to the chique Placa de Independencia for a coffee or lunch and watch the world go by.