We normally spend Christmas in Germany, but this year, we shall be staying at home in Spain. I was "home alone" last Christmas - "de Rodriguez" - in order to look after our newly acquired baby kitten, Paulinchen, but it's more usual for us to be in the frozen and snowy north.
[deutschland.de]
So, how's it looking?
We had our first Christmas Party of 2025 on December 10th at Restaurante Manovra in Cala de Mijas on the Costa del Sol. It was the annual get-together of the Club de Prensa de la Costa del Sol (Costa Press Club) of which I am a member.
We enjoyed a "Secret Santa" and a "Christmas Quiz", as well as great "bantz" (banter) and delicious food.
[photo courtesy of www.help-me-ronda.com]
On Christmas Day (Dia de Navidad) we have booked for lunch at "Frank's", better known as El Muelle de Arriate.
Consistently in Trip Advisor's top three restaurants in the area, this has been one of our favourite places to eat over the years (18 and counting .....).
[Photo: Karl Smallman, Secret Serrania]
A three-course meal with wine included at 68 euros per person is not cheap, but we know it will be good value. Dutchman Frank Röttgering knows what he's doing. He has mastered the "trick" of appealing to a foreign clientele, as well as to well-heeled Spaniards (Frank is somewhat of a polyglot, speaking English, French, German, Spanish and, of course, his native Dutch).
On December 27th we have been invited to what we British would call a "house-warming party" (Sp: fiesta de inauguracion de la casa; Ger: Einweihungsparty) in Montejaque, where we both have good connections (we lived there together for three years and own two village houses in the Old Part of the village).
The hosts of the party are Kryszta from Hungary and Karl, a German, who recently bought a house two doors down from Rita's.
[Image by THE FIRE WIRE]
The pair have already visited us at our home in Ronda for Kaffee mit Kuchen and I've been helping them with translation and administrative and other matters.
On New Year's Eve (Noche Vieja) we have booked for a menu de degustacion (tasting menu) at Restaurante La Cascada at the Hotel Molino del Puente, Ronda.
At 100 euros per head that's expensive, but, hey! It's fiesta time!
We are regular diners here and know the quality of their food.
Ian and Elaine, the owners, take care of "front of house" and son-in-law Tom is the chef. It all runs like clock-work.
The advantage for us, is that we live 50 metres away, so no parking charges and no risk of being breathalysed!
[Turismo de Ronda]
Other activities
We may also eat at Las Maravillas, Miyagi Express, or Sensur (all Ronda), places we know and love.
We also want to try out Ronda's only Indian Restaurant, the recently opened Bombay Spice.
[Facebook]
If it re-opens in time, the under-new-management Ronda Valley Hotel, would also be on our list.
There are also theatre options, concerts, art exhibitions, Christmas markets and, weather permitting, street parades.
Plus pantomime, zambomba, films and much, much more.
[Portal Tematico de la Serrania de Ronda]
Interesting links
Bars and Restaurants at or near railway stations in the Serrania de Ronda - Help me, Ronda
Christmas in Spain
Christmas Parties in Spain 2024
Christmas Tour of Deutschland Part 1 - From Malaga to Hamburg, Uetersen and Dresden
Christmas Tour of Deutschland Part 2 – Dresden I
"DINNER FOR ONE" - Ein Silvesterphänomen
Foreign Journalists Celebrate their Christmas Party
Something old, something new ...
© Pablo de Ronda
Pictures:
deutschland.de, Facebook, Karl Smallman, Portal Tematico de la Serrania de Ronda, Secret Serrania, THE FIRE WIRE, Turismo de Ronda
Restaurants:
Bombay Spice, Ronda (5) Bombay Spice | Facebook
El Muelle de Arriate, Arriate El Muelle de Arriate – Restaurant
La Cascada, Fuente de La Higuera, Ronda Menú del restaurante: Restaurante La Cascada en Hotel de Ronda HMDP
Las Maravillas, Ronda Restaurante Las Maravillas, en Ronda
Miyagi Express, Ronda El mejor sushi de Ronda, al mejor precio
Restaurante Manovra, Cala de Mijas (5) Facebook
Ronda Valley Hotel, Fuente de La Higuera, Ronda HOTEL RONDA VALLEY: opiniones, comparación de precios 2025
Sensur, Ronda Una experiencia gastronómica en el corazón de Ronda - SENSUR GASTROBAR
Thanks:
Karl Smallman, Paul Whitelock, Secret Serrania, Wikipedia, www.help-me-ronda.com
Tags:
AfD, art exhibitions, Bombay Spice, Cala de Mijas, Christmas Day, Christmas markets, "Christmas Quiz", Club de Prensa de la Costa del Sol, concerts, Costa Press Club, "de Rodriguez", Dia de Navidad, "Dinner for One", Dresden, Einweihungsparty, El Muelle de Arriate, fiesta de inauguracion de la casa, films, Frank Röttgering, Frank's, "home alone", Hotel Molino del Puente, "house-warming party", Hungary, Indian Restaurant, Kaffee mit Kuchen, Karl, Karl Smallman, Kryszta, La Cascada, Las Maravillas, menu de degustacion, Miyagi Express, Montejaque, New Year's Eve, Noche Vieja, pantomime, Paulinchen, Ronda, Portal Tematico de la Serrania de Ronda, "Secret Santa", Secret Serrania, Sensur, street parades, tasting menu, theatre, THE FIRE WIRE, Turismo de Ronda, Wikipedia, zambomba,