I thought time for a change of scenery even if it is only for a few days so on the old search engine I went and came up with The Hilton,  Villamoura.  “Bit of a busman´s holiday” the cynics said “why do you want to go there”?   Well you basically point the car towards Seville and turn left through Huelva, then when you see signs for Ayamonte you know you are almost there.  With luck on your side you can be there in two and a half hours door to door, no planes, no trains and no worries.
Resorts are not really my thing but when all you want to do is read a book and eat for a few days they can be very useful.  Of course they do expect you to leave the hotel now and again so they lay on a hotel minibus to make sure you are delivered to the right part of the marina and are not molested by any wandering Romani gypsies who have a quick tug at your designer label clothing as you parade along the marina.

First rule on visiting the marina – make sure you keep your jaw closed when it flaps open at the amount of blatant bling on display bobbing up and down in water.  They go for meters of shiny fiberglass here, some of them look like they were modelled on a Soho fettish shop window if its not big black and shiny then it does´nt get a mooring in this harbour.

Anyway head for  Il Lamparo the Italian restaurant at the end of the marina.  The full glass frontage makes it light and airy and the blue and white decor adds a cool touch.  Try the house wine it´s Italian and excellent.  While we made our selection they brought us a plate of nibbles, there were little bruchetta of  minced veal and herbs, calamari rings in crisp batter and smoked salmon on blinis plus a little bowl of very good olives.  We had the Bresaola to start, it came on a plate the size of a spaceship with  parmesan shavings, rocket,  fig compote and cherry tomatoes.  One was plenty between two.  Next we went native and had a half lasagna each as an intermediate course.  Well, I thought I had died and gone to heaven I was so out of it that I had to be ordered to stop making noises of ecstacy in case the other diners thought we were up to something in the corner.  It was creamy, the meat was as tender as an angels bottom and it was full of flavour.  The pasta melted in your mouth and the strings of cheese fought to keep their hold between your lips and the fork.  Finally, I had the veal with mushrooms which was moist, succulent and again full of flavour.  It was served with some delicious home made ratatouille and fine green beans which were also cooked to perfection. The dessert menu was an impossibility so we opted for two Cappuccinos – they came as a shock.  It was the real Mccoy if that is a suitable expression.  Strong and nearly black  underneath with a white frothy, creamy head and a good dusting of cocoa power on the top.   As any Italian will tell you that is how it should be – none of this milk in the coffee milarky. The whole meal was excellent and we got change out of the 85 euros we put down.

By evening two we were old hands at running the gauntlet of fluffy toy salesmen on the marina and managed to side step even the most tenacious gypsies.

Our venue for tonight was Zu Yi also in the marina past the large wine merchants.  It is very well decorated with a fine stone wall at the end of the main restaurant and the odd stone budha.  Water plays a part in the decor and the whole atmosphere is one of serenity and calm.  The friendly owner told us that we would have to wait 30 minutes for a table but managed to seat us after only 15 minutes of waiting on a comfortable seat inside the door with a glass of wine and the menu. We started with Chinese salad, Vietnamese chicken triangles  and  mixed dim sum.  The salad was fresh and tangy and contained some marinated seaweed which was unusual and very tasty, the Vietnamese triangles were lighly spiced and served with a mild curried sauce and the dim sum were delicately but beautifully flavoured and the ingredients undoubtedly fresh.  Our main courses were Shredded Chilli Beef with Chilli Sauce, Chinese style Duck and the old favourite Lemon Chicken.  The Beef was tender and surprisingly well spiced, the duck was succulent and very full of flavour and the  chicken was beautifully marinated in lemon then enveloped in a crispy batter.  The tangy lemon sauce came on the side so you could add it as you wanted.  A large pot of Chinese tea washed the  whole lot down and the bill only came to 46 euros which was excellent value for money.

I love my home and the Costa de la Luz but sometimes a break is just what you need to find your mojo!