Seen Better Days


I like my hotel.....it reminds me....well.........of me........

The Santa Maria is just a tad past it's sell by date.
It's a bit scruffy and worn around the edges and may even be called tatty in places, but it's friendly and warm and familiar to those who may value the traditional and the solid.
La Santa Maria is not flashy.
It is dependable and run in a practical sort of way.
It has fresh flowers every day and makes good coffee.
It welcomes dogs.
It values old friends, can be occasionally staid but at other times be the life and soul of the party and because it's made up of several complicated and eclectic buildings it remains a hotchpotch of 'personalities' and styles many of which don't suit those that enjoy minimalist lifestyles.

It also looks much better when viewed from afar....


I'm typing this over breakfast coffee. I'm coming home later today .
The thousand swifts are still circling the spires of Sitges Church this morning

61 comments:

  1. Euphenisms aside, you're all that my friend!! We know it. Xxx

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  2. dogs, fresh flowers and good coffee are the best things in life. When you have those, tatty is barely even noticeable

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  3. Definitely my sort of place. Not for me the mausoleums of granite and glass, all sharp edges and image. Give me good coffee, fresh flowers and wandering cats and dogs any day.

    'Tatty round the edges' is a sign of a life well lived and a building or person well loved.

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  4. I much prefer hotels like that, than those huge faceless monstrosities all along the 'costas'.

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  5. Slightly shabby hotels are always better than luxury ones. Well, almost always.

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    1. They aren't.

      Don't hold it against me. It's just a thought. Were you the occupant of some hotel room on King's Road, ca. 1979, leaving pubic hair on the sheets? Not that housekeeping forgetting to change the bedding before boyfriend (English) and I checked in is your fault.

      U

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    3. How do you know you haven't already?

      U

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    5. Is that a sample of the humour you are so proud of and never tire to mention? If so you may like to go back to bottom of the class and try again. Take heart, Tom, do not fear: Even the hopeless are, sometimes, given a chance to turn little evidence of potential into a swan.

      U

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    7. Sweetheart, you have declared me your own must have fashion accessory, namely, the stalker, before. You have also threatened several times to "do something about it". It's common knowledge. Recorded. May I recommend you get a grip on your irrational dislike of me and employ that, much quoted by you, humour to disarm me.

      In the meantime, to cheer you up, why not listen to the Gipsy Kings' "Bambaleo". Ole! Loosen those stiff hips, Tom. Will do wonders for your spine.

      U

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    8. Grow up you two... take your spat some place else. We visit John for gentleness and humour... just GO............

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    9. I can't speak for Tom, but let's assume that he and I visit John for good, indeed the same, reasons as do you.

      And if either Tom or I grow even more we'll become overgrown. But then, no doubt, you'll do a spot of weeding/cutting us down to size.

      What "spat"? Tom and I go back a good while. He does dislike me, I like needling him - we are a match made in heaven, getting on like a house on fire. By all means do provide the fire brigade, Lettice - but don't burden yourself too much. Tom and I can look after ourselves. If we do need a chaperone to keep things within the boundaries of health, wealth and safety I am sure John will oblige.

      "GO"? I dare say that's not your place to say, Lettice. But thanks for giving us marching orders nevertheless. Where is your coat?

      Hug,
      U, too

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    10. Lettice, I do not allow this stuff on my blog and I am surprised that anyone allows it on theirs.

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    11. I've just read this exchange ursula
      I don't want personal attacks here. And please not with my friend tom please

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    12. No more...... no more

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  6. You paint such beautiful pictures. i love this post. Have a pleasant trip home.

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  7. We all seem to be in agreement here. Tired, sometimes tatty, a tad unpredictable but definitely welcoming appeal to us all. In accommodation and in people.

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  8. I think it looks characterful. I bet that hotel could tell a few stories!

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  9. As long as the shower works and the sheets are clean ...

    Swift greetings, wishing you a smooth winging your way back home,
    U

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  10. I would rather stay somewhere with good food and coffee than in a ritzy place that serves poop food and drink.

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  11. I’ll taje the warm and charming over sterile, shined and new any day!

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    2. I’ll *take* the warm and charming over sterile, *shiny* and new any day!

      (Never comment before coffee. Sigh.)

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  12. We have stayed in tired hotels before after the shock, we always have a good break, they always make us welcome and give personal not put on service.

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  13. Anonymous10:00 am

    While I don't want to get all emo about this, like your hotel, you have become a terribly comfortable old boot to me.

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  14. we have ALL seen better days; we are well lived, well aged, well rounded.

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  15. It has charm, warmth and character, just like you.

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  16. Like Sue above, when I read it it sounded as though you were writing about yourself John. Welcome back to Trelawnyd - the dogs will be ecstatic.

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  17. I' d prefer that to high gloss

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  18. Well, I LOVE the cup and saucer set, lol! Wish I could get one like it for my morning coffee :) Hey, they accept dogs - all you need to know, right?

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  19. Something well loved and used - a place with character. Safe travels home John..waggy tails are waiting :)

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  20. I would rather prefer tatty, either in a hotel or in myself.

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  21. Enjoy the day, safe travels.

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  22. Just the sort of hotel I like. I dislike those flashy modern hotels that can be very slick and impersonal.

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  23. Yes, the hotel looks to be very 'you' - though I make no comment re being "tatty".

    I've no doubt that the warmest of welcomes will be awaiting your return, in fact its flippin' BAKING here - and even hotter in your parts, I believe. Waste no time in getting that hosepipe out!

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  24. Reminds me of one in Bermuda....excellent attentive staff, a little worn but well-lived.
    Don't sell yourself short John. You are in your prime.

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  25. Being 'worn' in places just means you've lived.

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  26. Older places (and older people) have personality and charm that comes only from years of experience and having had an adventurous life.

    Some things just get better with time. Consider yourself in the same class.

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  27. Flowers, good coffee, and dogs are allowed? Sounds like my kinda place!

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  28. Sounds pretty perfect. I hate pretentious hotels and dislike pretentious people. Your my kinda hotel.

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  29. Glad you had such a nice getaway with your family, John!

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  30. I love the china! It's nice to have a lived-in hotel, as opposed to one that's super chic and full of glamazons.

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  31. Looks like a good spot! And, you're a good bloke... no wonder it's a fave!

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  32. A perfect holiday and you will arrive home refreshed and refueled to some happy dogs with memories to last a lifetime.

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  33. I rather like the hotel, love the awning with the beautiful trees.
    Plus good coffee, flowers and dogs are always a plus.
    Lots of waggy tails when you get back.

    cheers, parsnip

    cheers, parsnip

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  34. Sounds comfortable, like being at home. And real, like the velveteen rabbit, from being loved. And that's the second time today I've referenced the velveteen rabbit. Weird.

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  35. I love eclectic and as they welcome dogs the hotel would suit me just fine.Hoping you had a good journey home x

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  36. Sounds amazing. And very like you :)

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  37. It sounds like my cup of tea.

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  38. I am sure the cheering squad . . .
    will be yipping with joy when they see your face, hear your voice.
    Our little dog, flips over on her back when she see us come through the door. Belly rubs are her favorites,

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  39. Good coffee can make up for much "wear and tear".

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  40. Do you have a chute for dirty laundry and do you accept reservations?

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  41. I know exactly what you mean. We stayed in a faded old dame of a hotel The Grand Palace in Varese, Italy. She’d seen better days but I adored her. I had to stop my self from offering to weed her overgrown garden. Strangely I wanted her to give her the care maintenance that I often neglect doing for myself.

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    1. I often want to weed the gardens of hotels that I stay in... or wash the net curtains of the slightly grubbier places.

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  42. I like the cup!
    Greetings Maria x

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  43. I love hotels with a bit of character and personality and this sounds like my kind of establishment.

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  44. That would suit us perfectly.

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