After I finished yesterday’s post, we moved into the nia for some fizz – cava, of course, as we’re in Spain – and a plate of tapas Linda had made and nuts.

We live according more to a Spanish clock than an English one, with meals later than I’d have at home. However, the Spanish themselves eat very late, hence wanting a few tapas early evening to keep them going, I think. In restaurants it’s usual for people to come in to eat, even families with young children, as late as 10.30pm. It all fits with the weather. During the height of summer, it’s too hot to do much or eat a heavy meal in the day and people may actually have – very sensibly – a siesta in the afternoon. Karena told me yesterday that there is no afternoon school for the children during summer months, but come autumn and winter, when it’s cooler, they go back to school after lunch. It was dark by the time we sat to eat last night, but still warm. Linda had cooked sea bass in the oven with potatoes and lemons and a gorgeous sherry sauce. It was wonderful.

For dessert there were delicious little pots of homemade chocolate mousse. Soon after it was bedtime and then this morning, a swim in the pool first thing and breakfast in the nia looking out on the fabulous view.

A plate full of lemons from their tree.

The plan for the day was to go to the weekly market at Teulada to buy fruit and vegetables and then on to Callosa where, Gareth Jones (www.garethjonesfood.com) had told me, there was a wonderful place to buy local mountain honey. Linda also discovered there were waterfalls there too, just outside the town, worth visiting. However, the best laid plans etc. Holidays should be about going with the flow and having fun and the flow took us to a fabulous lunch and we never got to Callosa. However, before our lunch, we did go to the market and buy some food.

There were fans, which actually are great when it’s hot and I’d remembered to bring one I’d bought a previous year to cope with the heat.

There were strange green clementines I hadn’t seen before. I tasted one and it was very bitter, more like the lime it looked to be, so we didn’t buy any.

There were short knobbly cucumbers that one does see in UK sometimes, cheaper than the more usual long and just as tasty.

Then it was coffee time and I’ve followed Linda and George’s example and moved on to Spanish cortados.

Linda then suggested we visit a good wine shop in the town: Vinoteca A Catarlo Todo.

It’s a fabulous wine shop. Very big and must contain any wine or spirit you could think of, as well as a few things in a little deli corner that were very tempting. If I’d travelled to Spain by car, I would have bought loads. As it was, I had to consider that I’m going home on an easyJet flight!

And this was the point at which the plan began to change. Just down the road was a new fish restaurant/delicatessen where Linda suggested we might get a quick lunch before heading to Callosa. Les Fouges is actually a French restaurant, not Spanish, and doesn’t look much from outside.

Inside, however, you’ll find a little foodie heaven. Especially if you like fish and seafood.

And how they manage to turn out such lovely food from the tiniest of kitchens, I just don’t know.

While Linda chose a salmon quiche, I had a bowl of moules, and they were wonderful.

It was packed inside. We’d almost left thinking it would take too long to get a table, but were glad we waited. There’s no menu. The waiter’s arms and eyebrows were raised into the air with a shrug when we asked about a menu. We should just look around and choose what we wanted them to cook. There were a few things written on the wall, like 4 oysters and a glass of wine for €5.50. Our bill was just €17 for the two of us: our main courses, wine, bread and bottled water. No wonder they are so busy with food this good at such a bargain price. We had a brilliant relaxing time enjoying our lunch and talking and by the time we emerged into a late afternoon, we decided not to go further on to Callosa, but head home to the pool instead.