quote:

originally posted by QuePasa:
[qb] I do think Rick Steves is a god and I'm sticking to it. He he he. (Sorry Paul ) [/qb]

No worries! There are really only a few things I don't like. My main gripe is some opinionated "lazy editorializing" in his books. For example, rather than describe Parc G�ell, then put a "I was disappointed" note at the end (which I would think is OK), about all he says about Parc G�ell is that it's a disappointment. That's far too easy.

Other than that, it's my opinion that some of his readers (I am sure you are not among them) are willing to believe ANYTHING he says without question.....Then again, that's THEIR flaw, not HIS. :jeje:

I'm actually one of those people that cross-references numerous guidebooks when I'm researching. So Paul, you can rest assured that I am not a blind follower. Actually, I just wish I was him. That's all.

Anne

Hi guys,

My friend's dad is from a town near Leon. I think it's called Valdevimbre. If you're around Leon I hear the wine is superb. There are a number of caves there where it's stored. There is a cool restaurant in Valdevimbre that is in one of these caves.

Mikey :cheers:

Hey that sounds like a good tip! I wish I could get rid of the work commitments that keep me within a couple of hours of Madrid!! (7 days a week )

One to keep in mind for the future!

The Bodegas (caves to preserve wine, very typical from the leonese landscape) in Valdevimbre are very famous in the province; and the restaurant in the caves is famous for its exquisite leonese cuisine. I recommend you all to go and then post here your opinion about it. Hey, Laidback Let us know when u have, boy!
As regards Bodegas, they are man-made caves in the slopes which are done to preserve grape juice in its process of becoming the excellent wine we have up there. Many typical small villages of the Tierra de Campos leonesa (known in the middle ages as Campos G�ticos) and the �rea of El P�ramo (the moor) where Valdevimbre is located are full of these little caves which resemble Hobbit houses.
Some friends of mine's parents have a bodega where we go sometimes (mainly summer nights) for dinner and partying. I really enjoyed those evenings when we used to have fun the way our parentes and our parents' parents, and our parents' parents' parents (and so on...) did; drinking wine of the region and eating chorizo, sopas de trucha, cecina, costillas, etc. We had a lot of fun cooking and preparing the food, setting the bid wooden table inside the cave and keeping the fire burning, while other people where playing typical instruments and joining others who were dancing to the spontaneous orchestra.
The restaurant in Valdevimbre is not like the normal caves we are used to. It�s in a much bigger cave and its like an underground restaurant.
Some interesting links about the matter:
About wines: http://www.fontun.com/leon/vino/vinosleoneses.htm
http://www.verema.com/comunidad/vinoscatados/vino.asp?vino=2113
http://www.vilaviniteca.es/productos_servicios/tipos_uva/prieto_picudo.htm
http://www.si-santamonica.es/vinopajares/Ubicacion.htm
-In English: http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Archives/Show_Article/0,1275,3055,00.html
About bodegas: http://www.frado.net/elparamo/cultura/arquitectura/bodegas.html

http://descubreleon.com/gastronomia/valdevimbre.htm
http://empresas.arrakis.es/sahagun-ayto/artarq.htm

Bodega restaurant in Valdevimbre:
www.cuevasansimon.com

Sensis,
I can almost taste the cecina de chivo! Le�n is truly a culinary capital, few places in Spain rival the incredible cusine found in the historic city of Le�n.

Saludos
:cheers:

Although I can�t be objective with that, I agree 100% with you Shawn2
:cheers:

OMG!

That's the restaurant I was at 4 years ago!

:cheers: :ks: :jeje:

Was this the chamber and the table you were having dinner at?

http://www.cuevasansimon.com/Fotos/infuno.gif

To tell you te truth I have never been to this bodega restaurant in my life. I�ve been to a similar one in Quintana raneros (a village near Valdevimbre) but at Cueva San Sim�n (which is themost famous and reputed). Being from Le�n as I am, it's a shame!! :b: I�ll go next time I visit "La mi tierra" (as we say). Anyone wanna come along? :cheers:
Pictures in their webpage are really appealing!!

I'm jumping into this thread a bit late, but wanted to give you a big thumbs up for the great info, Sensis. I appreciate your 'first hand' experience here on this thread. This is valuable info for people like my wife and I who love to constantly plan little 'escapadas' here and there.

This thread has bumped Le�n up a bit on our Top places to visit for the next calendar year.

Keep Up The Good Work!

:cheers:

I am pretty sure that is it.....I don't remember hearing that it was really famous but that's it alright.......I remember the candles with all the dried wax

These bodegas are very famous in Le�n, Fordhammike, mainly bcos the cuisine is exquisite (so they say); and many say that they are the best place to take any visitor you want to impress.
Thanx, Tonytorero. For me it's always a pleasure to talk about Le�n and its wonders . I think the idea of an escapada to Le�n is great. It won�t let u down.
The map to arrive to Valdevimbre:

http://www.cuevasansimon.com/Fotos/mapa.jpg

Sorry I�ll post it directly

Art and history lovers, there is a great panoramic of the Panteon de los Reyes in the Colegiata de San Isodoro in the webpage www.sanisidorodeleon.org. The full link is below. It's really fantastic, as if you were inside the chamber. You can see the tombs and the paintings on the vaults by just moving your mouse. Have a look:
http://sanisidorodeleon.org/panteon/panteon.htm