For such a small village Hondón knows how to party and has put on some truly fantastic fiestas. Some Fiestas are a ‘tour’ that do the rounds of villages in the area BUT MOSTLY Hondon people get truly involved in the Fietsa Spirit. My personal Favourite has been the Hondon Medieval Night / Correfocs … where the whole village is transformed into ‘olde world’ with street entertainers and stalls + a big firework finale. It takes place usually in July or August. It’s worth seeing !
Hondon has many annual festival (big ones over 2 weeks August), some honoring the Virgin of the Snows (religious icon). On August 5 on odd years, Hondón de las Nieves or Aspe organise this festival which has proven to have popular support by the locals of both Aspe and Hondon. People march from all the local village to be entertained with cultural events giving the first fortnight of August a real festivity of color, food, music and dance. We love it !!
You can usually get a program of festivals from the village town hall (Ayuntamiento).
There are also many Cultural Days, which show theater, music, dance, cuisine and sports in late spring or early summer. Hondón de las Nieves also has a Municipal Sports Center which has a public swimming pool, tennis courts, fronton, paddle courts, a soccer field and a restaurant. All this, plus recreation areas, scenic beauty and other holidays, provide visitors a wide range of possibilities for leisure.
Local to Hondón you will often see on summenr evenings and weekends the local Spanish women sitting outside their houses happily chatting with friends over their “boixets” as it is called in Hondón Valley. They are crocheting, lace making or doing embroidery which they regard as leading crafts here.
This tradition has not only persisted here but is taught to new generations through local workshops and street craft. It’s quite nice to see a local tradition being kept alive.
You’ll find some useful info (in Spanish) such as opening hours, who’s who, telephone numbers of emergnecy services, local facilities and venues, local activities, Fiestas (festivals) and an introduction to the Mayor: Don Victoriano Sánchez Botella (PP).
It’s been a while since I posted on here. A long cold winter and loads of ‘real’ work to do. Anyway the summer is well and truly here in Hondon Valley … so what news ?
Fish Restaurant in Nieves:
I am reluctant to share this snippet but I guess I am so happy to find a nice restaurant here… even if it is in the most unlikely of places !!!
Check out “Restaurante Polideportivo” (Sports Centre, Hondon De Las Nieves). It has a refurbished restaurant (owned and run by the council as far as I know) which specialises in Pescados (Fish) dishes. Having been just the once on a recommendation – I can also recommend it if your like shell fish / fish. However they do have meat dishes but their display fridge at the front is full of crabs, prawns, lobster and squid, to name a few. I guess it will depend on the day’s / season’s catch as to what they sell.
They have a weekly lunch (Menu Del Dia) about €12 and dinner menu (just friday, sat. sun we were told) at various prices. My party chose the special Menu del Noche … And what a treat, far too much to eat (although we managed it in the end). With wine it was about €28 each but very special and full of Spanish diners in the know. I guess the price may put a few people off but we all thought it was well worth it… I thin kwe were eating for over two hours and the service was great.
As for being in a Sports Centre, well we had reservations about it, but the restaurant is tastefully done and once in there you would never know were you where. You wouldn’t want to eat outside as you overlook the football pitch but we all enjoyed it and will be going back so the next special occasion.
The Hondon Valley has a tasty new service that everyone can enjoy… custom made Celebration Cakes for birthdays, anniversaries, christenings, BIG thank you or your special occasion.
Denise will design, bake and make your cake herself to your specifications, offering a great and personalised service in the Nieves/Frailes and nearby areas. So visit the Hondon Valley Cakes web site to see some mouth-watering samples!
You can buy Ali-Oli from supermarkets in there quite distinctive yellow pots. But it’s easy to make your own if you have time! Especially on fresh crusty bread, topped with chopped tomatoes.. it’s a big favourite around the Hondón Valley in the summer.
This traditional Spanish garlic sauce goes well goes well with chicken, potatoes, paella and a myriad of other dishes.
OK who can’t resist these crispy deep fried potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce. Delicious and very more-ish, (so just don’t count the calories) !!
Here’s Video Jug’s take on a very popular Tapa in Southern Spain. We love em al-fresco on a sunny day with a nice chilled white white or cold lager. Cheers !
As part of the Hondón Christmas Festival, a motley crew of willing Hondón Expats / volunteers formed a ‘choir’ to sing traditional English Christmas carols in the Nieves square at the weekend. The aim was to raise a little money for equipment for the local medical centre and of course bring some festive spirit to the village on a lovely sunny day.
Despite some dodgy sound system (kindly donated and set-up by the Nieves Ayuntimiento) and a range of singing keys, the carollers muddled through favourites such as We Wish You A Merry Xmas, Ding-Dong Merrily on High, Silent Night, etc.
Afterwards some wonderful people gave out free mince pies and mulled wine. Yum!! And yes people did give generously to the tin-rattlers. And a big thumbs up for Santa (Papa Noel) who mananged to find time in his busy schedule to visit the children in Nieves. He gave a jolly Ho-HO and sweets to them all. Well Done Guys!
Feliz Navidad ! Christmas time is coming, the goose is getting fat. Please put a Euro in the collecting tin of the man in a funny red hat !!
OK, Nieves council has just released the timetable for Christmas festivities 2008. You can get a copy at the Nieves Town Hall. Highlights include:
Carol Singing in the square with a navity
Food tasting in Canalosa (with a great Nativity Play by the locals)
Gran Chocolate and Christmas Story competition for children
The Christmas Procession on C/Eve (starring Papa Noel)
Musical Concerts workshops
Winter Games for the bigger kids
New Years Eve in the Square (12 grapes and champers!!)
The Three Kings parade (6th Jan)
And for a small village they are surprisingly good and the locals put so much effort in. Go support them, it’s really nice to see families enjoying themselves. Recommended !
Hola!! Just a quick update about the Gym in Hondón de los Frailes “ESPORT I SALUT” run by Chris. It’s moved !!! But only a few metros onto the main road through Frailes. It’s opposite the Sinatra’s Bar.
Chris can now offer a lot more room and group activities/fitness sessions. And don’t forget his lovely wife offers beauty treatments. Go see them, they are really helpful. Recommended.
Luxury Villas inland and rural Hondon, Spain, search for villas and apartments in Hondon de las Nieves. Hondon Valley Villas and Apartments to buy / rent direct from owners. To advertise YOUR Holiday Rental or Villa for sale click the Advertise link (at top of page) for full details and prices. Villas and Apartment in the Hondon Valley Region such as Frailes, Aspe, Canalosa, La Romana in Costa Blanca South, Spain. Advertise on Hondón Villas.
The Hondon Valley has a tasty new service that everyone can enjoy… 
As part of the Hondón Christmas Festival, a motley crew of willing Hondón Expats / volunteers formed a ‘choir’ to sing traditional English Christmas carols in the Nieves square at the weekend. The aim was to raise a little money for equipment for the local medical centre and of course bring some festive spirit to the village on a lovely sunny day.
Feliz Navidad ! Christmas time is coming, the goose is getting fat. Please put a Euro in the collecting tin of the man in a funny red hat !!