Monday 5 September 2011

Mari Carmen

Asked to write a blog one person comes to mind, Mari Carmen. The Hotel is now enjoying its 15th year during the many opening and closings of the door one person has played an important role with her vivacious smile and the welcome twinkle in her eye.

Mari Carmen and her vivacious smile.

Mari has been with us for 14 years , working hard to keep the Hotel in tip top shape, and making sure the guests needs are seen to. She starts work early in the morning when most guests are still asleep, preparing the Breakfast buffet, as the guests come down she serves coffee and teas, I can’t resist once I smell the coffee I’m in the kitchen for my first cup…

Mari Carmen preparing the breakfast buffet

As the guests come and go she discreetly tidies up behind them, after breakfast she makes her way upstairs to the rooms, like the flash of a wand everything is transformed into shipshape.

Rooms and corridors are endlessly cleaned and tidied, clean laundry put on shelves, storerooms filled , fridges restocked, compost taken to garden just some of the many every day chores to make the running of the Hotel easier for us all. When in season she shells the dry beans, cracks the walnuts,( I won’t mention the time she was using a stone..) Strings up the onions, there is nothing she can’t do, she is the diamond amongst gems.

Mari Carmen with her daughter Patricia in the kitchen

Behind the scenes Mari also takes care of the farm and animals while we are away, I think her smile and patience runs out as my adorable goat Wednesday always seems to escape when I am away. I remember the year she took a lamb home to bottle feed it, and the day the vets arrived earlier to do blood tests on the sheep, out she went to round them up without a second thought. In the winter she spends many an hour painting the rooms, upholstering the dining room chairs, sweeping up the ever falling leaves in autumn.

Mari Carmen at the fiesta in Collia with her sister.

There is no end to her energy, on her day off she looks after her grandson, or rushes to the market in her little car, makes lunch for her family and still finds time to dance the evening away. We were very lucky to find such a hard working, reliable and happy person.

A toast to Mari Carmen.

Blog entrance written by Joe

2 comments:

Mary Carmen said...

bueno pues no se que poner, ya os dije una vez que yo con vosotros estoy en familia, no me siento mal, al contrario, estoy feliz, asi que otra vez mas gracias por todo lo que me dais, que no es poco, yo en mi trabajo lo hago con la conciencia como si fuera mio, pues ya veis que tambien me enfado alguna vez, un besazo para vosotros y gracias otra vez joe.

Barry Axford said...

Mari,

So engagingly honestly serving, with dignity and strength of character... a privelidge to experience her company. I do so enjoy returning to Posada del Valle and seeing her beaming face! Thank you Joe for reminding us all of what atreasure Mari is. Barry A.

Welcome

Hotel Posada del Valle is a small hotel in Asturias Northern Spain surrounded by its own organic farm and where we are passionate about organic farming, food, and sustainable livelihoods. In this Blog those of us who live and work at Hotel Posada del Valle open a door to share with all of you who are interested in what we are doing.