SPAIN PART 2 HIGHLIGHTS

BARCELONA

Our first stop was Barcelona where we stayed in a caravan park at Mataro. They had a free bus to Barcelona each day so it was an easy way to travel. We used the hop on and off double decker tourist bus enjoying the sights and letting someone else worry about the traffic.

The favourite transport here is the scooter and they are everywhere. The taxis look like a swarm of bumble bees buzzing around . There were hire bike ranks also. 

We visited here in 2002 and it was lovely to see the Gaudi buildings again. The Sagrada Famiglia is increasing up and out. We were told it is built to Gaudi’s plans as the funds become available by public subscriptions, bequests and entrance fees. Gaudi certainly saw buildings differently to most people. 

GRANADA - THE ALHAMBRA

We arrived at the Alhambra in Granada in the afternoon and found out we needed to book for a time slot for the next day. Apparently bookings are usually made on the internet and it is advisable to book ahead.

Fortunately there were places for 8.30 am so we picked up the tickets ready for the morning.  Boy was I happy we had these.

The Alhambra has a commanding view over Granada.

The visit gives a 2 hour time slot  for the Nasrid Palaces.

 The wall and ceilings are amazing with very intricately carved stone and mosaic tiles in blues and greens.

 

I have always wanted to see the Hall of the Lions and had to imagine the beauty I had seen in books as it was being restored. The beautiful alabaster lions were still able to be seen.

It is a pleasure to walk through the gardens and of course the famous water features.

Now our legs are tired, we are full of culture and history and it is time for sitting and eating and  drinking.

CABO DE GATA

We began our adventure in Cabo de Gata looking for a caravan park we never found. Eventually we went for a drive along the coast to a small village we could see in the distance

and although it wasn’t a Park we found 5000  Spanish people who knew it was a great place to stay.

So we added 2 Australians to the mix and parked looking out onto the Mediterranean.

Not long after, Harry was nice and cosy as more campers turned up.

As usual our Australian signs attract interest and we met Luis Simoes, a Portuguese artist who was living his dream of travelling around Europe sketching things that interested him. His web site is www. worldsketchingtour.com. Next morning after a walk we caught up again and met his mother and father who thankfully spoke English so we had a good chat. Unknown to us while we were out walking Luis did a sketch of Harry and presented it to us. A Wonderful souvenir of someone else who is living his dream. It will take pride of place at home to remind us of this lovely family.

During our time here we had seen cars going up the hill behind the houses and as we wanted to go to San Jose (because of the song “Do you know the way to San Jose” ) we set off following our map which showed a road around the coast. Little did we know, it was a road to the lighthouse and a famous spot about the legend of the Sirens and BACK!!

The road climbs quite steeply and I took some photos as we went up.

At about this spot I got my worried look, Kevin was very quiet and Harry was groaning. One look over the edge confirmed my look, it became very worried.

Around the corner the road which was wide enough for two cars to just pass suddenly narrowed into one lane and then wound its way through the rocky precipice giving scary glances over the edge every now and then.

 Mind you we were still thinking this was a road to San Jose and maybe it was one way only. Thankfully we didn’t meet any other cars as Harry was only just squeezing through and there was no going back.

Once through we saw the lighthouse below and thankfully couldn’t see any other cars and thought OH WELL it must go around the bend to San Jose.

Once down the bottom our nightmare was confirmed, we had to go back and it wasn’t one way.

So it was a quick look at the scenery and a worried look at more people and cars arriving.

You can see the road in this photo and between the crosses is where it is one lane through the rocks with only concrete blocks between us and the bottom.

So we set off kidding ourselves we were the only ones on the road. I took a nightmare video which lasted six minutes and seemed like forever. We did meet two cars at different times and wriggled and squeezed around trying not to look down. I think they were white knuckled as well.

Then just before the end we met a bus load of people walking who had come from a coach parked way down. They had to squeeze onto the wall so we could get past. Thankfully when the coach driver saw what was happening he walked back and stopped other cars from coming up.

Once down we got out of there as quick as possible and set off for San Jose on the correct road. Might I add that there is no sign saying large vehicles shouldn’t go up that road but we were told later the tourist bureau 30 kilometres away and not on this road tells people they should not go up in  motorhomes.

If you come across this sign .

DON’T GO THERE IN A MOTORHOME !!!

For Those at home we have a 6 minute video to bore you with when we get home.

LOS LOPEZ

During our travels we called in to see Bob and Maureen in their lovely Spanish house in a small village called Los Lopez. Their house has a lovely view looking out into a valley.

Harry took a welcome rest

  Each day they took us to many villages and small towns to sample Tapas and Churros. See these in Part one. We learnt that the best place to eat Churros is in a small bar and preferably one with plenty of used serviettes on the floor which shows how many people have been for breakfast that morning.

The roads here wind their way between rocky hills and villages and around some interesting corners.

In between all this it was great to sit out on the patio and enjoy the view.

On our travels we came cross a shepherd minding his goats.

We visited Adra the town down on the coast which is still a fishing port.

and the beach is nice and quiet compared to most beaches around here, only one high rise.

Now it’s time to travel on.

ANDALUCIA

Andalusia is famous for horses and flamenco dancing and holiday highrise lining the Mediterranean.

 We went to a show at El Ranchito to see the horses.

The horses were magnificent and made a very enjoyable show.

We also went to a dinner and Flamenco.

It amazes us each time we come to a seaside resort to see the number of apartments but now as the weather is getting hotter we are seeing a lot more holiday makers.

Of course we soaked up a bit of atmosphere too.  Can’t say I liked the colour of

the sand and it is a bit far from the lounges to the water.

CADIZ

The Bull and the Flamenco Man pop up everywhere and the signs on the freeway exits would only be found here.

The roads are still the best we have driven on in Europe. In the south Oleanders in pink or white have been used to make the division between lanes.

We are starting to see a lot of young people here for para surfing.

We loved Cadiz for the Flamenco and now we are off to Seville. Our feet are hurting from all the dancing and the costumes are getting a bit tight from all the Tapas.

HASTA LUEGO!!

SEVILLE

On our way up to Seville we passed through a Storm. It gets very windy around here.

The Olive trees have a lean.

On the way into Seville we saw the Bull again.

Coming into Seville the Jacaranda trees were in full bloom. I love the colour they seem a bit more intense purple blue than ours at home

In every city we have been to there has been a man on a horse and we were not disappointed in Seville.

The cathedral was absolutely huge.

And of course at every venue one sees the living statue. This one was smart she chose a sitting position.

The cathederal has amazing treasures

And Chistopher Columbus is buried and we are reminded about our childhood history lessons.

 This is the Moor part of the Cathedral.

We did a spot of shopping. Fans were all of the rage.

Time to head towards smaller towns

BENECAZON

On our journey we had seen a lot of Gypsy type caravans pulled by tractors or horses travelling along the road in convoy. As we were driving through Benecazon we saw two groups settling into the showgrounds so being sticky beaks we called in to say hello.

As we walked around,  in the centre of the ring was a beautiful silver carriage

 Later that evening we saw another beautiful wooden carriage. Each carriage had a Madonna from their home town and they told us they were travelling south and that evening there would be a walk through town. So we decided to stay and see what went on.

This lovely family were dressed for the evening celebrations.

There were three churches in the town within 50 metres and we gathered in town with hundreds of people and waited to see what would happen.

The bells of all the churches started ringing (11 in all) and you have never heard such a din. The first church had their Madonna on a carriage presumably ready for travelling also.

then the carriage with the visiting Madonna arrived pulled by two bulls and went to each church to pay repects to the individual church’s Madonna. ( I think this is what was  happening)

We joined the crowd wandering around town after the bulls pulling the carriages. The alters and inside the churches were amazing.

At the last church  Kevin almost ran with the bulls but in reality he was nearly ran over by the carriage pulled by the bulls when they backed away from the alter.

I will put the video here when I learn how to do it.

EL ROCIO

The next morning we left to travel south ourselves and arrived in a town called El Rocio We stopped for fuel and to take Harry’s photo with a bull outside the garage.

There were two strange things about us choosing this town to pull into.

 The first, at the caravan park reception they told us the next two nights the price was 16 euro per night after that it was 140 euro per night because there was a big celebration in El Rocio and 1 million people were expected to be coming here. Then we saw a poster of the Romeria and realised this was where all our gypsies were coming to.

The second was when we went to look around town and found out this was the town that someone had told us about and we were hoping to see but didn’t know the name. Where the streets are sand and there are hitching rails for horses just like in the Wild West movies.

Harry making his way through town.

What luck two things we wanted to see and here we are.

The church

Around the town

 

Getting ready for the big day

We had to leave town, not because the Posse was after us but because 140 euro per night was a bit steep. Adios Amigo.

After leaving El Rocio on the way to through Huelva we got caught up in a traffic jam. One side of the highway was closed and as we were slowly moving along we were wondering what was happening. Boy! were we excited when we saw why. A big group was heading for El Rocio.  For 5 minutes we saw people, some dressed in flamenco costumes walking  or on horses, carriages full of people being pulled by horses,  mules or tractors and some very grouchy policemen trying to hurry the traffic up as everyone slowed down to look. For those at home we will bore you with the video.

NOW IT IS TIME TO HEAD TOWARDS  PORTUGAL