Diary March 2019

We are leaving for our winter trip on 15th March departing from Portsmouth this time and sailing all the way to Santander. We should arrive at 5.30 pm so in plenty of time to find ourselves a parking spot overnight before it get too dark.  

We are so lucky as there has been one storm after another with ships being cancelled all the time but luckily and much to our surprise ours will sail more or less on time and it looks as if the seas will not be too bad for us.  Arriving at about 7.30pm local time and taking the last spot in a little village Aire in northern Spain we settled down to our pre-prepared meal and a good nights sleep. 

San Vincente Mechanical clock 

17th March - We travelled south east to the Rioja wine region stopping at San Vicente de la Sonsierra, a lovely old small town before we spotted a Bodega with lots of parking right by the road we were travelling on.  Too good to miss so of course in we went and after a tasting we come out with some lovely Red, White and Rose to be kept for special occasions back home.  A little more expensive than our usual Supermarket buys but well worth it.  A little further on at Elciego we had planned to spend the night so were disappointed when we found the Aire full, we had a drive around coming back about an hour later - a space was now available.  After parking up, a quick trip into the town for wine and tapas made us feel we really had arrived for our Spanish adventure.   

18th March - Still travelling towards Zaragoza we had hoped to visit the monastery at Verdela

The Monastery

and stay overnight but it was shut and as the parking was not very good we came back a few miles to Grisel to a lovely new Aire.  Trouble was poor Les had to negotiate some very tight turns in the old village to reach it. Next day we took a lovely stroll in the countryside by a babbling brook. A sign in Spanish was translated for us by a local and evidently we had stumbled upon the Chasm of Dreams! and local folklore spoke of people living in the caves nearby and drinking from the magical waterfall. A hermitage rounded off the scene inviting us to follow the path of the legend!!  The countryside was quite nice but we decided not to linger.

19th March - Our aim today was Zaragoza and an Aire near the town with a tram if we needed it.  It was quite busy and really only a car park but quiet at night.  The town had its modern parts and an old town with Cathedral and Castle and as we decided to walk both ways we were quite tired by the end of the day. Coming back to our van, others had moved in and around us and we were now right next to one the size of a coach, making us look like a mini day-tripper!  I wonder how he would have got on in our last village! 

20th March - I was very keen on visiting the birthplace of Goya just south of Zaragoza at Fuendetodos. I don't know why, but it was such a humble farmhouse I wondered what the story was and how he had found fame.  It turned out that he had come from a lower middle-class family but his mother had pretensions of nobility, she wanted him to be born in Aragon and travelled to her family home (which had a crest over the door) They later moved back to Zaragoza where he trained.  Anyway I loved the place which was simply furnished with a museum of etchings next door.  Nice place for us to park too.

21st March - We checked the map and took the most direct route on what we thought would be a bigger and better road than the one we came on, heading towards Carinena - big mistake! After only about three miles we could see dust ahead and gradually out of the dusty mist we saw lots of workmen and with diggers etc. the road surface was being replaced but they had only got round to taking off the original surface at the time we were there. Pot holes, ramps, uneven surfaces went on for about 5 miles, then a bit of a lull before starting up again all the way to the town.  Les kept asking why we had decided to take this detour at all! I had obviously forgotten to get my crystal ball out this morning! 

Travelling south we turned off on a lovely countryside route through steep sided rocks and gorges until arriving at Albarracin high up at 1100 metres.  It looked beautiful and the air was fresh and clear.  We parked up in the town with a plan stay overnight just outside on a parking spot with great views of the gorge. 

21st/22nd/23rd March - As we loved this area so much we stayed for three nights.  We did check out the campsite but it was a bit full and actually not very well positioned or very clean.  Each evening we went back to our 'out of town' parking - Ok it was a  bit cold at minus 5 degrees one night but the sun soon came up and we had some lovely walks around the ancient walled town and the forest. It was quite a tourist area so there were many marked forest paths available to us, some with ancient cave paintings.

24th March - Time to leave back along the lovely country road to Teruel parking up on the roadside for two hours, just enough time to climb the stairs up to see the town and museum. A nice town with a pleasant feel.

 

24th/25th March - and quite a long drive today to Cuenca along empty country roads.  This town is definitely on the tourist route but we did have a parking area situated by the river just out of town so we made for that.  On checking the map we saw that there was one way to drive into town to the daytime parking without having to negotiate the very narrow centre. We set off quite early, it was a nice drive and the parking although quite busy had an attendant who showed us where to park and out of the way of others. Walking into town from here was a joy with the whole gorge opening up to us in the distance and once in the town..... 

......we saw the medieval streets and 'hanging houses' of old now with Art exhibitions inside - we tried to imagine life going on here here in the past as it seemed so cut off from the surrounding area.

  

26th March - and a very long drive towards the coast for the first time this holiday. We did stop overnight beside a village church with two other vans.  The church was open so a quick look inside before leaving.

27th March -  The sea looked lovely today upon arriving at the small coastal town of La Azohia obviously not on the tourist map and very quiet.  The carpark was quite big and comfortable just right for taking a walk along the seafront and relaxing, taking a glass of wine at a local bar. 

28th March -  We made our way to a small campsite/Aire Los Madriles nearby as we are advised there is a bus to take us into Cartegena.  There were only about four other vans there and room for many more we suspect it gets very busy in the summer but today it's quite windy but sunny.  Next day we set off for the bus, only one per hour so we had to get it.  We waited beside a dilapidated farming museum, obviously not open and the bus eventually arrived, it took us round and about visiting various villages on the way and took about 40 minutes!.....just as well we had started early and decided there and then to get a taxi back.  Cartegena was very historical with lots of Roman remains, a lovely city centre and a well preserved Roman theatre and port area too. They love their food too so it was Tostados (tomatoes on toast) with coffee for elevenses followed by anchovies and other tapas for lunch...mmm!

29th March - We skirted around Cartegena up the coast past Torreveija (what a dump) but good for Decathelon! and on to Elche known for its palm groves, trouble was it was difficult to park at all in this University city - the only place big enough for us was in the University itself so as we were only going to be here for a couple of hours we chanced it.  

The sun was out and everywhere looked fantastic - flowers and palms in all the gardens and a relaxed feel everywhere, we really liked it. We visited the cactus gardens too and even Les was impressed!! 

We decided to press on towards Valencia parking up free on the nearby coast right beside the sea so we could get into the small campsite early to catch the bus into town.

30th March - The campsite was a bit more rundown than we thought and although there are a couple around here at El Saler it seems we may have chosen the wrong one - the ablutions were a little rustic to say the least but as we planned to be out most of the day, no matter.  The bus came on time and took us right into the city passing much of the Riverside.  Such a modern place and quite big so the plan was to see the old town in the morning, then out to the coast by bus for lunch then back to the modern bit in the afternoon.  A lovely but tiring day and then back on the bus to our little home from home to rest.

Old Town and Museums 

La Lonja Silk Exchange

At the famous 'Farton' cafe  

The New Space Age Riverside 

Paella by the Coast

Yes, we are sharing it!

31st March - I went out in the morning to the bakers ( lovely marmalade and walnut cake!) for bread and to look at the little port......

El Saler port

......before setting off for Morella a lovely hilltop town in the mountains again. There was some small parking up at the town with a larger overnight Aire lower down - perfect. 

Very different architecture here and more local delicious 'Floans'  little apple puffs and I came away having bought a nice jumper too. ( Made by the family of course!) 

It was just the road that had me a bit concerned especially when we had to negotiate a 'take it it turns' one way narrow bridge along the route. Lovely views though !  Well done Les - as usual.