Up at 4.30, quick breakfast then walked to the station with our rucksacks on. Martin had a funny turn on the train and a police officer and a passenger came to our aid. He was fine once we got to Gatwick. The plane was delayed for ages with no explanation. Once we arrived at Bilbao airport we got the shuttle bus to the car hire depot where I got locked in the loo. After nearly 3 hours driving (saw vultures and bull fighting rings), we got to Olite a pretty medieval village. Nowhere was serving food until 8pm so we bought a baguette and cheese at a shop and ate this in a small park. Later we discovered our hotel room was right above the kitchens so didn't get to sleep until nearly midnight. The next morning I complained hoping we would get a free brekkie but the manager was totally unapologetic.
The next day we drove a short distance to the entrance to the 'badlands' and drove 34km along gravel roads. It was not as spectacular as I had expected.
We ate lunch by the river in Tudela to spend time before we could check in. We had a nice apartment with a large balcony and had a very good sleep that night after a wander around the time.
On the way to Cella we stopped in Zaragoza and ate lunch at the river opposite the cathedral.
The next 2 nights we had noise from other apartments, so much that we got some money back from the host who said it was most unusual. I dropped our apartment key by the seats in the hire car the next day and it was a mission to retrieve it especially as we were so tired. We walked out to see bits of a roman aqueduct and around the town - it was very hot.
The outside space was actually a car park
We drove to our next stop via Albarracin where we had a good walk and coffee stop before driving onto Cuenca where our apartment had a very small balcony overlooking the river.
View of Cuenca on the way in
View from the apartment
We walked around the town of Cuenca and saw the famous hanging houses in which was an art museum. We found another free museum.
Olive trees everywhere on our journeys, signs warning about lynx on the road and fire risks.
We arrived in Granada to a message from the previos accommodation accusing us of late check out and having dogs. There were noisy dogs next door which the cleaner had heard! Our host told us there was free entry that afternoon at a baths and a palace so we walked to see these.
The next day we visited the Garden of the Martyrs which was a walk away. There were gypsy ladies trying to sell us heather and flamenco dress shops. We ended up having a beer near the Alhambra.
We had a really good visit to the Alhambra
We walked up to 2 miradors for views over the palace and to the walls nearby which was a shanty town. We went back into the free bits of the Alhambra again and the gardens.
On the drive to Cordoba we tried to stop in Baena for lunch but, after driving through really narrow streets we discovered that the car park was under construction so we gave up and had a cold coffee at a Burger King. Our accommodation was on a farm and the host showed us the caves where she runs yoga classes and retreats.
There was an issue with ants in the kitchen but the nights were silent except for an owl. We had the pool mostly to ourselves during our stay. We went to see Cordoba.
I took the farm dogs out for a walk along the canal - all good unless there was a lone cyclist which the dogs went for
Lots of stork nests on top of pylons
We drove to our next stop near Toledo - our apartment was in a quiet, dead little town
The Don Quixote path was far too hot and exposed so we abandoned the idea of a hike.
Toledo
Back for a siesta but so hot we huddled in the shade
We visited Aranjuez but a few of the gardens were closed
On the way to Segovia we stopped for lunch at a reservoir. We had driven over a mountain which the Vuelta had ridden over the day before, lots of words painted on the road - so steep and they still had a steeper climb to the finish.
Segovia
It was an eventful stay - the pool was closed so got a refund on our stay, we were hit by a wing mirror walking along a pavement (on the way to the Royal Mint and aqueduct exhibition which were great), Jess had had her credit card used by someone in the USA but this was all balanced by good news from Kath that her insurance claim from Turkey had been paid.
We always have a laugh about tourists getting off their tour bus
We went to La Granja and visited the palace gardens after a pleasant walk (although Martin cut his head on a low arch over a bridge).
We attempted a walk uphill but it was far too steep and too hot so turned around but we did get the view. There were loads of butterflies, moths and grasshoppers.
Our drive to the Pico mountains was in sunshine and the views were fab, We managed a short walk around town before the rain started.
The next day it was pouring down and the trail we had come for had been closed due to a landslip and fire. We did attempt a walk but the rain was too heavy so went back to the hotel, sat in the lounge and watched the numerous Morgans and motorbikes passing by.
For our short hop to Potes on the other side of the mountains the sun was back out - for a while then the rain returned. We wandered around the town
Our apartment with fab views and a sun trap outside
A quick walk
The best day - great weather and a fab hike in the mountains
To the sea, to Suances, very much like Cornwall. Great walking area and we saw an otter
On the way to Bilbao we stopped in Castro for lunch
Bilbao - s very steep and dodgy walk down to the city from the hotel
