Final house pics - first floor - landing/bathroom

Final house pics - ground floor - kitchen/patio

Final house pics - ground floor - lounge

Homeward bound - Santander/Plymouth

Thursday 12^th April

I got up early and was looking out the window over the square when a stork flew over at low level with nesting material in its beak…..I assume they nest on chimneys here as they do in Holland.

Weather forecast poor again with rain, but after clearing the mist in Burgos, we climbed up into the mountains where it was clear and sunny. Negotiated 3 passes, all about 1000 m above sea level, on the 150km drive to Santander. Halfway near a lake, we encountered a flock of about 30 vultures, we think, in a field near the road. Stopped to take pics…..never seen anything like it…we think they may have feeding on a large animal such as a sheep.

Shopped briefly in Santander Hipercor before boarding the ferry about 2 pm, sailing at 3 pm. The 20 hour crossing was uneventful, with the sea like a millpond all way. We saw dolphins frolicking in the ships wake and also a minky whale.

Friday 13^th April

Delays of an hour disembarking the ferry in Plymouth, and on to Bristol late afternoon after family visits.

Homeward bound - Burgos

Wednesday 11^th April

Up early to do the blog. Weather forecast rain and thunder and lightening for long drive to Burgos. Hostel man gave us a free breakfast of coffee & toast, and therefore gave him a 5 € tip when letting us out of garage. Found the Madrid road reasonably easily, although again, signage awful.

Made good time to Madrid arriving about 10 am, and had 2 or 3 missed or wrong turnings negotiating the plethora of ring roads and clover-leaf junctions, but eventually cleared the City on the road to Burgos.45 minutes later .

Pressed on making good time, stopping once to phone through repeat prescription. Stopped for lunch at Lerma, a small town South of Bergos. Got tangled up in main square on market day, irritating some of the natives, and eventually got out and down to the river…….well a small stream to have a picnic lunch.

Drove the last 50 km to Burgos, arriving about 2.30 pm, and parked up in underground car park near Cathedral. Walked through huge city gateway to be confronted by enormous Cathedral in pristine condition, apparently the biggest in Europe. Burgos has a delightful Northern Europe City feel, with many pedestrianised streets and squares, with chic boutiques and shoe-shops, bars an d cafes.

Feeling lazy, we went to travel agent to book a hotel, and after a 30 minute transaction, booked us into the Hotel Londres 100 metres up the street, so we arrived before the fax ! Nice room on 3rd floor over-looking a bustling square.

Decided to get sight-seeing out the way, and did the Castle (closed) but great views over Cathedral and City, and the Cathedral itself with its myriad of chapels and huge gold tableaux. Back to hotel for a rest, and then out again about 6.15 to explore the City. We discovered a huge central square …Plaza de Mayor with lovely gabled buildings recently refurbished, river walks and bustling streets around the Centre. We went to several bars for wine and tapas, and were offered a free tapas in one bar, which was “mura”, which was rubbery inedible meat…..probably tongue or lips….horrible!

Back to hotel for TV and bed.

Homeward bound - Toledo

Tuesday 10^th April

Awoke early and did the blog. Weather bright but overcast. Checked out of Hostal about 8.30 and after breakfast of bocadillos mixto in a café, walked back to car. Tricky junctions and poor road signage made it difficult to get out of Cordoba ,but we eventually found the Madrid road.

Good motorway roads most of way, but torrential rain made driving hazardous at times, particularly during a heavy downpour trying to overtake 3 lorries, and had to slow right up behind them as visibility almost zero.

Stopped off at Consuegra which had a small Castle tastefully restored (still in progress) and 12 restored windmills, one of which works apparently, which housed a small Tourist Office. We noticed some large birds flying over the town, which I thought were storks,but J thought were vultures or buzzards, and we asked the chap in the tourist office what they were…….he knew in Spanish but could’nt translate, but would look up for us whilst we visited the Castle and windmills.

Spent an hour or so doing the Castle …….lots of rooms restored for festivals and medaeval feast etc…..and walked to all the windmills, getting back to the office at 2 pm as he was closing,but he had waited to tell us the name of the birds……Storks !!

After a picnic lunch by a windmill, we drove the remaining 60km to Toledo and found a nice hostal with garage parking on the edge of the old city. Walked into town , which is on a hill and flanked by a river on 3 sides…..huge stone city gateways and walls. As it was late afternoon, we decided to catch the “petite zucotran” (4 €) to do all the sights. This was excellent as it went round the old city on the otherside of the river ,providing superb views of the city.

After the 50 minute trip, we walked around the narrow cobbled streets to the magnificent Cathedral which had just closed, and then to a park overlooking the river.

Decided to call it a day about 7.30 and had a basic spaghetti dinner on way back to hostal. Had baths and a lazy evening watching TV.

Homeward bound - Cordoba

Monday 9^th April

Weather forecast not good again for whole week……thunder, heavy rain etc.. I got up early to juice the oranges and pack, which took a couple of hours, and then packed the car, whilst J cleaned through the house. We had planned to leave by 10.30, but it rained throughout morning, and it was 11.30 before we left. After a couple of miles, J unsure if she had turned tap on for reticulation system…..not on checklist. As it was off last time I saw it yesterday, I suggested we turned back …against J’s wishes…..and sure enough it was off, so turned it on.

It was now 11.50 as we set off fully laden, and stopped at petrol station at Cartama to pump up car tyres. On to Campillos through the mountains, stopping at Teba Gorge to have lunch……rewarded by seeing about 10 Black Kites soaring above the gorge.

Drove on in the rain until hit the main Cordoba road, which is being upgraded to motorway,which was a bit slow, and then got to an upgraded section and made good time @ 130 km per hour, getting to Cordoba about 2.15 in the rush-hour. Found the old City quite quickly, but difficult to park, so found an underground car park, and walked through the narrow streets of the old City to find Tourist Information and a hostal..

We found the Mezquita, Cordoba’s magnificent Cathedral, which was originally built as a grand mosque, as Cordoba was capital of Muslim Spain in the 8^th Century. Before visiting the Mezquita, we found a Hostal by its Southern corner and got our stuff from the car, so it was 4.30 pm by the time we got there.

The Mezquita is truly spectacular, built in the style of the great mosques and palaces of Istanbul, but with a 16^th Century Christian Cathedral right in the middle. The outside courtyard contains the Patio de los Naranjos (Orange trees), which were in full bloom, the smell of the blossom hanging heavy in the air. Beside the Puerta del Perdon is a 16^th Century tower which replaced the original minaret.

Inside, one is confronted with 12 aisles and a forest of pillars and arches, beyond which are the main Christian structures.At the southern end of the building is the mihrab, which is claimed to be the most beautiful of all Islamic prayer rooms. Mosaic domes abound, together with more pillars and arches, lit by yellow and red oil lamps.

Afterwards, we wandered around for a couple of hours in the rain, looking for a corkscrew, and taking in the elegant shops of the fashionable banking district. Ate at a tapas bodega bar 20 metres from our hostal which was excellent …..5 tapas and a bottle of wine for 22.50 €

Still raining, so back to Hostal for an early night, as long drive tomorrow.

Easter Day

Sunday 8^th April (continued)

The main jobs I completed were finally sorting out the kitchen sink drain, which now no longer leaks (partially blocked up with glue), and inserting 25mm tubes into the holes that drain the roof terrace. Mortars continued throughout the morning, and after cleaning up, we walked up to the Blue Church just before noon to see the Easter Parade arriving with bands and a huge float of Christ.

The float is huge, carried by 50 men, who walk with a swaying motion to cope with the weight. The parade also included people dressed in purple with high pointed hats and a couple of children dressed up as cherubs….quite a moving experience.

After posting the blog in Fuengirola, we drove to Malaga, unfortunately missing the huge Easter Parade there, but spent a pleasant afternoon walking around the old city and the newly refurbished Paseo del Parque,with new statues, formal gardens and water features.

Back home by 5.00 pm measuring directions and landmarks (mainly decorated roundabouts) from Airport to the house (only 8 miles), to give to people holidaying in the house directions on how to get there.

I had the first shower in newly tiled shower……perfect flows of water draining away. We received another 5 kilos of oranges from the old lady at No 43, and we went over to give the dutch lady her Easter present of fancy orange & chocolate biscuits.

Spent the evening updating house management instructions and information for visitors on our last night.