Day 31 - Cordoba to Almagro

 Good to wake up and not hear rain! That said I had a really disrupted night, the street lamps in the parking area were really bright and one was right outside the window … not usually bothered by light but it was like daylight!

I discover yesterday that the app ‘too good to go’ works overseas! Couldn’t resist booking a pick up of a four star hotel breakfast! This meant we needed to be in town for 11am but this wasn’t tricky as it’s was good to get out early and we had a good look around the significant buildings that we’d seen through rain yesterday as well as visiting some of the famous patios in the old town. Cordoba is ‘Spanish town’ with knobs on, it is filled with narrow streets, White House with ochre window frames, geraniums, cobbles, horses and carriages, moorish architecture the lot…. It’s no wonder all of the coach yours of Spain seem to stop here!





Our breakfast turned out to be a real treat. €4 each bought us two bags of pastries, churros, bread, ham, cheese, tuna sandwiches and fresh fruit salad - all packed beautifully and super fresh.



We sat by the Roman bridge and ate some of the pastries for our breakfast. The river was really high and running very fast..definitely not somewheret you’d want to swim! Looking at the old waterwheel we noticed a number of cats currently isolated as they were on an ‘island’ but they looked relaxed enough … possibly living on pigeon! 








We walked across the bridge and back before heading back towards the van, stopping for a really good coffee in a Moroccan cafe on the way, it was lovely to be able to sit out in the courtyard in the sun , even if it was a little chilly. 



We paid the (overpriced) car ticket and hit the road. We are heading to Cuenca and it’s too far for one hit so Ive booked a countryside campsite in Castillo La Mancha. We hope to get washing done and dry out all the wet clothes as well as have  good shower. 

The roads we are taking are not very touristy. Plenty of lorries using them though! It’s not far from Corfoba before it’s all very green and it just gets greener…there are densely wooded areas as national parks begin and  we stopped at a closed visitor centre for Parque Natural Sierra de Cardena y Montoro which was just off the main roads and had a lovely picnic with some of our remains bread and cheese from this morning.


 

 The site was small and very wet but was beautiful with wildflowers   Birds and tadpoles in abundance … failed to see a lynx though they are known to be here. 




When we set off again there we’re soon mountains coming into view and the landscape became more pastoral with stone walls, sheep and cattle.


As we cross the boundary to Castillo La Mancha the landscape changes again, it’s now largely pine forest and further on still we hit ghe vast plains of central Spain. No long after discussing seeing this previously on a train trip from Madrid to Seville we cross the train line and realise that we are driving close to the AVE train track. It’s not long before we notice one rushing past. 



When we hit an ex coal mining town called Puertollano we see evidence of both the past industry and the redeveloped petrochemical and heavy industry that’s replaced it. Here the lorries turn north to Madrid and our road becomes much quieter. Away from the town the landscape is rural with farmland and fincas that often have grand gates. 

Finding the campsite is a little challenging…google is unaware of the towns one way system it seems and it’s not signposted , but we find it on a flat straight road heading out of Almagro. It’s almost empty and very peaceful. Washing line up, washing on a straight in the shower. We’ve decided on a second night to chill for a bit so quieter day tomorrow..


Miles so far: 1753

Steps today: 9264

Overnight: Camping-bungalow Los Arenales €25 inc electricity 



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