31 Jan 2015. <ES> Toledo, Castile-La Mancha; Andalucia; Valdepeñas, Ciudad Real, Castile-La Mancha; Santa Elena, Jaén, & Andujar, Jaén, Andalucia —
Just before we left Toledo, Warren went out to the end of the park we were and found a good view of the Alcázar, and also an overshot water wheel that is apparently a bit of a tourist attraction.
But today was basically driving, from Toledo to a park off the road at Andujar, a town in the Jaén province of Spain. This was to put us within range of Córdoba tomorrow, a town which has a rich history — it was the capital of Moorish Spain 600 years ago!
Our driving took us through a huge horizon-to-horizon olive groves — Andalucia must be the main olive-growing region of Spain! We also passed quite a few windmills — Don Quixote can't have had much trouble finding his antagonist! Interestingly, all the windmills we saw were of virtually the same design!
The roads are marvellous — but we were on main roads today. Let's hold our judgment until we get onto some of the byways!
The sky was a picture as the sun was setting.
After we had gone through Valdepeñas, we went through a tunnel at Desfiladero de Despeñaperros — translate that as 'The Gorge of the Terrible Cliffs'. There's some spectacular terrain around here!
Finally, we got to Andujar, and found a parking spot on a service road just off the highway, and we tucked ourselves for the night.
Distance driven — today, 173 miles ( 279 km ); to date, 12,150 miles ( 19,554 km )
Great. Rick Stein is in love with Spain too. he found olive groves everywhere. have you had tapas yet? He ate with the locals and found it a great way to go. The tunnel looks spectacular too. The windmills reminded me of Quixote too, poor old blessed human he was. Everyone needs a Sancho too, I think. i've just been reading a little book about an anthropologist's field work in rural Morocco just as the French bureaucrats were about to get out in the 70's. He certainly needed one there. The cunning and self-serving Moroccans certainly manipulated him though he recognized it and let them because he needed to understand them. Rabinowitz? Anyway it was a delightful little read. Must gett on. Will follow the rest of your adventures tonight. love and keep well, Cathy
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