Pt 5 Impending doom
Alquazar (Sep 14th 2024)
Alquazar is only 60kms away but it took a couple of hours going over the tiny switchback heavy road I had decided to take.
I stopped to take a picture of one of the gorges on the was only to hear voices. Down in the bottom where some "snorkelers" as I believe they are called. They looked like they were dressed for water but not sure if they cam across any.
There is a large car park in Alquazar, that motorhomes aren't allowed to park overnight in anymore.
Town is good for a couple of hours. Looks bigger than it is in the photos. Big attraction is a walk on a path nailed to the side of the rock. Not for us. Its a very touristy town that doesn't dissapoint.
We walked down every street, there are plenty of little bars and eaterys . Wedding was taking place in the church.
The campsite outside is for hikers really all the pitches that were free had low branchesand were very small, so we moved on to Camping Rio Vero that we had passed on the dodgy road. Very nice so we stayed over for the weekend to do some washing. It's got a restaurant and a bar. 31 euro for two nights (without electric).
Zaragoza (Sep 16th 2024)
Been to Zaragoza a few times before but never visited the center due to either the weather being too cold or we got there too late. This time its 30C so only excuse would be its too hot.
Got the tram to Zaragoza from the aire, its just over the road. As we crossed the road a tram was coming so we jumped on and started looking how to buy a ticket. Turns out the ticket machine is outside. We stayed on to our allotted stop just over the river hoping no one would ask to see our tickets. I had my stupid "Sorry Eeenglish" face ready but we were ok. Its a really nice city but it was very quiet. Looks like they were clearing up after some event or fiesta, maybe Catalan day last week. Massive rolls of green carpet which woud have been great in our garden.
Yet another big church to go in. This one had a statute of the first known skateboarding Pope who is giving a thumbs up to God.
Found lots of places to eat and dring in the back streets.
Not sure why Elton John was there tho.
Belchite (Sep 16th 2024)
A short drive from Zaragoza is the town of Belchite. Stuck right in the middle of the Spanish civil war in the push to Zaragoza it got bombed from both sides. Franco ordered it remain a ruin as a reminder of war and got another town built next door even though the people wanted to move back in. We paid for a tour with an audio guide you cannot go in on your own. Be aware you have to book online before hand. We had booked for the later tour but turned up just in time for the earlier one. The Spanish woman talked a lot more than our audio guide but you get a good feel for the place from it. It is said that most of reason for the ruins as they are now are due to people nicking a lot of the stones to use elsewhere in the new town. It probably why they closed it off.
The Spanish who went on the tour seemed quite moved by it all. Especially when they got to the story of the bodies being thrown in the wine cellers as they couldn't bury everyone.
There is still a shell sticking out of the church. Me being a cinicle old git must think it has be placed there afterwards. It not it would still be live, so they wouldn't have tourists walking around underneath. But then over the years we have seen some dodgy health and safety over the years.
It is twinned with Oradour sur Glane as it would be. We parked but didn't stay in the free aire a short walk away.
Teruel (Sep 17th 2024)
We've been past Teruel a dozen times but have never stopped. We got to the free aire about 5pm and as the weather was forecast to be poor the next day so we went in for the evening. It was a lot busier than Zaragoza but that may have been the time. Wandered around the streets and was quite impressed. Food has been hard to come by for us. We don't like Spanish food yet we come twice a year. Ended up with a pizza served to us by an immigrant that went to the UK when he was nineteen and learnt English with a Brummie accent. He didn't like it cos it was too cold so he moved to Spain and set up a pizza place. Had quite a chat with him. Next day did a bit of shopping and waited for a storm that didn't come. There is a big Alcampo shop next to the free aire. There is also lots of places to eat around it. To go to the center you can walk in about 30mins or catch the bus from the middle of the Alcampo car park.
Xabia (Sep 19th 2024)
Again we have messages of impending doom with danger to life and 30mm of rain.
Get to Javia and it's sunny with a bit of cloud. Campsite (Camping Javea) is nearly full again and we only have 5 pitches to choose from We pick a corner pitch and set up then we went down to the front to have a look. We came 6 years ago but the weather was poor then as well.
We go down to the front and turn north along the prom. Find another little bar that sells Belgium beer and chill.
The next day we went back in to the old town up a steep hill as they always seem to be. Had a coffee then down to the front to spend a lovely afternoon watching the world go by.
Biked down to the far south side and it all looks very nice. This part is Arenal beach and there is another campsite close by. We will come back and spend a week here next year.
Weatherforcast wrong again.
Alquazar is only 60kms away but it took a couple of hours going over the tiny switchback heavy road I had decided to take.
I stopped to take a picture of one of the gorges on the was only to hear voices. Down in the bottom where some "snorkelers" as I believe they are called. They looked like they were dressed for water but not sure if they cam across any.
There is a large car park in Alquazar, that motorhomes aren't allowed to park overnight in anymore.
Town is good for a couple of hours. Looks bigger than it is in the photos. Big attraction is a walk on a path nailed to the side of the rock. Not for us. Its a very touristy town that doesn't dissapoint.
We walked down every street, there are plenty of little bars and eaterys . Wedding was taking place in the church.
The campsite outside is for hikers really all the pitches that were free had low branchesand were very small, so we moved on to Camping Rio Vero that we had passed on the dodgy road. Very nice so we stayed over for the weekend to do some washing. It's got a restaurant and a bar. 31 euro for two nights (without electric).
Zaragoza (Sep 16th 2024)
Been to Zaragoza a few times before but never visited the center due to either the weather being too cold or we got there too late. This time its 30C so only excuse would be its too hot.
Got the tram to Zaragoza from the aire, its just over the road. As we crossed the road a tram was coming so we jumped on and started looking how to buy a ticket. Turns out the ticket machine is outside. We stayed on to our allotted stop just over the river hoping no one would ask to see our tickets. I had my stupid "Sorry Eeenglish" face ready but we were ok. Its a really nice city but it was very quiet. Looks like they were clearing up after some event or fiesta, maybe Catalan day last week. Massive rolls of green carpet which woud have been great in our garden.
Yet another big church to go in. This one had a statute of the first known skateboarding Pope who is giving a thumbs up to God.
Found lots of places to eat and dring in the back streets.
Not sure why Elton John was there tho.
Belchite (Sep 16th 2024)
A short drive from Zaragoza is the town of Belchite. Stuck right in the middle of the Spanish civil war in the push to Zaragoza it got bombed from both sides. Franco ordered it remain a ruin as a reminder of war and got another town built next door even though the people wanted to move back in. We paid for a tour with an audio guide you cannot go in on your own. Be aware you have to book online before hand. We had booked for the later tour but turned up just in time for the earlier one. The Spanish woman talked a lot more than our audio guide but you get a good feel for the place from it. It is said that most of reason for the ruins as they are now are due to people nicking a lot of the stones to use elsewhere in the new town. It probably why they closed it off.
The Spanish who went on the tour seemed quite moved by it all. Especially when they got to the story of the bodies being thrown in the wine cellers as they couldn't bury everyone.
There is still a shell sticking out of the church. Me being a cinicle old git must think it has be placed there afterwards. It not it would still be live, so they wouldn't have tourists walking around underneath. But then over the years we have seen some dodgy health and safety over the years.
It is twinned with Oradour sur Glane as it would be. We parked but didn't stay in the free aire a short walk away.
Teruel (Sep 17th 2024)
We've been past Teruel a dozen times but have never stopped. We got to the free aire about 5pm and as the weather was forecast to be poor the next day so we went in for the evening. It was a lot busier than Zaragoza but that may have been the time. Wandered around the streets and was quite impressed. Food has been hard to come by for us. We don't like Spanish food yet we come twice a year. Ended up with a pizza served to us by an immigrant that went to the UK when he was nineteen and learnt English with a Brummie accent. He didn't like it cos it was too cold so he moved to Spain and set up a pizza place. Had quite a chat with him. Next day did a bit of shopping and waited for a storm that didn't come. There is a big Alcampo shop next to the free aire. There is also lots of places to eat around it. To go to the center you can walk in about 30mins or catch the bus from the middle of the Alcampo car park.
Xabia (Sep 19th 2024)
Again we have messages of impending doom with danger to life and 30mm of rain.
Get to Javia and it's sunny with a bit of cloud. Campsite (Camping Javea) is nearly full again and we only have 5 pitches to choose from We pick a corner pitch and set up then we went down to the front to have a look. We came 6 years ago but the weather was poor then as well.
We go down to the front and turn north along the prom. Find another little bar that sells Belgium beer and chill.
The next day we went back in to the old town up a steep hill as they always seem to be. Had a coffee then down to the front to spend a lovely afternoon watching the world go by.
Biked down to the far south side and it all looks very nice. This part is Arenal beach and there is another campsite close by. We will come back and spend a week here next year.
Weatherforcast wrong again.
- Previous page: Part 4 - Spain pt 1 Offal and Churches
