Mick Paskins Blog

2024 Spain Part 4

2024 Spain Part 4

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  • Fri 19th Jan
    Curious thing. Whilst looking on our apps for an Aire just north of Valencia, I found one where a review said “…….and do go to the cave……”. What cave? A search soon revealed the Coves de Sant Josep, a cave system with a river running through it, and visit is by boat. Why hadn’t any of the TIC’s we have visited mentioned it – we are in their area. Anyway, now at La Vall d’Uixo, the town where the caves are.
    And it was fun, a small boat, maybe 14 of us in it, paddled through the cave, often having to duck below the rocky ceiling, and then a walk through a dry tunnel, met by the boat and back. In one of the caverns there was a not very impressive Son et Luminaire, but nonetheless an enjoyable 50 minutes or so. Photos didn’t come out very well……..

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    It is raining today. Hope for better weather tomorrow…..

  • Sat 21 Jan

    The TIC lady yesterday suggested we go to Sagunt, Roman theatre, castle, other Roman remains.
    The Roman theatre.

    Spot the Roman bit!!
    The amphitheatre was completely rebuilt, but the passages to access the amphitheatre were till there.

    On the way to the theatre, we passed a church, recommended by the TIC.

    Attractive, quite small, and the side niches ( six of them) contained floats of biblical scenes to be used in festivals. Never really thought about it, but they have to be kept somewhere!
    Talking about festivals, we had landed up in Sagunt on festival day. We had seen a large bonfire waiting in one of the plazas, and a small band of musicians kept popping up as we went round, playing various drums and wind instruments.
    In the evening, I went back into town (Sue opted to stay in the vehicle), and I was entertained to a good firework display, and the large bonfire being bonfired.
    Bags of gunpowder had been tied to the trees that made up the pyre, and they went off with a satisfying bang. The fire was being constantly doused down by the local bombero.

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    After the fire died down, everyone disbursed. Seemed a bit flat, I’m sure something must have happened later, but after hanging about for about half an hour, I left.
    The castle was huge, very up, and although it clearly had a very long history, from pre Roman to the Spanish Civil War, very little about events that happened.
    A big castle, straggling a ridge.

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    The view from the highest point

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Mon 22nd Jan
    Drove down to Alicante last night, Sue is flying back home tomorrow for Ted’s funeral. Unfortunately we cannot both go, because of Josie.
    Motorhome aires seem in short supply, I think we have moved out of the area of municipal provided motorhome parking. We have had free parking since leaving San Sebastián on the 3rd January. Not that I mind paying, in fact quite happy to pay provided sites are available.
    Found two sites close to Alicante, drove to the first one and it was a storage area, drove to the second one, also a storage area, but a large open piece of land opposite had loads of campervans parked there, so joined them. I think it must appear on a German website, judging by the number of Deuche vehicles here.
    Anyway, appears very safe, lots of other vehicles and people around.
    Dropped Sue off at the airport, to fly back to another UK storm, leaving Josie and myself here for five days, with a forecast of clear skies, unbroken sunshine, and a tram link into Alicante.
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    I think I will manage!
    On the tram, small dogs (max 10kg) are allowed in an approved carrier. So far no one has challenged whether I am an approved carrier!

  • Sat 27th Jan

    Sue arrived back last night around 11pm.
    Yesterday afternoon, Josie and I went into Alicante, had a very nice time wandering round in the sunshine, followed by a meal.
    Alicante has a lot of Australian fig trees, really spectacular.

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    Went to the tram stop, and an official wouldn’t let me on without the dreaded approved carrier.
    So, I was forced to leave, and walk to the next tram stop, no official and caught the tram back from there. Huh!
    Left my stay of the last five days this morning.

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    Josie in the picture.
    Arrived at an Aire in Murcia, capacity quoted as space for about 60 motorhomes. There were about 100 packed in, and around 50 in an adjoining car park. Had no idea the whole world decided to come here. Had vaguely known of Murcia as a region of Spain, but not known about the city of Murcia until a few days ago, thought it would be a bit off the beaten track. Well, if is, not sure how well we will manage as we continue round southern Spain.

    Again, dogs only allowed on buses and trams in an approved carrier, maximum 10 kg. Would not have been possible with any of our previous dogs. We went to a pet shop, to see if we could buy a carrier. They didn’t have much of a selection, and when we tried to fit her in those that they had, found Josie must have grown extra legs, legs kept popping out all over the place. We ended up fairly helpless with laughter. Fortunately, she seemed unfazed by the experience, and we gave up.
    In order to overcome the problem, we decided to try putting her in my backpack, and me to wear it as a frontpack. She seemed perfectly happy.
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    On our return, a tram official walked past us several times, with barely a glance.
    So, the delights of Murcia…..the cathedral.
    The bell tower, 20 bells! Must be interesting at midday.

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    I keep reflecting the various medieval buildings we have visited in UK, and programmes on television, about the development of gothic into perpendicular gothic, and all that that entails. This is seems to be totally missing in continental Europe, ( although I’m not sure about northern France), so the inside dominated by massive columns, far fewer and smaller windows, and much less elaborate ceilings.
    Makes me feel I want to revisit probably the last, and the pinnacle achievement of the medieval gothic, Kings College Chapel in Cambridge.

  • Murcia Cont’d

    The lady in the TIC, rattling off places to visit, speaking very quickly, and with a very strong accent, was very difficult to follow, but we both picked up that we should visit the casino. Google translate says, unsurprisingly, that casino in Spanish translates to ……casino in English. Murcia Casino is not what I would call a casino, but nonetheless is an extraordinary place, a real eclectic mix of styles. No idea what it’s function is, or was. But, really enjoyable to visit.
    The Moorish bit.
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    The library.

    The central corridor.
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    ? The buxom butterfly room……

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  • Sun 28th Jan
    Didn’t do much today. Found a launderette and adjacent parking, and did the washing.
    Drove the short distance to the outskirts of Carthagena, to a privately run Aire, and found it full. Park4Night listed a nearby car park, but the listing had no reviews. Went there, and it is a spacious car park, with hardly any cars. That will do fine!
    A short while after we arrived, a Norwegian guy rolled up – he had also found the car park on Park4Night.
    Bus ride into Carthagena tomorrow, will test the backpack frontpack again.
  • Mon 29th Jan
    A frustrating day. We set out from our car park to catch a bus into Cartagena. A bus arrived much earlier than we expected, so we frantically tried to put Josie into my backpack. The driver was shouting at us, indicating his watch, and possibly indicating the need for a muzzle. Our attempts with Josie failed, and he drove off. In a bit less of a panic, we easily managed to pack her into my backpack. Another bus arrived, but the driver would not let us on.
    Fortunately, Josie does not seem at all distressed by this.
    With much muttering of bugger Spain, we gave up. We had actually been to Carthagena many years ago, and been round the Roman remains, which is the main sight.
    We tried to find a parking space close to the centre, but failed. The lady in Murcia TIC told us of “a wild place” to the west, so we drove there. It was some sort of conservation area, although not a national park. The animal warning signs, the sort often seen warning of deer, warned of snakes and lizards, but we didn’t see any. Today was very cloudy, but quite mild, and this area, according to an information board, indicated that it is very windy. Today didn’t disappoint, it was certainly windy whilst we were there.

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    Lots of sand dunes, protected, and required to keep to the duck board paths.

    No overnighting, so we left and went to Alhama de Murcia, a smallish place, where we found a very convenient town centre car park. The main site is a Roman baths, thats for tomorrow. There is also a castle. Another castle.
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    Only open on Saturdays to organised tours, but far to over restored. And, far too up for Sue. Will give that a miss. Interestingly, something we have come across in previous castles, it was adapted to take artillery during the Spanish Civil War, during the 1930’s.
    It seems castles here had a use far later than I ever imagined.

  • Tue 30th Jan
    Car park was crowded this morning. Took Josie for a walk, and found all the streets around us housed a market – hundreds of stalls. Half was tat, the other half was fruit and veg. All selling the same stuff. It took ages to walk round it, there were so many stalls. The very last one, on the way back to the motorhome, was selling organic veg, although we subsequently found an organic shop in the adjoining covered market.
    Walked the short distance to the Roman bath house museum, which also contained a collection of traditional Spanish costumes. Strange combination, but never mind.

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    Drove the short distance to Lorca, a palacio which looks very interesting. Temporarily closed. And a castle. BUT, a castle with a car park. Almost at the top of the hill. Made for an interesting drive, a narrow road, tight bends, and very steep.
    We arrived just before 2.00 pm, goodness it was complicated. We were told we could book to see the large cistern, opens at 2.15, last entrance 2.30, closes 2.45. Could also book the Alfonsina Tower, opens 3.30, last entrance 4.00, closes 4.15. We missed the opening times for the synagogue and the Espolon Tower. All very confusing.
    The large cistern.
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    The tower.

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    Going up
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    116 stairs. Sue didn’t. The view.
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    We were allowed to take Josie in, and the lady on the reception gave us a decorative collar ( which Josie tolerated), and some Iberian pork treats(which Josie scoffed).

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  • Wed 31st Jan

    Another grey overcast day. Not cold, not raining. How do weather forecasters know when clouds are going to produce rain, and when they are just going to sit up there in the sky?
    The Aire in Lorca was full last night, so we spent the night in a nearby car park. This morning, we were able to get in, and empty the loo (warning light was on), empty grey water and fill up with fresh.
    Then went into Lorca centre, and walked round the old town. In the centre was Plaza Espania, very eye catching.

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    A lot of decoration on surrounding buildings. Unfortunately, the very large church was closed.
    The facade.

    A short distance away is the Palacete Huerta Ruano, built in the second half of the 19th century. Most of it was closed, but there were some nicely decorated ceilings, and this room.
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    Clearly, the influence of the moors lives on.
    A ceiling.

    Unusual bannisters, made of glass.

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