Aug 26: Cuenca and Madrid

Friday 31 July 

Bus to Bury then tram to Manchester. 

Lunch at a little Greek place as we had plenty of time. 

Walk up to Piccadilly in the sunshine then got on the train to the airport. Total cost.. nil.. apart from lunch.. 😁

A good early evening flight then straight into a taxi to Madrid city centre and the hotel for the night. 

A quick drink at a nearby bar and then bed - it was well after midnight - long day travelling but nice to know it can be done without a car. 

Saturday 1 August 

Up early and out for a walk in the Retiro park just over the road. 

Nice and cool (well in the shade before the sun got too hot - mid 20s) and not too busy. 

Got tickets for the 2.30 AVE train then went to a nearby bar for breakfast. 

Nice easy train ride across to Cuenca - once we'd worked out where the platform was!.. 🤣

Picked up by Miguel and taken to the flat - lovely views. 

Luca helped Mike with his exercises 

View of the brown front door (we are on the third floor) and the street. 

View the other way with a lovely fountain. 

Convent at the end of the street - a closed order of nuns. 

Tinto de verano (bit like sangria) and the boys.

They both ate really well - chicken, little sausages, fish and even squid - I've never seen them eat so much! Probably helped by Miguel telling them that this is what Aquaman eats to get strong.. 🤣

Luca took my phone - everything altered.. 🙄

He took loads of selfies and I now seem have his face as my screen saver.. 🙄

Balcony view at night. How beautiful is that?.. 😍

Sunday 2 August 

A hot night still in the 20s - but helped by the air con units which at least cool the air a bit. No idea what our was set at - the boys had fiddled with it.. 🙄😁

An early morning walk up to the castle while it was still relatively cool.

Empty streets at nearly 8am. 

Out later with Luca to walk up to the Plaza Mayor. Met up with Luisa and Nico while Miguel went to meet friends. 

Small local group were playing in the Plaza when we stopped for a drink. 

Moving very slowly at 35⁰ with several drinks stops. 

Back down to the playground then a slow wander home. 

Quiet afternoon as everyone was tired. 

Luca helped Mike with his exercises again. 

Out in the evening for a little wander and a couple of drinks. 

Monday 3 August 

Quite overcast when we got up and slightly cooler. Miguel took his mum for an appointment and the rest of us went out to the toy shop as I'd promised the boys a treat. 

Breakfast after the toy shop. 

Everywhere was quite busy as it seemed that everyone was making the most of the relative cool. 

Back to the flat and then Mike and I took Luca up to the Plaza Mayor for lunch. 

Luca asked for his second bottle of mosto tinto (sort of a grape juice).

Cathedral.

Castle area. 

Looking back and down to the Casas Colgadas and Puente San Pablo. 

Walk back down through the side streets.

The church my friend's son belongs to - he helps to carry the huge floats in the Easter processions. 

Luca was befriended by one of the Cuenca tour guides. 

Casas Colgadas.

Brave boy with grandad on the bridge!

Photo taken by grandad on the far side of the bridge. 

Back to the accommodation.

Luca did more chair Tai Chi with Mike - he's really into it!

Meal in tonight. Luca and Nico tried their hands at group selfies - only got themselves in.. 🤣🤣🤣

Deboning the fish. 

Beautiful sun set.

We realised that we could see the balcony of the order of enclosed Carmelite nuns. We only realised this when we saw three nuns walking laps around their rooftop courtyard. 

Once they enter the order they never leave their convent again. The three nuns became five and they sat around the perimeter of their balcony to enjoy the sunshine and slight breeze. 

It seemed a bit intrusive be taking their photos. 

Another lovely day.

Tuesday 4 August 

Early walk to the weekly rastro (flea market).  They were just setting up but already busy.  Queues already forming for meat and vegetables.. 😁

Back to the flat - and two boys and their toys in our room.. 🤣🤣🤣

Out to the frozen yoghurt shop for breakfast. Disaster!. it was closed!

Then no churros to go with the hot chocolate.. so it was cake for breakfast!.. 😋

Playing nicely together.. 🥰

A trip to the park and then back to the bar with the nice chicken wings (good Luca and Nico ratings!.. 👍) for tapas.

.. and finally the FroYos. 

.. and back to the flat in the over 30⁰ heat for a sit down in the air con.  

Out in the evening to walk round to see Amparo and Bernardo. Maria Isabel came round with Piero (dog). Lovely catch up.

Friends for 50 years 🥰

Wednesday 6 August 

Walk to Las Angustias but didn't go down to the river - looped round back up to the castle. 

Watched the early morning street cleaners at work - best views in the world for them!

More pavement works being carried out next to the convent - they seem to be all over atm!

The hermitage of the Virgin of Las Angustias was open so I popped in. So peaceful.

Then I walked back up rather than continuing down. 

Back past the castle and past the car park to look at where the zip wire was situated. 

Only been open a couple of years but actually quite unobtrusive. I'm sure the views looking right towards Cuenca must be lovely - but I don't intend to find out.. 🤣

Back down past my favourite views.. 🥰

Back down past the castle walls. 
 

The Plaza Mayor was already starting to get busy after being nearly empty earlier. 

Back down to the flat to get ready to walk back up for the tourist train.. 🤣

We just missed it so we had a bit of breakfast. In this bar today they had churros but no chocolate - third time lucky tomorrow maybe.. 🤞

Think we'd all forgotten how rickety and bumpy the little train was.. 😁

Nico said that he nearly shot out through the window.. 🤣

So we had to have another sit down and a beer.. 🤣🍺

Back to the flat again. 

Later on Miguel took the boys and Mike down to the river with fishing reels and snacks.

Luisa and I went for a pedicure.. 😁

The poor girl had her work cut out with our hard skinned trotters and dry, manky heels which had been honed by the dusty Cuencan streets!.. 🤣

But she did a great job.. 👍

We went for a drink and tapas afterwards.

Then the supermarket and home for a tapas meal. 

Another lovely sky - still haven't managed to walk up the hill to see it from there. 

Thursday 7 August 

Early walk up to Torre Mangana. 

The street cleaners were having a break.

Sunrise.

Views from the Torre. 

Slow walk back down from behind the cathedral. 

Calle Canalejas - the street where I used to live many moons ago . 🙂

Steps leading to Calle Canalejas.

Mike was happy - chocolate and churros on the third try. 

The fat ones are called porras - batons. 

We met up with Amparo, Bernardo, Maria Isabel and Martha - and Piero at the bar by Amparo and Bernardo's flat as Bernardo can't walk far now. 

We sat outside in the 35⁰ heat whilst they resurfaced the road behind us!

Eleven workmen doing the job. 

Luca showed Martha how to solve the Rubik's cube - Maria Isabel gave up and was given the easier puzzle.. 🤣

A hot walk back to the flat in the 3pm heat so a lazy afternoon. Later.. exercises. 

Out in the evening to meet up with Felisa - ice cream, a quick drink and a chat and then back to the flat - still far too hot. 

Supper - Miguel cooked a couple of local dishes for Mike to try. The cecina is ok I don't mind it but it's not a favourite. 

This one - zarajas - is a definite no from me lol.. and has been for 50 years.. 🤣

Mike liked them both. 

Friday 8 August 

Morning walk with Luca. First stop Plaza Mayor for a drink and a wee.. 😁

Mosto tinto of course.. 🤣

Then a walk through the back streets to the castle. 

There had been some sort of accident at the castle - police, fire engine, traffic control, ambulance there all with lights flashing.

Luca had a look at the zip line.

A few pics at the Cuenca sign.

Then back to the flat where they were all waiting for the chocolate and churros that we hadn't been down the hill to buy.. 🤣😁

So Luisa and Nico went off to buy it while I had a cool down shower.. 🥵

Luca had my phone.. 😁

Martha came on her motorbike. 

Ice cream with the boys in the evening.

Then the bus up to the castle. 

Tapas for the boys.. 🤣

Back to the Cuenca sign.

Nico threw his toy dog in the air - and it landed on the outside of the neighbour's balcony. 

By the time he'd been to fetch a brush from upstairs it fell off.. luckily.. as I don't think we'd have been able to reach it!. 🤣🤣🤣

Saturday 8 August 

Ss