Apr 22: Six nations tour Spain (17 - 22)

Sunday 17 April

Last morning in Cuenca and the last procession.  The Jesus float comes from one direction and Mary in her mourning cloak from another.

They meet on the corner,  Mary's dark cloak is taken off and doves are released. 

Everyone claps and Jesus and Mary do a happy dance then Mary follows Jesus to the plaza mayor. A lovely ceremony in the sunshine!

Martha's pics.

Maria Isabel was in this procession and we could just see her on the other side.

Photos from Martha.

We said our goodbyes to Martha and Piero but didn't see Amparo (unusual as we'd seen her at most of the others!)

Teruel

144 miles (incl short trips in Cuenca)

Then we set off to Teruel. Lovely journey in the sunshine.

Trying to park was very tricky - on Easter Sunday just after their Easter processions! On our third circuit of the old town we found a space and walked to the hostal. 

We had earned our migas and ribs!!

Luisa sent a pic..

Swigging water out of a beer can 🤣

Ahh well at least the boys can have our bed to themselves tonight!

Short walk - fourth cathedral of our trip.. 12th century, Mudejar style with arches, tiles and enamels. Small but very different and very beautiful. 

Marvellous ceiling. Mike went up on the gallery to look at the detail.

Hard to capture the wonderful detail.

The lovers of Teruel.

Beautiful architecture with lots of lovely art nouveau detail.

Monday 18 April

Up and out before 9 to put money in for the car parking. Then breakfast - toast with tomato and more of the famous Teruel jamón. Delicious 😋

Message from Luisa..🤣😁🤣

When we were in the flat he followed grandad around doing this whenever Mike had a shave 💕

Time for a further walk round 

The tiles around the fountain were magnificent - even without the sun on them!

The mausoleum of 'Los Amantes de Teruel'

The story..

This looks like one of their Semana Santa floats.

Another short walk then off again.

A fantastic, scenic drive across several sierra ranges. Lots of ups, downs, hairpin bends - and great views round every corner.

Cantavieja - looking down 

.. and looking back up from the road in the first pic.

We saw lots of odd looking shapes on some of the pine trees - as though something had been cocooned in a web round some of the fir cones - so we stopped to investigate.

Mike pulled one apart but we still had no idea what it was! 

Morella

174 miles

First glimpse.

Room with a view.

Our hotel is the long grey building above the tree centre bottom but we are on the other side looking out to the view.

Luca and Nico on the plane home..💕😍

Morella castle.

Steps and more steps..😁

Our walk - had to put 'map my walk' on to make sure we found our hotel again 😁

Tuesday 19 April

Early morning.

Back to the car park which was almost empty after struggling to find a place yesterday!

Last view of the city as we drove away looking a bit flat and grey in the cloud - we were lucky to have had the sunshine yesterday despite the forecast for rain. 

Dora (the explorer, sat nav) wasn't happy a few miles into the journey. She really didn't like the fact that we were in the old road and whinged at us to turn round for miles - but she eventually stopped sulking 🙄

The road was VERY winding with hairpin bends and lots of up, downs and vertiginous drops - the new motorway is definitely needed.

Tarragona

110 miles

We arrived before our allotted arrival time and went for a walk. A pigeon pooped in my hair and down my back - all down Mike's back too.  Very funny..🤣 - so our first stop was for a shower - and luckily we were in an apartment with a washing machine 😁

The outside of our apartment - we are on the second floor with the little balcony and it is right at the side of the cathedral.

The paintings are by artist Carlos Arola and the small frieze at the top shows the people of Tarragona coming home from a pilgrimage carrying their water in all manner of vessels as shown above it.

The first large painting depicts Saint Magi (patron saint of Tarragona) the hermit who is consulted by the people as a venerable sage.

Second pic is of an angel helping him to escape through the walls of Tarragona after being imprisoned for trying to convert Roman soldiers.

In the third pic - once recaptured he makes water gush forth to quench the thirst of his captors. 

In the last one he is beheaded and drops of his blood turn into flowering rose bushes.

An interesting hour spent googling to find all that out 😁🤣

The weather changed and it was supposed to be raining but after we'd depooped we went for a further wander while it was still sunny.

Think this was painted on the side of an old theatre (it's by the same artist as our house) - and there was a small open air theatre at the side of it.

Evening walk.

Wednesday 20 April

Tarragona

Another grey and cloudy day. The forecast was for rain, thunder and lightening but it didn't materialise.

Cathedral (no. 5) - 12th century gothic baroque style. Quite simple but quite lovely with loads of little cloisters.

We were surprised to get a message from a friend here in Spain asking if we were ok as there had been a lot of snow around. The road to Segovia 50km from Madrid was closed. Three spots of rain was all we'd had!

Snack in the market.

Monument to the castellers.

The rain, thunder and lightening finally arrived!

BIG storm ⛈️

Thursday 21 April

Very murky ride on the motorway to Girona. Hardly any visibility at times. Didn't stop in Barcelona - too wet 💦

Girona

119 miles

Arrived early but were let into our room. Went for a walk into the old town for lunch - still very grey and drizzly but got our bearings for the better weather promised tomorrow!

Friday 22 April

Girona

Back to sunshine today 🔆

First stop chocolate and churros under some lovely paint splattered shading.  Had some sort of doughnuts too today - slight aniseed taste - delicious!

Then a wander along the city walls. Fab views with Pyrenees in the distance - but too high for me so I came down.

Nice cathedral - not as showy as some but beautiful stained glass windows and a very wide nave.

Cathedral steps as seen on GOT.

Bridge built by same people as Eiffel tower.

Beer with a view.

Lovely meal.

Nico in his dragon hood for St George's day at the nursery - doesn't seem too impressed..🤣

Isabel loved the jams I left her and made the mistake of telling her sisters - now they all want some 🤣

Fernando making good use of the quilt.

Post from bro Robin who is at a surprise 60th birthday - only to see a pic of his sister!

Think the DJ is something to do with Weston Park and this was the poster for a charity walk/run which Cathryn took part in - in memory of Carol and two other friends.