A more agreeable walk today as the terrain was more appealing, the distance more manageable and more importantly, there were two intermediate opportunities for refreshment. Needless to say we sampled the coffee in both, and ate like locals at the second eating toast with olive oil and salt.
The route included two restored Roman bridges, connected by a cycle path, complete with wooden railings and a picnic area. Alas it’s heyday was at least 20 years ago, and the grand civic project is only just recognizable as a cycle path. Actually we thought we were following a sheep track until we saw the signs, which have aged better than anything else related to the project.
Medina Sidonia is another pristine town with a history stretching far enough back that Wikipedia claims there are some (historians, presumably) who consider it to be the oldest city in Europe:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medina-Sidonia
From the Castillo (yes, even after 20km, there was energy enough remaining to stagger to the top) the views in all directions are incredible. The town has many Moorish influences, and it’s medieval centre is a maze of hillside alleys. We lucked out getting a deal on booking.com in a 3 star hotel in the centre of town. I’m not sure what the building was previously, but the inner courtyard is stunning!
After enjoying a Spanish lunch of beer and tapas in the main square we still had time to explore before the sunset. We’re slowly adopting to local custom, eating lunch around 3:30 then holding out for a light dinner at 9:00pm. Today it was tapas and more tapas, but the novelty is unlikely to wear off soon. Some smaller towns don’t have bars with hours that match our walking schedule, but the Spanish tortillas sold in supermarkets are awesome, so we usually have one or two in reserve. Some days we are too pooped to be bothered with eating out – especially if it means staying up until 9:00p😀
2saunter 