It’s sad to say, but all good things must come to an end. So why not finish off our Spainish experience in style, visiting Garena. It was our first ever Michelin Star restaurant and it was extra special because we were celebrating my birthday 😁🎂. I’m happy to add on the extra calories when the food tastes this good and the local wine is bottled from their adjacent vineyard 🤣.

This place as the reviews suggests, comes highly recommended for the service, environment and the gastronomic adventure which your taste buds are sure to experience. The joy of eating here easily gets a big 5 star rating from us. During the market menu we devoured 6 courses, which provided us with a sample of all the local flavours on offer. We were told each morsel of goodness had been prepared reflecting the past 500 years of traditional Basque country cooking, but had been enhanced by adding a modern twist to locally sourced ingredients. It was hard to pick a favourite, but the slow cooked egg accompanied with mushed peas incorporating a strong flavour of slowly roasted pork topped with edible flowers and freshly grown garden herbs was delicious. A somewhat unusual combination, but it worked.

Now getting here was a little off the beaten track and you had to watch carefully for the Garena sign, but using Google maps we realised the restaurant was located in the heart of Bizkaia, which is part of the Basque Country. The restaurant itself occupies a delightful “baserri” (traditional country house) in an isolated location surrounded by Txakoli vineyards. And the young chef Julen Baz should be complimented for such an impressive restaurant that he has created on all aspects of high quality dining.

And if there’s room for one last building to visit, we just had to visit the Guggenheim. The architectural masterpiece by Frank Gehry which is located in Bilbao. Now it’s often said that the structure overwhelms function here and that’s probably right because the inside is nowhere near as interesting as the outside. However, it’s the temporary exhibitions that really draw the crowds in and luckily for us we were treated to the most outstanding car collection from the 20th and 21st centuries.

With over 40 rare, beautiful and technically progressive cars on display, we spent over 4hrs inspecting them all and reading about their stories.

There’s also some modern metallic tulips, mazes of metal that can make you giddy, a rather over sized pooch that’s adorned with plants and Maman, the 9m tall spider sculpture that makes you squirmish if you have a touch of arachnophobia.

And for our final treat before preparing the van for our ferry voyage to Ireland, we make a coffee stop at Cafe Iruna. It’s a cosy bustling Cafe that’s decked out in interesting murals and tiles. The coffee was good and tapas delicious. I must thank my friend Leone for this find as being a great way to remember Spain and its vibrant culture.

Adios Espanol, until next time!

When you mention the country Spain, many amazing experiences spring to mind. One though, that is at the top of the list for so many locals and visitors is the famous running with the Bulls in Pamplona. Now Mic was definitely up for the challenge, however, thankfully for me we were 8 weeks early, otherwise I am certain he would have dragged me along for the adrenalin rush.

Having to settle for a leisurely stroll around town though was more my scene. Therefore, we decided to walk the famous route to get a sense of the excitement and anticipate the respective hidey holes the runners could dive into to avoid the rampaging bulls. Apparently, the race is 825m long and lasts for approx 3 minutes. They release the bulls from the Coralillos Santo Domingo at 8am daily from the 6th through to the 14th July. And as you can imagine there are casualties on both sides.

And speaking of hidey holes, I happened to discover one such perfect spot. The queue for pasteles at Beatriz. It’s a local favourite and consists of layer upon layer of buttery flakey pastry with a centre full of either white or dark chocolate. And after taking home a box to try we loved the white chocolate centred ones the best, very scrumptious indeed! Definitely worth the wait.

So after all the excitement of Pamplona, it’s time to unwind again, this time at one of Spain’s most popular beach’s … San Sebastion. This place is such a hot spot for tourists from all around the world, being so close to the French border and having perfect beach breaks. That’s if you can find a spot to layout your towel.

San Sebastian has the air of a stylish resort with the shell shaped Bahia de la Concha, turquoise blue waters and green hills on either side which frames the spot perfectly.

It’s a stunning setting and definitely worth a dip or you could do as we did and ride the length of the beach promenade making frequent stops to people watch.

Everything you may have read about Spain being such an intoxicating place is true. There are a wealth of experiences here that are so enticing that they seem to seep into your soul and make you want to stay a little longer.

And the nature stop at Delika, happens to be one of those places. The Nervion is Spain’s largest single drop waterfall measuring 222m and getting there you must weave your way through farm land and along rocky creek beds until you arrive at the magnificent cliff face itself. The water that’s shed from this location feeds the green valleys of the Basque Country, eventually finding its way to the Bay of Biscay. A great stop before exploring Vitoria Gasteiz.

Now anyone who knows me realises that I love a great coffee, but I also enjoy the benefits of a great red. It’s one of your 5 a day right. So, when my trusty driver decided we should visit Vitoria Gasteiz, the capital of Rioja and the surrounding areas which are famous for producing high quality Spainish red wines, I was in a state of utopia. Being introduced to the Spainish wine culture was high on my list of tasting experiences, especially if that red wine could also be used to make the perfect Sangria or two.

It goes without saying that Bodegas Valdelana is one of Spain’s best wineries and offers one of the most interesting wine tours available. The history here is truly remarkable and to think the family has been making wine since 1583 is astounding. Each wine we tasted we could appreciate the passion that had gone into making it, whether it was the family involvement, refining special techniques over time, them paying gratitude to the land, sun and river or acknowledgement of Spainish art and culture that has influenced the aging of each grape as it has matured in its oak. It sounds intense…well that’s because it was.

Needless to say we shouted ourselves to half a dozen bottles, staggering back to our van for a well deserved Spainish siesta.

Although I may not have the perfect skin for enjoying a day at the beach, I do enjoy spending time walking the sandy shoals, letting the waves hit my feet and doing a bit of rock hopping. And given the length of coastline Spain has on offer, there’s ample opportunity to go beach side. It just requires a bit of planning to narrow down the choices.

So, with an extensive list in hand our first stop just happens to be Playa As Catedrias. This beach is sought after for its impressive cliffs and incredible weathering of the stone that has left behind some remarkable formations. Many people come here for photo opportunities and to walk among the cliffs during low tide. It’s important though to time your visit here, because when it’s high tide, there is very little sand and the beach access is restricted.

Our next pit stop was the pretty town of Ribadeo, which also happened to be on our way to the beach side town of Cudillero.

Speaking of pretty towns, Cudelliro has to be near the top of Asturias list. It’s a colourful spot that the locals tend to keep to themselves and we’re led to believe that’s just the way they like it. So, if you want to wake up to the puttering of small fishing boats or grab a coffee from the harbourside cafes without having to fend off hoardes of tourists, then this is the place to be.

Oviedo is the capital of Asturias, another hidden gem which is famous for producing amazing produce. On the day we visited, the town was humming as they were celebrating 60 years of farming. Being able to produce good food and drink with the help of science and technology is really important to this community. It provides much needed money for the economy and employment.

In fact, we inadvertently gate crashed the 60th birthday bash but with plenty of samplers on offer we were certainly pleased we did, as we got to sample great cider, cheese, a selection of roasted meats and bread. Topped off with some churros for dessert. And boy do they take the pouring of that cider seriously!! To enjoy this drink they must break the apple and to do this they pour it from a height hitting the edge of the glass to create the froth. Little bit messy and sticky but it’s the tradition.

Gijon is our next town come beach side city and like all the rest it’s got a great vibe. The boulevard here wraps around the shore line and is a hype of activity with people walking, running and cycling. And if you ever wondered what happened to all the old Apple cider bottles, well they make statues out of them. It’s a bit of an optical illusion but I guess if you’ve drunk that many of them your head just might be spinning.

So with beaches ⛱️ as our theme for this week’s travels, we drive on in search of two of Spain’s best regarded surf beaches, in Playa de Rodiles and Playa de Torimbia where clothing is optional for the latter ☺️.

Both secluded beaches didn’t dissapoint either, mind you that can’t be said for my driver after he ignored several no motorhome signs on route. And when Mic admits he’s in trouble, you know somethings off. In this case, we narrowly missed a locals home, having to reverse out the entire length and overheating the engine in the process. This is all going on whilst I’m being told off by the home owner and trying to apologise for Mic’s oversight. Well … let’s just say it’s funny now 🤣.

So after that nerve raking moment, I decided we needed to calm the nerves and move on to our final stop in Santander. Here, I’m left to ponder our adventurous week and reflect on one of my favourite poems that makes me realise that although the sand may brush off, with the salt washing away and my tan likely to fade it’s my memories that will last forever … Especially that unforgettable tight squeeze Mic had us in, I certainly won’t be forgetting that in a hurry 😂😂

There’s a real vibe in Santiago that shouldn’t be missed once you’ve completed your Camino and celebrating this achievement with newly found friends Peter and Claudia has to be the way to go. 🥰 Especially, when one of those friends just happens to know a great place to have a cocktail or two. 🍸🍹 So, stopping by Conga 7 to enjoy the hospitality provided by Gonzola Arias, who is also the owner of this amazing bar was a must before we’re back on the road in search of the most western part of Spain, a place called Finisterre.

In fact Finisterre is often referred to as the end of the world. A mysterious place where people believed the world was flat not round. There’s a Camino marker here denoting an initial point for a Camino trek and a special plaque with a quote from Stephen Hawking’s saying that he enjoyed his trip to the end of the world, that it was such a beautiful place.

And we’d have to agree this place is very special, watching the sunset over the glassy sea almost transfixed us into stone like positions as we were mesmerised by the stillness. The fog also playing tricks giving the illusion of the unknown rather than a defined horizon.

Nevertheless, moving on from the tranquillity is almost guaranteed when there are other places to go and people to see. Our next stop takes us to the beach side town of A Corona. It’s a port city in the Northwest of Spain and is known for it’s Roman Lighthouse and large stone sculpture of Hercules. Legend has it that Hercules came to this town in search of a great giant which he slaughtered and buried under the lighthouse. It’s an intriguing story but there’s little to no evidence that this occurred. However, given the legendary status of the hero and the claim to fame it has brought to the city, no one wants to discover the truth and so the story prevails. And I’m definitely not the writer to burst anyone’s bubble.

Finally, on this leg of the trip, my trusty photographer has decided to capture me in a precarious position dodging thorn bushes while supposedly taking a gentle hike in one of the many natural parks Spain has on offer. Another Kodak moment captured on camera and no he didn’t come to my aid, but was in fits of laughter taking the picture!!!

I can already hear the Camino purest’s saying you can’t drive the Camino. That you need to walk the 780km French Way, carry a large backpack and sleep in all the albergue’s along the way to get the full Camino experience. Well no, not these two little black ducks. The truth is, everyone’s pilgrimage to Santiago is personal, to meet their own needs and ours was no different!

In fact the Camino can be undertaken by way of walking, bike, horse or even sailboat 🤔. For us though, we had to meet the minimum 100km on foot, commencing in Sarria (so don’t stress, we just slept in our van because driving was not an option 🤬). For most, this walk from Sarria is the most common itinerary, which can then be carried out over numerous days, as long as at least two stamps are recorded for each day. Of all the people we met, our Polish friend had walked the most. Starting out 11 months ago in Poland and by our estimate had walked 4000km when we caught up for a chat. And with roughly 300,000 other fellow pilgrams per year, we met many others for a chat along the way from Ireland, UK, USA, Canada, Germany, Spain, Italy, South Africa, Columbia, Argentina and even Peter, an Aussie from around the corner in Hervey Bay 🤣.

The Camino de Santiago is a pilgrimage route that has existed for over 1000 years, commencing around the 11th century. Peregrinos of Christian faith have used this trial to repent their sins and in doing so reconnect with God. All trails end in the city of Santiago at the Cathedral which houses the crypt of the Apostle Saint James.

So now to our pilgrimage, before setting out a little pre-walk planning was necessary on our part. That is, we picked up the necessary Credencial Del Peregrino from the Santa Maria De Carbajal Benedictine nuns in Leon. We made a quick stop over at the beautiful Samos Chapel and then consulted with our Park4Night travel app along with the Monbus schedule to work out an achievable schedule, to allow us to sleep in our own comfy bed at night.

For us, we chose staying in our motorhome over the albergue option. I had heard mixed reports of smelly, noisy shared rooms, bed bugs and variable quality of private quarters. Plus alternatively, we would then have had to park up the motorhome for a week whilst we completed the walk. So, I decided it best to sleep next to my own noisy, stinky person … Mic 🤣. The advantages for us were that it allowed us to shower, sleep, eat and store our luggage in our own home on wheels with no inconvenience. At the end of our walk each day, we would simply catch the Monbus back to our motorhome and then drive on to where we would finish our walk for the day. That said, we always had our pilgrim dinner and evening drinks with fellow travellers to enjoy their stories, travels and of course, compare each others aches and pains 🤕.

So it begins … Sarria to Portomarin on Day 1 was an easy walk of 23km, nice rural landscapes and the ringing of the Liberty Bell was a highlight, as we enter Portomarin at the end of the day.

Day 2 to Palas de Rei started off with a moderate climb amongst the early morning fog. All in all, another easy walk of 25km, with a rewarding meal of octopus and peppers 🌶 to complete the walk.

Now day 3 to Melide is where our pace started to wain. Notice I had removed my backpack and Mic, the on duty first aid officer applied the RICE treatment to my right knee. With a bit of a rub and some Voltaren cream, I hobbled on. Some 17km later, I managed to make our night stop of Melide.

Day 4 to Arzul was a late start. Our day 1 enthusiasm had disappeared and then the old boy’s achilles started to pack it in. This was remedied with a stop in the freezing waters at Ribadiso and a comfort stick he found to push up any steep inclines. Regardless, we both limped 16km onwards to Arzua! The real highlight, “NOT” was that it was fertiliser season and the spraying of rank sewerage was hard to bare! Any puffing and panting from the walk was replaced by dry reaching 🤢.

By Day 5 we had now learnt to push through our pain barriers, so we decided to increase our distance to 23km to finish at a motorhome park just near O Pedorouzo. We ended up staying here 2 nights because the Monbus transport was conveniently located nearby. This day was especially made memorable by the nun outside Arzua who was a real live wire.

Our final day, Day 6 reclaimed the excitement of Day 1 as we imagined the reward of walking into the Compestella de Santiago. Wait, or was that the gorgeous cheescake and coffee stop for morning tea. Either way, the smile continued to broaden as each placard served as a countdown to our final destination.

Some 26km later, all aches and pains had subsided as we descended the steps to the Compostela de Santiago.

Here, we joined other pilgrams to savour the moment and reminisce on our 113km walk through the Spanish country side.

As a keepsake and after we gathered our breathe, we handed in our Camino credentials to be rewarded with our completion and distance certificates. Yah … we made it.

Finally, the journey was made complete as we attended the 12pm midday pilgram mass in the Cathedral of Santiago. The highlight of the service was to witness the oscillating movement of the Botafumeiro moving up and down the aisle of the Cathedral. It’s operated by a pulley system and 8 men called tiraboleiros. It was previously used during the 11th Century for hygiene reasons to abate the smell of sweat ridden pilgrims. As the incense burnt, the fumes would permeate the Cathedral and leave it smelling ‘divine’. Today though, the traditions are still being upheld even though the pilgrims should be less offensive than in the past to represent the prayers of the pilgrims rising to reach the heart of God. It was in all a very rewarding experience and one that I’d thoroughly recommend doing as it’s a great reset.

“Buen Camino” 🏃‍♀️🏃

Visiting the beautiful city of Segovia is like revisiting a fairy tale, especially when you step inside the grounds of this castle. Apparently, Walt Disney used the inspiration from this idealic setting to create the all time favourite Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, in particular, the Wicked Queen’s Castle. The Segovia castle is now picture perfect after being ravaged by fire and restored fully. The views from this location are stunning as you cannot only look back towards the city, but also take in the vistas of the undulating snowcapped countryside.

The other important landmark of this ancient city is the two tiered aqueduct built by the Romans back in the 1st century. El Puente or the bridge in English. Approximately 24,000 blocks of granite  have been used to transport water from the River Frio, some 16km to the cities outer boundaries. Unbelievably, the structure was used up until the 20th century. Kudos to the magnificent engineers of that period for its aesthetic appeal and above all, for transporting the all sustaining liquid of life to Sergovian fountains.

We often marvel at the age of these towns and the effort that must have gone into building the walled fortress’s. But a question I’m often left wondering is just how often did these walls serve their purpose of protecting the village and its people? Although I’ve been unable to find a direct answer to my question, some other interesting facts about these walls history have come to light during our next stop in Avila. That being, it’s giant walled fortress was built as a joint venture back in the 11th Century by Christians, Jews and Moors with each religion taking an active part in maintaining it through the centuries.

Avila’s walls are one of the few fortresses in Europe that remains meticulously intact and given that it is 2.5km long, has 82 towers and 9 gates, this is an outstanding achievement. So, I guess inadvertently its been numerous times that the strength of its people have been tested and that to keep them safe, the wall has needed to remain in tact as a united front, rightfully earning them the title “city of saints and stones”.

Stumbling across this festival, or just being in the right place at the right time meant we could witness Avila’s Saint Segundo Parade. This unique street festival incorporated larger than life figures that would dip and bow to unsuspecting visitors, there was street music, folk dancing, school bands and the all important Saint Segundo monument being carried by the loyal practioners. The festival itself pays homage to this Saint who was a martyr, missionary and above all else evangelised the city in the 1st Century. It’s definitely a testimony to the strength of this community to uphold traditions for such an extended period of time, let’s hope they never hold a grudge.

Finally and without going into any real detail, the final three cities we visited on this segment of our journey were Salamanca, Valladolid and Leon. All three had their historical highlights, however, what we really enjoyed about these large cities was the feeling of authenticity. Gone were the tourist hoards, replaced with city green spaces and locals carrying out their daily lives.

All three cities equally felt like liveable cities that we thoroughly enjoyed visiting. They are full of life and bubbling with energy. Or was that just me when I was reunited with Leo the Lion and let out an almighty roar!! 😂😂

It’s hard to ignore an imposing 150m high cross in the Spainish skyline as we head towards El Escorial, which happens to be north west of Madrid and then not wonder at the significance of such a monument.  When we realised it was the final resting place of Francisco Franco or “Franco” for short, we were more intrigued and decided we had to pay the site a visit. After all, this man had successfully divided a nation. And by division there was no mincing of words, there were those that loved him and others who wished him dead.

Why you may ask? Well, Spain from 1939 through to 1975 was under the dictatorship of Francoist rule and consequently there was a significant amount of unrest during this time which led to the break out of a Spainish Civil War. This form of repression crushed other political parties and to maintain control forced labour was used to build concentration camps and perform executions. The reign of White Terror which combined wartime crimes as well as civilian deaths meant that the death toll during this period was somewhere between 100,000 to 200,000 people.

It’s difficult to fathom that the Spain we have all grown to love today was once far removed from the democratic nation they are currently. And that the Valley of the Fallen was given the go ahead by Franco to erect a monument in recognition of national atonement and reconciliation of past attrocities. Although it would seem that the intentions were exemplary, the building was soulless in my opinion. On the other hand, Mic thought the underground Basilica which was cut into the mountain, at a size larger than St Peter’s, was impressive. Who’d guess, true to form then, the division Franco created lives on.

Thankfully my mood was reawakened when I visited the magnificent Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. This site is rich in both historical and cultural context. There are many facets to the functionality of this place in that it’s a monastery, basilica, royal palace, pantheon, library, museum, university, school and hospital.

And by this stage in our trip, we thought we had seen it all in terms of royal palaces and basilicas! That said, this visit was a real standout, especially the library and royal crypts which continues to bury current Spanish Monarch’s. Check out those stunning manicured gardens also 😍.

Mierda y Vete you may ask? Well, after a day out exploring, it is common for Mic & I to return to the van and listen to one of the many Spanish travel blogs over dinner. On this occasion, when learning about our current destination, we both had a good laugh when we discovered that this local term referred to some towns as “shit & go” stops 🤣, however, I’d have to disagree!

So where is this highly regarded travel destination … the province of Castile La Mancha.

Stopping in Cuenca initially and crossing the bridge of San Pablo at a height of 60 metres is definitely not for the faint hearted. This incredible structure crosses the river Húecar. It provides you with a unique viewing point to take in the casas colgadas or hanging houses that are perched on top of a cliff face and precariously overhanging the deep ravine below. It’s a true marvel of medieval engineering and ingenuity. Working at heights permits definitely required here when maintaining these valuable properties!

Having been brave enough to cross the bridge and promising to look only straight ahead we find ourselves making our way to the Main Square. It’s a lively place with many of the colourful facades adorning the bustling restaurants. There’s also a charming Cathedral which some say resembles the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, but this precious relic is named after Santa Maria la Mayor. Although the Cathedral is typically a Gothic style building the renovations show a strong influence from the French.

Following the path along the escarpment just like mountain goats, we reach the pinnacle. It’s the best naturally made viewing platform of Cuenca from Cerro del Socorro. A picturesque backdrop and easy to see why this unforgettable place has made the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Continuing on through the Castile La Mancha province we arrive at Molinos Campos de Criptana. An area adorned with white washed windmills used previously to crush wheat to make flour.

These beautiful structures were nick named giants in the famous Don Quixote story. A fanciful 17th Century novel written by Miguel de Cervantes. There is a famous idiom in the story which refers to “tilting at windmills” which means “attacking imaginary enemies” and for Don who was obviously hallucinating at the time, believed he needed to fight these structures as he thought they were giants. I personally can’t see the resemblance to any foreboding monster and wonder if Don may have been munching on too many of those magic cookies!! It’s certainly far fetched, however, not being able to differentiate between reality and fiction was considered funny at the time.

Once again, Don is featured in the small town of Alcazar De San Juan riding his trusted horse accompanied by his servant Sancho Panza on the donkey. Their antics are today’s version of slap stick comedy. And no matter where you venture within Spain you’ll see this icon everywhere with many retailers trying to cash in on the classic story from bars to gift shops.

Our final stop on this leg of the journey is Toledo, previously the Spanish Capital until the 16th Century. If your thing is walled cities, imposing city gates, large cathedrals or even Mazapan, then Toledo is your town. And granted, whilst this city is postcard perfect, tourist sensorary overload overcame our visit, so maybe just a quick mierda y vete is the go here 😉.

Madrid, being the capital of Spain is on most traveller’s bucket list of places to visit. So, when an opportunity presented itself to take on a house sit in central Madrid, we just had to jump at it. For us, house sitting is such a joy, because it allows us to slow down and live like the locals in many different locations. And wow 👌, we had such a great time looking after Julien’s and Ivo’s inner city pad, plus of course having the company of their pet cats, Frijol and Leon.

So with the plants watered and the boys fed, we lace up our shoes to get amongst Madrid.

Madrid is renowned for some of the best Art Galleries in the world, in particular the Prado and Reina Sofia. So with my enthusiastic art critic Mic in toe, we make a bee line to the Prado Museum initially. It’s just impossible to explain the sheer number of classic works housed within the Prado Museum. A few of my favourites being Raphael, Bosch, Goya and Velázquez. My neck was sore from twisting and turning and it’s true what they say, you must make a plan of what to see before you visit or you’re sure to miss a masterpiece or two.

Then of course, if classic art is not your thing, literally 300m down the road there’s the Reina Sofia housing modern works from Picasso, Dali, Joan Miró and more.

Now with Mic all “arts and crafted” out, we decide a visit to a bull fight at the Plaza De Toros Stadium had to be on the agenda. As it occurred, the bull fighting season commences after the Easter weekend and we arrive with mixed feelings about what was to lie ahead, given this is such a cultural event here in Madrid particularly.

I have heard that when you witness a great bullfight, it is akin to watching a great ballet and in some respects the way the matadors manoeuvre the bulls I can appreciate this aspect. For me though, what I did not expect was the one-sided nature of this cultural event, in that there were 7 men up against the one bull. Unlikely and stacked odds in my personal view.

However, an event and an experience it certainly was. The colours, excitement of the contest and the crowd made it an experience I shall never forget.

Phew 😪! After that, I needed a change of pace and something to settle the stomach. I had heard about the cloistered nuns of Madrid … well their biscuits, that is 😁. In the backstreet of a not so obvious Monasterio del Corpus Christi las Carboneras, near Plaza del Conde de Miranda, which intersects with Calle del Codo. Lost, don’t worry Google helped me out … or was that just my nose.

Unfortunately, after all that effort the nuns were taking a well deserved Easter break and as such weren’t selling any biscuits for another 11 days. Oh well, not to worry divine intervention has played a part here today. Bless those dear nuns for thinking of my waistline, so thoughtful.

However, it turned out that was just a minor set back as we discover Madrid is home to the World’s Oldest Restaurant. Restaurante Sobrino de Botin had its first beginnings back in 1725. The secret to their staying power and ultimate success is Cochinillo (suckling pig) and Cordero Asado (roast lamb) cooked in wood-fired ovens served with roasted potatoes. It’s been a little while now since I’ve had a roast with no oven in the motorhome, so to be served an Australian favourite, that being a roasted leg of lamb away from our home shores was a real treat and may just have made me feel a little home sick. But how yummy it was!

To finish off this Madrid blog and before you think I’ve gone mad, no strawberries don’t grow on trees, this ubiquitous symbol of Madrid isn’t referring to the garden variety of strawberries but a tree that produced Madronos or fruit of the strawberry tree. The fruit has a high alcoholic content and possibly just the reason this tree was favoured by the Madrilĕnos. As for the bear they commonly inhabited the area during Roman rule and as such Madrid was referred to as Ursa meaning bear. The two icons, although symbols of the past today reflect the resilience and strength of the Madrilĕnos ( inhabitants of Madrid).

There’s just so much to see and do in Madrid! During our two week house sit we did so much more, so I think I will sit this one out and just let Mic’s photos tell the remaining story of this fabulous city.