Team Muz on tour in Iberia
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Team Muz on tour in Iberia
Having headed north of the border for the last few years, this year there was a resounding “Dad, can we go somewhere hot this year. And with no midges?” After some deliberation I said I would see what I could do. So after a year of planning, we headed south for a change.
This was a big test for an old Bongo – Spain in August with searing heat (40 degrees in places) and some big climbs up into the Pyrénées and the Picos de Europa. I wasn’t planning on a comprehensive tour, we’ve been to Spain & Portugal many times and have done Madrid, Lisbon, Valencia, Seville, Córdoba, Gibraltar, the Spanish Costas and the Algarve and the like. But there’s a lot more in Spain that we hadn’t seen, plus a few interesting places in France on the way down, so this seemed an ideal opportunity to hit them all in one tour. There were also some interesting places in England to check out on the way to Portsmouth.
Summary
Three weeks
7,460km (4,635 miles)
Accommodation / campsite cost - nil
Thanks to:
Ady (Northern Bongolow) for vital pre-trip maintenance
Alison01326 for suggesting northern Spain in the first place
Boyfrombrasil (and Susie too) for putting a smile on our faces in Cantabria as they stumbled across our parked Bongo
Briwy for the use of their pad in the Pyrénées
Dodgey for advice on solar panels & leisure batteries
George (BongoSpares.co.uk) for secondhand parts – just in case
Imperial Leisure Vehicles for the original vehicle
Muz Jr for spending a couple of days copying & pasting links for this report
UmBongoCat & UmBongoChris for showing us the ropes in the Aires de Services in France last year
Warrington Mazda for every new Genuine Mazda part you could wish for
Our rough plan of attack
This turned out to be the biggest tour we’ve ever done (in distance and time) in any vehicle. There was a bit of a gastronomic angle too, seeing as there was a good chance of stumbling across some good wine, cheese & cured meat. And Bongy was akin to Quijote’s horse, Rocinante – awkward, past his prime, and engaged in a task well beyond his capabilities.
The 15th century Kirby Muxloe castle in Leicestershire that was never completed
Common moorhen at Kirby Muxloe castle
The castle was for William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings but work stopped when he was executed by Richard III
A very territorial heron according to the English Heritage staff at Kirby Muxloe
The moat is impressively wide as it was built as a real fortress, rather than how Disney depict moated castles
2 New High Street, Headington, Oxfordshire. You know it makes sense
SR.N4 hovercraft – How I wish I had a go in one of these when they were operational….
….Dover to France in 22 minutes – Years ahead of EuroTunnel
They still run the much smaller AP1-88 hovercraft over to the Isle of Wight (excuse the blurry pic, this was over a mile away ) My hovercraft is full of eels….
HMS Victory, you can’t pass through Portsmouth….
….and not take a look at Nelson’s flagship,….
….the world's oldest naval ship still in commission
I was surprised how big it is, especially how many decks there are and how much was below the waterline
I was also surprised how many times I smacked my head on the beams & doorways
Here Nelson fell. I must admit I nearly tripped over this myself
Victory
HMS Warrior from 1860. It looks pretty unspectacular….
….but this was the first armour-plated iron-hulled ship and it changed naval design forever
Southsea Castle, one of Henry VIII's Device Forts. It was built in 1544 at the southern end of Portsea Island to guard the eastern entrance to the Solent and the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour
The Round Tower, one of Portsmouth's oldest permanent fortifications, built in 1418 to defend the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour
Portchester castle from across Portsmouth harbour. The building with the orange roof in the centre is the Norman St. Mary’s Church within the castle grounds
Portchester castle – St. Mary’s Church to the left and the castle keep to the right
Last chance for some proper English food before we go - Cockhills fish & chips, Portsmouth
Brittany Ferries Bretagne for an overnight cruise to Saint-Malo
From 1989 it’s a bit dated now but at the time it was Brittany Ferries’ first super-ferry
Portsmouth docks
Bretagne
Bretagne
Bretagne
HMS Illustrious back home, awaiting being scrapped
Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth
Spitbank fort, one of several late 19th century Palmerston sea forts built to protect the Solent and the entrance to Portsmouth harbour. The 2002 TV series Banged up with Beadle was filmed here
Horse Sand fort, one of the two main sea forts, together with….
….No Man’s Land fort which has been a hospitality centre with indoor pool and two helipads. Some of the 1972 Sea Devils series of Doctor Who was filmed here. All large marine traffic has to pass between these two forts as the WW2 submarine defences still remain to either side
What better way to start the holiday than with pink champagne & strawberries
Cheers!
With only one Euro-socket in each cabin, it’s a good job I brought the Bongo’s cable collection on board
Awww
Fort de la Conchée on the island of Quincé, Saint-Malo
Fort National, Saint-Malo, built in the late 17th century to protect the port
Saint-Malo and the Cathédrale Saint-Vincent-de-Saragosse, Brittany
The historic walled city of Saint-Malo was almost totally destroyed by allied shelling in WW2 and took until 1960 to rebuild
Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy, with the Benedictine Abbey at the top. I was keen to visit this to compare with Saint Michael’s Mount in Cornwall, opposite across the Channel – pictures from that tour towards the end of THIS lot in case you missed them
Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy
First of many
Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy
Mont Saint-Michel – the apse of the Gothic choir in the Church-Abbey
Mont Saint-Michel cloister
The northern transept of the Church viewed from the cloister
The vitrail window in the northern transept, and it’s not as plain as it at first appears
From Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy. The tidal island aspect made it easy to defend, it remained unconquered during the Hundred Years’ War
Château d'Angers, Loire valley, founded in the 9th century by the Counts of Anjou....
....it is the home of the Apocalypse Tapestry
First night, wild-camp by the side of the Loire, Maine-et-Loire
I think that’s the last of the Morrison’s sausage rolls we brought with us Foreign food from now on
Um Bongo. They drink it in the Congo
Not too bad a setting for the night
Sunset over the Loire - That's the Varennes-Montsoreau bridge in the distance....
....that was destroyed by the French Resistance in WW2 to slow the Germans down
Château de Montsoreau, Maine-et-Loire, setting for the Alexandre Dumas novel La Dame de Monsoreau
Netto You know it makes sense, although this is nothing to do with the Netto we used to have in the UK
Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire, Loir-et-Cher, founded in the 10th century by Odo I Count of Blois, and acquired by former Queen of France Catherine de' Medici in 1560
The Cosimo Ruggieri room, named after Catherine de’ Medici’s astrologer
The Great Salon, Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire
Only the French would do this. A kissing-chair (tête-à-tête) for three people
The Chapel, Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire
The courtyard, Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire
River Loire, longest in France
Château de Chambord, Loir-et-Cher, largest of the châteaux in the Loire Valley, it was built to serve as a hunting lodge for King Francis I
Aumont-Aubrac wild-camp, Lozère
Aumont-Aubrac
Ham, cheese & Wotsit butties
Millau, Midi-Pyrénées
Millau viaduct, the tallest bridge in the world over the river Tarn
Millau viaduct
Millau viaduct
Millau viaduct. It’s tall
Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, Midi-Pyrénées. I do like a bit of cheese, Gromit
Roquefort-sur-Soulzon and its Parish Church
Société cheese caves, Roquefort. There are currently seven producers of Roquefort, Société are the largest....
....but more importantly the only one to offer English-language guided tours, so if you want to know the ins & outs of the saprotrophic mould Penicillium roqueforti, your choice is made
Roquefort. It would be rude not to sample the three best-sellers they do Oh, and by the way, they're not Kraft cheese-triangle-sized pieces, that's an 11" diameter chopping board, standard fitment in most Bongo conversions
....and take a huge (1.5kg) dollop of the strongest they do, the Cave des Templiers (as a reference, those are regular 2.5" diameter crackers )
Cheese please Louise? – One pallet or two?
Roquefort-sur-Soulzon
Looking north-west along the Le Soulzon valley
The red wine drinker's Holy Grail, Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Now anyone who knows what’s what about French red knows you’re going to get a nice tipple here (just look on the top shelf of your supermarket wine aisle )
This is what it’s all about
Château Cabrières, Châteauneuf-du-Pape. What an ideal place to stop for the night....
....especially as they offer tastings too
....properly expensive tastings too, 29-year old plonk
That’s me set for the night
Cheers. Hic
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
The 14th century Château des Papes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The name literally means the Pope’s new castle, built for Pope Jean XXII
Château des Fines Roches, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Avignon and their TGV (by the way, their TGV was tested in 2007 at 350mph and regularly operates at 250mph - our HS2 due for roll-out in 2029–2033 will be capable of - wait for it - 250mph )....
....to Marseille. Not that I don’t fancy driving in Marseille, but there’s nowhere to park Bongy
Onto the Chevalier Paul, named after the 17th century admiral Jean-Paul de Saumeur....
....to the Frioul islands and the Château d’If
Fort Saint-Nicolas protecting the entrance to the old port of Marseille from the south
Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica
Fort Saint-Jean protecting the entrance to the old port of Marseille from the north
Fort Saint-Jean
Château d'If in the Bay of Marseille, a real fortress....
....made famous in Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo
Château d'If & Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica
Cathédrale La Major, Marseille. You can just see the remains of the old Cathedral too, to the right
Marseille old harbour, used as a natural harbour since antiquity. The white-washed St. Augustin Church is where the headquarters of the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon (the Knights Templar to you & me) originally stood
Never an opportunity lost - The Count of Monte Cristo
Never too hot....
Église des Réformés, Marseille, more properly the Église Saint-Vincent-de-Paul. It was built on a demolished convent and chapel of Reformed Augustinians
Marseille Saint-Charles railway station
Meanwhile, back at Avignon....
The remains of the original 12th century Pont d’Avignon across the Rhône. I can feel a song coming on…
The Papal Palace at Avignon, one of the largest and most important medieval Gothic buildings in Europe
Avignon Papal Palace
This was a big test for an old Bongo – Spain in August with searing heat (40 degrees in places) and some big climbs up into the Pyrénées and the Picos de Europa. I wasn’t planning on a comprehensive tour, we’ve been to Spain & Portugal many times and have done Madrid, Lisbon, Valencia, Seville, Córdoba, Gibraltar, the Spanish Costas and the Algarve and the like. But there’s a lot more in Spain that we hadn’t seen, plus a few interesting places in France on the way down, so this seemed an ideal opportunity to hit them all in one tour. There were also some interesting places in England to check out on the way to Portsmouth.
Summary
Three weeks
7,460km (4,635 miles)
Accommodation / campsite cost - nil
Thanks to:
Ady (Northern Bongolow) for vital pre-trip maintenance
Alison01326 for suggesting northern Spain in the first place
Boyfrombrasil (and Susie too) for putting a smile on our faces in Cantabria as they stumbled across our parked Bongo
Briwy for the use of their pad in the Pyrénées
Dodgey for advice on solar panels & leisure batteries
George (BongoSpares.co.uk) for secondhand parts – just in case
Imperial Leisure Vehicles for the original vehicle
Muz Jr for spending a couple of days copying & pasting links for this report
UmBongoCat & UmBongoChris for showing us the ropes in the Aires de Services in France last year
Warrington Mazda for every new Genuine Mazda part you could wish for
Our rough plan of attack
This turned out to be the biggest tour we’ve ever done (in distance and time) in any vehicle. There was a bit of a gastronomic angle too, seeing as there was a good chance of stumbling across some good wine, cheese & cured meat. And Bongy was akin to Quijote’s horse, Rocinante – awkward, past his prime, and engaged in a task well beyond his capabilities.
The 15th century Kirby Muxloe castle in Leicestershire that was never completed
Common moorhen at Kirby Muxloe castle
The castle was for William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings but work stopped when he was executed by Richard III
A very territorial heron according to the English Heritage staff at Kirby Muxloe
The moat is impressively wide as it was built as a real fortress, rather than how Disney depict moated castles
2 New High Street, Headington, Oxfordshire. You know it makes sense
SR.N4 hovercraft – How I wish I had a go in one of these when they were operational….
….Dover to France in 22 minutes – Years ahead of EuroTunnel
They still run the much smaller AP1-88 hovercraft over to the Isle of Wight (excuse the blurry pic, this was over a mile away ) My hovercraft is full of eels….
HMS Victory, you can’t pass through Portsmouth….
….and not take a look at Nelson’s flagship,….
….the world's oldest naval ship still in commission
I was surprised how big it is, especially how many decks there are and how much was below the waterline
I was also surprised how many times I smacked my head on the beams & doorways
Here Nelson fell. I must admit I nearly tripped over this myself
Victory
HMS Warrior from 1860. It looks pretty unspectacular….
….but this was the first armour-plated iron-hulled ship and it changed naval design forever
Southsea Castle, one of Henry VIII's Device Forts. It was built in 1544 at the southern end of Portsea Island to guard the eastern entrance to the Solent and the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour
The Round Tower, one of Portsmouth's oldest permanent fortifications, built in 1418 to defend the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour
Portchester castle from across Portsmouth harbour. The building with the orange roof in the centre is the Norman St. Mary’s Church within the castle grounds
Portchester castle – St. Mary’s Church to the left and the castle keep to the right
Last chance for some proper English food before we go - Cockhills fish & chips, Portsmouth
Brittany Ferries Bretagne for an overnight cruise to Saint-Malo
From 1989 it’s a bit dated now but at the time it was Brittany Ferries’ first super-ferry
Portsmouth docks
Bretagne
Bretagne
Bretagne
HMS Illustrious back home, awaiting being scrapped
Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth
Spitbank fort, one of several late 19th century Palmerston sea forts built to protect the Solent and the entrance to Portsmouth harbour. The 2002 TV series Banged up with Beadle was filmed here
Horse Sand fort, one of the two main sea forts, together with….
….No Man’s Land fort which has been a hospitality centre with indoor pool and two helipads. Some of the 1972 Sea Devils series of Doctor Who was filmed here. All large marine traffic has to pass between these two forts as the WW2 submarine defences still remain to either side
What better way to start the holiday than with pink champagne & strawberries
Cheers!
With only one Euro-socket in each cabin, it’s a good job I brought the Bongo’s cable collection on board
Awww
Fort de la Conchée on the island of Quincé, Saint-Malo
Fort National, Saint-Malo, built in the late 17th century to protect the port
Saint-Malo and the Cathédrale Saint-Vincent-de-Saragosse, Brittany
The historic walled city of Saint-Malo was almost totally destroyed by allied shelling in WW2 and took until 1960 to rebuild
Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy, with the Benedictine Abbey at the top. I was keen to visit this to compare with Saint Michael’s Mount in Cornwall, opposite across the Channel – pictures from that tour towards the end of THIS lot in case you missed them
Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy
First of many
Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy
Mont Saint-Michel – the apse of the Gothic choir in the Church-Abbey
Mont Saint-Michel cloister
The northern transept of the Church viewed from the cloister
The vitrail window in the northern transept, and it’s not as plain as it at first appears
From Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy. The tidal island aspect made it easy to defend, it remained unconquered during the Hundred Years’ War
Château d'Angers, Loire valley, founded in the 9th century by the Counts of Anjou....
....it is the home of the Apocalypse Tapestry
First night, wild-camp by the side of the Loire, Maine-et-Loire
I think that’s the last of the Morrison’s sausage rolls we brought with us Foreign food from now on
Um Bongo. They drink it in the Congo
Not too bad a setting for the night
Sunset over the Loire - That's the Varennes-Montsoreau bridge in the distance....
....that was destroyed by the French Resistance in WW2 to slow the Germans down
Château de Montsoreau, Maine-et-Loire, setting for the Alexandre Dumas novel La Dame de Monsoreau
Netto You know it makes sense, although this is nothing to do with the Netto we used to have in the UK
Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire, Loir-et-Cher, founded in the 10th century by Odo I Count of Blois, and acquired by former Queen of France Catherine de' Medici in 1560
The Cosimo Ruggieri room, named after Catherine de’ Medici’s astrologer
The Great Salon, Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire
Only the French would do this. A kissing-chair (tête-à-tête) for three people
The Chapel, Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire
The courtyard, Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire
River Loire, longest in France
Château de Chambord, Loir-et-Cher, largest of the châteaux in the Loire Valley, it was built to serve as a hunting lodge for King Francis I
Aumont-Aubrac wild-camp, Lozère
Aumont-Aubrac
Ham, cheese & Wotsit butties
Millau, Midi-Pyrénées
Millau viaduct, the tallest bridge in the world over the river Tarn
Millau viaduct
Millau viaduct
Millau viaduct. It’s tall
Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, Midi-Pyrénées. I do like a bit of cheese, Gromit
Roquefort-sur-Soulzon and its Parish Church
Société cheese caves, Roquefort. There are currently seven producers of Roquefort, Société are the largest....
....but more importantly the only one to offer English-language guided tours, so if you want to know the ins & outs of the saprotrophic mould Penicillium roqueforti, your choice is made
Roquefort. It would be rude not to sample the three best-sellers they do Oh, and by the way, they're not Kraft cheese-triangle-sized pieces, that's an 11" diameter chopping board, standard fitment in most Bongo conversions
....and take a huge (1.5kg) dollop of the strongest they do, the Cave des Templiers (as a reference, those are regular 2.5" diameter crackers )
Cheese please Louise? – One pallet or two?
Roquefort-sur-Soulzon
Looking north-west along the Le Soulzon valley
The red wine drinker's Holy Grail, Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Now anyone who knows what’s what about French red knows you’re going to get a nice tipple here (just look on the top shelf of your supermarket wine aisle )
This is what it’s all about
Château Cabrières, Châteauneuf-du-Pape. What an ideal place to stop for the night....
....especially as they offer tastings too
....properly expensive tastings too, 29-year old plonk
That’s me set for the night
Cheers. Hic
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
The 14th century Château des Papes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The name literally means the Pope’s new castle, built for Pope Jean XXII
Château des Fines Roches, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Avignon and their TGV (by the way, their TGV was tested in 2007 at 350mph and regularly operates at 250mph - our HS2 due for roll-out in 2029–2033 will be capable of - wait for it - 250mph )....
....to Marseille. Not that I don’t fancy driving in Marseille, but there’s nowhere to park Bongy
Onto the Chevalier Paul, named after the 17th century admiral Jean-Paul de Saumeur....
....to the Frioul islands and the Château d’If
Fort Saint-Nicolas protecting the entrance to the old port of Marseille from the south
Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica
Fort Saint-Jean protecting the entrance to the old port of Marseille from the north
Fort Saint-Jean
Château d'If in the Bay of Marseille, a real fortress....
....made famous in Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo
Château d'If & Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica
Cathédrale La Major, Marseille. You can just see the remains of the old Cathedral too, to the right
Marseille old harbour, used as a natural harbour since antiquity. The white-washed St. Augustin Church is where the headquarters of the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon (the Knights Templar to you & me) originally stood
Never an opportunity lost - The Count of Monte Cristo
Never too hot....
Église des Réformés, Marseille, more properly the Église Saint-Vincent-de-Paul. It was built on a demolished convent and chapel of Reformed Augustinians
Marseille Saint-Charles railway station
Meanwhile, back at Avignon....
The remains of the original 12th century Pont d’Avignon across the Rhône. I can feel a song coming on…
The Papal Palace at Avignon, one of the largest and most important medieval Gothic buildings in Europe
Avignon Papal Palace
- Muzorewa
- Supreme Being
- Posts: 5245
- Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:00 pm
- Location: Team Muz HQ, Outer Bongolia
- Contact:
Re: Team Muz on tour in Iberia
Snoozing, on the way to....
....Sète wild-camp, Languedoc-Roussillon
A pleasant evening stroll in the Mediterranean, Sète
TIme to eat, Sète
Sète sunset
Carcassonne, Languedoc-Roussillon, founded by the Visigoths in the 5th century
Narbonne gate, Carcassonne
Carcassonne
Carcassonne selfie
Carcassonne
Aude gate, Carcassonne
Cool
Basilica of St. Nazaire & St. Celse, Carcassonne
Basilica of St. Nazaire & St. Celse, Carcassonne
Carcassonne
Church of Saint Vincent, Carcassonne, in the distance viewed from the fortified city
Anyone thinking of driving across France and using toll roads, buy a Sanef Tolling tag before you go....
....the “Bip&Go” enables you to breeze past all those muppets who overtook you miles back
St. Bernard Church, Savarthès, Haute-Garonne, with the Pyrénées in the background
Into the Pyrénées and....
....Cauterets, Hautes-Pyrénées
Breakfast at a rather exclusive chalet in Cauterets, thanks Brian & Christine
Cauterets
The twisty new road down from Cauterets, hastily built after the old one was washed away by the river Gave de Cauterets
You know you’re high up when there’s snow-sheds over the road
River Gave de Cauterets, Pierrefitte-Nestalas, where it joins the Gave de Gavarnie to become the....
....River Gave de Pau, Lourdes, Hautes-Pyrénées. Here we’re crossing the Pomes bridge
Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Lourdes, famed for Roman Catholic pilgrimages....
....and miraculous healings after Our Lady of Lourdes had appeared to Bernadette Soubirous.
The gilded crown and cross on top of the nave of the Rosary Basilica, which were a gift from the People of Ireland in 1924
The Bridge of the Arches over the Gave de Pau, Lourdes
Château Fort Musée Pyrénéen, Lourdes, strategically placed at the entrance to the seven valleys of the Lavedan
Despite the “Buy Your Holy Water Here” shops, it seemed to have little effect on some people
Rampart remains of the ancient fortified city of Saint-Lizier, Ariège, dating from the 3rd century
Château de Foix, Ariège – a known centre of the Cathars....
....and dating from the 1st century AD
Pyrénées, looking north-east along the Ariège valley – Andorra to the left, France to the right
Principality of the Valleys of Andorra
Andorra
Port d'Envalira, a mountain pass in Andorra connecting El Pas de la Casa with the rest of the country. It’s the highest paved road in the Pyrénées at 2,408 metres above sea level and nearly killed Bongy
Andorra, heading to Andorra la Vella, capital of the Principality and the highest capital in Europe
Andorra
Andorra
Sant Joan de Caselles church, Andorra
Andorra/Spain border and....
....Cataluña
El Pont de Bar, Cataluña
Mirador de Prullans, Cataluña
Cadí tunnel under the Serra de Moixeró, Cataluña
You can’t pass by the city of Vic in Cataluña without sampling the best salchichón you can buy….
….It’s an air-dried sausage like chorizo but without the paprika, and the casing is a pig’s intestine
Wild-camp....
....at the Aeri de Montserrat carpark
Aeri de Montserrat
Up, up & away....
....on the Montserrat cablecar
Montserrat cablecar. If you look closely you can see Bongy parked in the sunshade
Montserrat cablecar – the oval-shaped carpark area in the foreground is where we wild-camped the previous night
Montserrat cablecar
Montserrat
The Benedictine Abbey of Santa Maria on Montserrat, Cataluña
The black Madonna in the Mare de Déu de Montserrat (not the fallen Madonna with the big boobies, that’s the other side of the Pyrénées )
Muzette with the Black Madonna
The White Madonna, in the interests of balance
Impressive Black Madonna stonework....
....on the approach to the sanctuary
Montserrat Abbey
Montserrat Abbey
Funicular de Sant Joan
Sant Joan Hermitage, Montserrat
Sant Joan Hermitage
Martorell from Montserrat
The rather grand Vila Vallbona reception hall grafted onto the Mare de Déu del Roser Church
Montserrat - "saw (serrated, like the common handsaw) mountain" in Catalan
Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, Cataluña. Anyone who knows anything about fizz knows why we’re here
This is the capital of Cava country
So why not camp at the ArtCava winery....
....a small artisan vineyard producing only about 15,000 bottles a year....
....where they give tours....
....and tastings - Cheers!
Not a shabby view – the Church of Sant Pere d'Avinyó in the foreground and Montserrat in the distance over the vineyards
Time to try out the winery’s fare (the 12-month old is a knockout, forget all your preconceptions of "vintage" and "reserva" etc )....
....while relaxing in the evening sun....
....and having a paddle
Resident rabid dog, Blanca
Resident rabid cat
Onto RENFE’s local network to....
....Barcelona!
Casa Batlló, Barcelona, one of Antoni Gaudí’s masterpieces....
....built in 1877 but bought in 1900 by the Josep Batlló family. The design made it undesirable to a lot of buyers....
....but Battló bought it due to its central location
Casa Batlló – known locally as the Casa dels ossos or House of Bones
The Plaça d’Espanya and the old Plaza de Toros, now the Arenas de Barcelona shopping centre
Columbus monument, Barcelona
Casa Milà, Barcelona, by Gaudí. But you can understand my disappointment at it being covered up for work....
....this is what it’s supposed to look like
Just the job
The Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family – the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona....
....started in 1882 and only half complete by 2010
Stonework on the Nativity (east) façade, the only one completed during Gaudí’s lifetime
Sagrada Familia
You can’t come to Barcelona and not stroll down La Rambla....
La Rambla
Back to ArtCava to sample their rather excellent rosat before heading off to....
Freixenet, Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, our preferred choice of bubbly until we discovered ArtCava
.... and Casa Codorníu, Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, the world’s biggest producer of cava....
.... 60 million bottles a year
Casa Codorníu, the Cathedral of Cava
Casa Codorníu
I remember coming here as a kid, must be in the early 70s, I’ve still got the postcard set I bought at the time
The cellars were declared a National Monument of Historical and Artistic Interest in 1976. There are 20 miles of tunnels on three levels, keeping the maturing wine at a constant 17 degrees C without any cooling
I can honestly say....
....that I’ve never seen so much glass in one place....
....this is the world's largest underground cellar where they stock up to 100 million bottles
Time for more tastings hic
Across the Greenwich Meridian, so all our GPS co-ordinates are now negative
Toro, Zaragoza. Well it would be rude not to, wouldn’t it
They’re bigger than you think when you get up close too, 46’ high
Viewed across the River Ebro, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, Zaragoza, Aragón, reputed to be the first Church in history to be dedicated to Mary
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La Casa del Aceite, Cascante, Navarra, another ideal free stopover
....with a super shop selling wine. And olives
There was something of a biblical storm going off here so settle down for the night....
....and after a glorious sunrise....
....check out the plantation in the morning
La Rioja....
....Don’t mind if I do....
....and it's got my name on it too! Cheers
Sunflowers, Castilla y León
Morón de Almazán, Castilla y León. For some reason, Muzette was reluctant to stand next to this sign
Plaza de Toros, El Burgo de Osma....
....where Muzette was looking longingly at this little repast being prepared
As we pass over the Duero with its fine vineyard heritage in both Spain and Portugal....
….(the Douro in Porto is the same river, indeed it forms 70 miles of the international border, but they spell it & pronounce it differently in Portuguese)….
.... it would be rude not to
Berlanga de Duero castle, Castilla y León. Along with the castles of Gormaz, Osma, and San Esteban....
....it formed one of the gateways to Castile during the medieval period, securing communications along the river Duero
Caltojar, Castilla y León
Paredes, Castilla-La Mancha
Sigüenza castle, Castilla-La Mancha
The Cathedral of Santa María, Sigüenza, actually the cathedral for Guadalajara even though that’s about 50 miles away
On the subject of which – I’m thinking of a Mariachi song by Pepe Guízar, written in honour of the state capital of Jalisco in México but the Spaniards thought of the name first
El Palacio del Infantado, Guadalajara, completed in the early 1480s....
....and the oldest surviving building built in a pure Renaissance style outside Italy
El Palacio del Infantado, Guadalajara
Toro! Guadalajara
Alcalá de Henares, Madrid....
....birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes....
....author of The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quijote of La Mancha....
....with tales of giant windmills and the like
Don Quijote and Sancho Panza....
....outside Cervantes’ house
There’s quite a likeness
Cervantes is depicted on the 10c, 20c and 50c Euro coins in circulation in Spain
I’ve lost count now
¡El Scorchio! 40°C (104°F) but thanks to the work Ady did before we went, no problem
Toro! Villarejo de Salvanés
Uclés Monastery and Templar castle
Uclés Monastery, headquarters of the Saint-Jacques order
Seems like a peaceful place to pitch camp for the night....
....after a hard day's drive we deserve a cold one out of the Bongo fridge - cheers!
Must stop typing so I can have my gazpacho before it goes cold
The Plough & North Star, on a clear night with the monks chanting away in a most haunting way
The Plough – 30 second exposure in case you need to know
Uclés Monastery
Daily duty – copying the pictures from the cameras in case anything untoward should happen, if you know what I mean
The other daily duties, área de servicios, Uclés
Puebla de Almenara castle, Castilla-La Mancha, a 12th century fortress in the Sierra de Jarameña mountains
Belmonte castle, Castilla-La Mancha, built in the 15th century by the Marquis de Villena
It was also used in the 1961 film El Cid
The start of the Quijote trail
Manchega sheep….
….might as well have some Manchego cheese then, Muzette’s all-time favourite This is a lovely cheese from the milk of sheep grazing on the vast plains of La Mancha
Sancho Panza, Mota del Cuervo, Castilla-La Mancha
Windmills, Mota del Cuervo
Don Quijote, Mota del Cuervo
Don Quijote & Dulcinea, El Toboso, Castilla-La Mancha, with the Church of San Antonio Abad in the background
Dulcinea’s house, El Toboso....
....a curious idea by the La Mancha Tourist Board seeing as she was a fictitious character
Don Quijote & Rocinante, Campo de Criptana, Castilla-La Mancha
Sancho Panza & Dapple, Campo de Criptana
Windmills, Campo de Criptana
Casa de Medrano, Argamasilla de Alba where Cervantes was imprisoned and started his masterpiece....
....“In a village of La Mancha, the name of which I have no desire to call to mind…” That’ll be why he had no desire to bring the place to mind then
Lunch at Cafetería Tara, Argamasilla de Alba....
....with free croquettes with every round of drinks
Gambas al ajillo (garlic prawns)
Calamari
Don Quijote, Plaza de España, Argamasilla de Alba
Sancho Panza, Plaza de España, Argamasilla de Alba
Dulcinea del Toboso, Plaza de España, Argamasilla de Alba
Don Quijote, Argamasilla de Alba
Cervantes statue, Plaza Alonso Quijano, Argamasilla de Alba. Alonso Quijano is the real name of Quijote in the book
Castillo de Peñarroya, Castilla-La Mancha, a Moorish castle overlooking the Guadiana river and Peñarroya reservoir in the Lagunas de Ruidera Natural Park
Now we’re in the Campo de Montiel, the first place actually mentioned by name in Don Quijote
Don Quijote everywhere, €2.00 coin
Cave of Montesinos, Castilla-La Mancha from the second part of Cervantes’ book.
Quijote was lowered into the cave on a rope by Sancho and Basilio’s cousin
Inside the Cave of Montesinos
Muzette emerging from the cave
Back to Campo de Criptana to set up camp for the night
Campo de Criptana
I know how to feed the troops on tour. Shampoo & crisps for tea
Campo de Criptana sunset
Campo de Criptana
Campo de Criptana sunrise. If you’re wondering how we cram so much into one tour you’ll notice we use every minute of daylight, plus more besides
Campo de Criptana
Campo de Criptana
Muzette – Lady of La Mancha
Consuegra castle, Castilla-La Mancha, and the end of the Quijote trail
The castle was a stronghold when Consuegra was the seat and priory of the Knights of San Juan....
....the Spanish branch of the Knight's Hospitallers of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem
View from Consuegra castle looking west towards the Cabañeros National Park
Consuegra
Consuegra
Windmill workings, Consuegra
Toro, Madridejos, Castilla-La Mancha
Almonacid castle, Almonacid de Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha
Alcázar de Toledo, once a 3rd century Roman Palace.
River Tagus in the foreground, the longest in Iberia, eventually emptying into the Atlantic at Lisbon. Toledo’s Alcázar to the right, the Primate Cathedral of Santa María of Toledo in the centre, and the former Jesuit Church of San Ildefonso (the Sanctuary of Sacred Hearts) to the left
Santa María la Blanca, Toledo....
....the oldest synagogue building in Europe still standing
The focal point is this clam-shell topped arch at the centre of the synagogue - this was the location of the Torah ark
Underside of the main dome
San Servando castle, Toledo, originally a Benedictine Monastery and later occupied by the Knights Templar to protect the Alcántara bridge across the Tagus against a possible Muslim attack. Surprisingly, the name comes from Cervantes (Miguel de Cervantes’ great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather (Nuño Alfonso) assisted in the building of the tower in 1089) and the castle is still a conspicuous object on the approach to the old Gothic capital
Guadarrama tunnel, a triple-bore tunnel taking the AP-6 Autopista del Noroeste (Carretera de La Coruña)....
....through the Sierra de Guadarrama
Having got hopelessly lost in Segovia, we did our best “Lost Tourist” routine and ended up with two traffic cops....
....escort us to where we were going, stopping traffic on the way so Bongy could make the turns on the narrow streets
Alcázar de Segovia, Castilla y León, originally built as a fortress....
....but has served as a Royal Palace, state prison, Royal Artillery College and military academy
Segovia aqueduct, Castilla y León, a Roman aqueduct carrying water from the Fuente Fría 11 miles away
In one of the niches in the stonework are the Virgen de la Fuencisla (the Patroness of Segovia) and Saint Stephen
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Ángel Redondo Pérez, finishing a painting of the Ávila walls – we bought it
Ávila, Castilla y León. The walls were constructed almost 1,000 years ago and remain the biggest illuminated monument in the world
Dinner in Ávila at the Venta La Canaleja restaurant....
....Huevos rotos, or ‘broken eggs’ with a few other local accompaniments
Ermita de las Fuentes wild-camp in the Sierra de Ávila, San Juan del Olmo
Breakfast – and you know I’m a health-food freak
La ermita de la Virgen de las Fuentes, or el santuario de Nuestra Señora de las Fuentes at the source of the río Almar
The inside of the hermitage
Bulls
The 12th century old Cathedral of Santa María, Salamanca, Castilla y León
Salamanca new Cathedral
For a 16th century building, there’s some imaginative stonework, a fully suited-up astronaut....
....a dragon with a triple-scoop ice-cream
Unnecessary detail
Some nice stonework nonetheless
Salamanca Cathedral
Portugal – crossing to Vilar Formoso from Fuentes de Oñoro in Spain, in 1811 the site of a significant battle in the Peninsular War where Wellington tonked the French
Dão, one of the oldest established wine regions in Portugal....
....you’d be disappointed if we didn’t, wouldn’t you?
Área de serviço, Pardilhó....
....overlooking the Ria de Aveiro, one of Europe's last remaining untouched coastal marshlands. It is renowned for its artisan fishing....
....and as a centre for the collection of Flor de sal....
....an expensive hand-harvested sea-salt
Riding under the Influence. Muzette in charge of a dolphin whilst quaffing a can of Cruzcampo
According to the Aires guide, you’re not supposed to deploy tables & chairs. Yeah right And if I'm not mistaken, isn't that a bottle of spécial fruits de mer Mrs Muz is drinking from Édouard LeClerc at less than €1.00 a bottle
The quite stunning Igreja Matriz de Válega near Aveiro....
.... also referred to as the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
W & J Graham’s 1890 Lodge, Vila Nova de Gaia, just across the Douro from Porto....
....this is a brilliant tour if you get chance
Graham’s is one of the Symington Family Estates, the largest vineyard ownership group in the Douro
They do English-language tours, delivered by someone who knows what she’s on about
What the....
Oooh, samples. Six to have a pop at
Three ruby and three tawny
Cheers
Hic
Slurp
Our tour guide – Thankyou!
Dom Luís Bridge from Graham’s
From Graham’s balcony
Capela das Almas, Porto, literally the Chapel of Souls....
....the tiles depict the Death of St. Francis of Assisi, the Saint in the presence of Pope Honorious III, and the Martyrdom of St. Catherine
It is also known as the Capela de Santa Catarina as it is dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria
Moving conveniently on to O Forno Restaurante, Rua de Santa Catarina, Porto. The perils of restaurateurs using Google Translate for multilingual menus
Francesinha, a sandwich originally from Porto made with bread, wet-cured ham....
....linguiça, fresh sausage, roast meat and covered with melted cheese and a hot, thick tomato & beer sauce
Dom Luís Bridge, Porto, the lower deck is for road traffic....
....the upper deck for the Porto Metro and a walkway
Porto – the Episcopal Palace is the tall white building to the right. Centre is the São Lourenço Church and slightly left of centre the belltower of the Clérigos Church
Time for a dip in the Atlantic at Cabo do Mundo
Cabo do Mundo
Cabo do Mundo
WTF?!?! – An old-school Fiat 500 from the days when Fiat 500s were small
WTF2 – The estate version or Giardiniera, complete with suicide doors
Santa Clara aqueduct, Vila do Conde. Built in the late 17th century it includes 999 arches stretching for 4km from the spring of Terroso in Póvoa de Varzim to the Convent of Santa Clara in Vila do Conde
Vila do Conde wild-camp, Portugal
Red fizz is just wrong....
....nevertheless, when in Rome....but we're in Portugal
Muzette still drinking whilst on the toilet
Let’s see if the white at €1.79 a bottle is any better....
....and with a plastic stopper....
Erm, no. But it’s wet & cold
Fishing boat chugging through the mist up the Río Ave, Vila do Conde
Another Portuguese specialty for breakfast – Natas – or custard tarts
Câmara Municipal de Barcelos. See the two clocks on the towers – the RH one is a normal one....
....but the LH one is a 24 hour clock
Barcelos castle over the river Cávado and the 14th century medieval bridge
Barcelos castle
The 15th century Solar dos Pinheiros, (Palace of the Dukes of Barcelos)
Barcelos viewed over the river Cávado with the Palace of the Dukes of Barcelos to the left, the castle ruin to the right and Barcelos parish church (Santa Maria Maior) in the centre
Barcelos, looking towards Barcelinhos (to the left) on the other side of the river Cávado
Jardim da Igreja Matriz de Barcelos
The rooster of Barcelos, Portugal, an unlikely tale of a dead rooster's miraculous intervention in proving the innocence of a man who had been falsely accused and sentenced to death. Patrons of Nando’s peri-peri chicken should recognise this
The official script next to this Senhor do Galo stone cross - see the carvings – is that the gallows were outside the town, nearby the ancient road. One day a St. James pilgrim entered an inn, famed locally for its landlady’s beauty. The woman fell in love with the man but since he was on a pious journey he didn’t notice the lady’s passionate intent. In vengeance she concealed a silver cup in the pligrim’s bags. The following morning the sheriff was called and the cup found in the man’s bag. Brought before the judge who was preparing an enormous roasted rooster for lunch, the pilgrim swore innocence, but faced with the evidence and according to custom, the judge sentenced the alleged thief to the gallows. The man, suddenly inspired by Divine intervention, said to the judge “I am innocent and the proof is that this roasted rooster will sing my innocence.” At the precise moment the man was hung by the neck, the rooster stood up and sang. The judge hurried then to the gallows and found the pilgrim hanging by the neck, but the rope was limp because St. James held the hanged man by the feet.
Inside Barcelos castle
Medieval tower, Barcelos
Another Barcelos cockerel
Largo da Porta Nova, Barcelos
A nice bit of Baroque architecture, the Church of Bom Jesus da Cruz, Barcelos
Cockerel merchandise everywhere
For us it's a cockerel, in Portuguese it's the cock of Barcelos. Muzette now revels in telling me to put my cock in my bottle
Lunch in Braga at Café-Restaurante Lubango....
Frango tipo Leitão – Peri-peri chicken to you & me
Camarão (shrimp) a Lubango
How come their shrimps are as big as any Emperor prawn I’ve seen in the UK?
Bom Jesus funicular, the oldest in the world operated by water counterbalancing
They load water into the car at the top of the hill, which weighs it down so it descends to the bottom....
....at the same time drawing the lighter, drained car up the hill, where the process starts all over again
The sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte, Tenões
Did we climb the granite staircase on our hands & knees like the pilgrims were supposed to? Erm, no we didn’t, we took the train
Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte
Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte - photo ©2014 Muzette
Braga
Portuguese Um-Bongo I bet they don't drink this in the Congo
One of the four gates into the fortified town of Valença do Minho, a star-fort which was a new design of fortress after the advent of gunpowder & cannon.
Old-style ring-shaped fortifications were vulnerable to cannon fire....
....when it could be directed from outside against a perpendicular masonry wall.
Also, an attacking force that could get close to the wall was able to conduct undermining operations in relative safety....
....as the defenders could not shoot at them from nearby walls. Star-forts solved all these problems
How many types of Port do you really need?
The old 19th century International Bridge across the Miño from Portugal to Spain (Valença do Minho to Tui, Galicia)
The Miño (in Spanish) or Minho (in Portuguese) forms about 50 miles of the international border
The bridge is falsely credited to Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (of Eiffel Tower fame) and it is still wrongly called the Eiffel bridge, but it was in fact designed by Pelayo Mancebo y Ágreda from Calahorra in La Rioja. It carries trains (on the top), vehicles and pedestrians
Spain - again
Área de servicios, Santiago de Arcade, Galicia at the mouth of the río Verdugo
Cartons of wine
I’m not sure this is what my nutritionist had in mind for a balanced diet, glass of red in one hand and a tortilla butty in the other
Notice how I’m on the el cheapo wine that’s €0.59 a litre, and Mrs Muz is on the Marqués de Cáceres Rioja rosado
Santiago de Arcade, Galicia
Puente de Rande carrying the E-1 motorway across the Ría de Vigo
Puente de Rande, photo in daylight taken from much the same spot
Santiago de Padrón parish church, Galicia. According to legend, after St James had been executed in Jerusalem by Herod his body was brought back to Spain and the boat landed at Iris Flavia, now Padrón.
This is the pedrón (Galician for large stone) the boat was moored to, hence the new name for the town
Santiago de Compostela, Galicia....
....destination for millions of pilgrims over the years
The Metropolitan Cathedral Church of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, reputed burial-place of Saint James the Greater, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ. Just a shame about the scaffolding
This is what it’s supposed to look like as depicted on the copper Euro coins in circulation in Spain
Shrine of the apostle St James
The Botafumeiro, the silver-plated brass & bronze thurible swung across the church while burning incense
Saint Jacob's Shell....
....signposting the Way of St James for the pilgrims
Churros & chocolate at Bellavista Cafetería, Santiago Note our blatant disregard for the local parking laws as all the police were deployed for today's visit of Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel
The Convent of San Francisco, Santiago de Compostela, Provincial Centre for the Franciscan Order.
It was founded by Saint Francis of Assisi himself in 1214 during his visit to the city.
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Typical Galician cheese, called a tetilla (little tit) due to the shape
It's your duty. The English abroad
Hórreos (granaries) are typical of the region....
....raised off the ground to keep them dry....
....and the flat stones at the top of the legs keep rodents out
Finisterre, (Fisterra in Galician) was the end of the known world until Columbus changed things. This was the final destination for the pilgrims in centuries gone by, the real “Land’s End”
It’s another 60 miles from Santiago to here and it’s now traditional for pilgrims to burn their boots at the end of their journey at Cape Finisterre
The end of the road
Ordinarily this shot would have the lighthouse in the background and the nothingness of sea & sky in the distance. But it was foggy This shot was made possible by pilgrims - who we had taken photos of with their cameras - but they didn't think we were pilgrims...
Finisterre was the former name of the current FitzRoy sea area used in the UK Shipping Forecast. In 2002 it was renamed FitzRoy to avoid confusion with the smaller sea area of the same name featuring in the forecasts of the French and Spanish meteorological offices
Local brew – Estrella Galicia
Time for dinner at Bar Janacho, Finisterre. Muzette was keen to try the local fare....
....Scallops, mussels, razor clams....
.... barnacles ....
....and clams
Muxía wild-camp, Galicia. Legend has it that Muxía was the landing place of the stone boat that carried the Virgin Mary when she arrived in Galicia to help Saint James convert the locals. Sadly the Sanctuary of Nosa Señora da Barca (the Lady of the boat) was destroyed by fire in 2013
Time for a dip in the sea on the rocky Costa da Morte (Coast of Death in Galician) on the edge of the Atlantic, so named because of the large number of shipwrecks along these shores
Muxía wild-camp
Camping in Galicia....
....like Scotland but the rain’s warm
Tower of Hercules, A Coruña, the oldest Roman lighthouse still in use. The tower has been in constant use since the 2nd century and is considered to be the oldest existing lighthouse in the world
Through a long series of tunnels & viaducts....
....along the Autovía A-6....
....in search of dry weather
Lunch, and some of the renowned Cabrales cheese
Yet another – at a refuelling stop at Toral de los Vados, Castilla y León. She was lucky to get this one having navigated us way off course....
....back into Galicia in fact, into the sierra de la Encina de la Lastra Natural Park....
....with impressive views of the gorge of the river Sil
Catedral de Santa María de Astorga, Castilla y León
Pedro Mato on top of Astorga Cathedral. During the Peninsular War, he kept the besieged city supplied with food & weapons until he was captured & executed by the French Napoleonic forces
Astorga Episcopal Palace, one of only three Antoni Gaudí creations outside of Cataluña
Toro! Astorga
Can I cut the cables? Eduardo Arroyo’s bronze unicorn suspended from a Palfinger crane in the Plaza Puerta Castillo, León – modern art
Casa de los Botines, León, second of Gaudí’s extraCatalan creations
León Cathedral
....and another
Basilica of San Isidoro, León. It contains the funeral chapel of the kings of León (not the Kings of Leon )
León city walls, dating from the 1st century BC and expanded in the 3rd-4th centuries AD
Área de servicios, León
I’m well-versed in Gran Reserva for wine....
....but not for beers
The right side of this impressive building in León, the former Convent of San Marcos....
....is the city museum ....
....and the left side the parador hotel Hostal San Marcos. You should recognise this place from the 2010 Martin Sheen film The Way And if you haven't watched that, you should
At play in León
May as well try some Valdeón cheese from Posada de Valdeón in the León province. Now this is really nice, milder than the Cabrales we had yesterday
Signs everywhere to direct the pilgrims on the Camiño de Santiago – On motorways, pavements and mileposts
Vivar del Cid, birthplace of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar....
....or El Cid ....
....the real national hero of Spain
El Cid's mill, starting point of the Route of El Cid, a cultural and tourist route based on “El Cantar de mio Cid”, the oldest preserved Castilian epic poem
Muzette at the start – with a replica of Tizona, the famed sword, loaned to us by the mill owner even though it was closed that day The plaque reads “Rodrigo Díaz, called the “Cid”, was born in 1043 in Vivar. On this land he forged his youth beside his father, Diego Laynez. He became standard-bearer of King Sancho II. King Alfonso VI banished Rodrigo in 1081. From here he went into exile in which he became so famous for his warlike deeds, considering him "the greatest miracle among the great miracles of the Lord". He conquered Valencia where he died in 1099.” The last line on the plaque is taken from the end of El Cantar de mio Cid “Honour reaches all of them through him who was born in a fortunate hour.”
The inscription reads “I am Tizona, made in the year 1040”. The original is in Burgos museum
Arco de Santa María, the medieval entrance to the city of Burgos, Castilla y León, built in the 14th century.
Bottom row L-R Nuño Rasura, Diego Porcelos and Laín Calvo. Middle row L-R Fernán González, Carlos V and El Cid. Top row the Guardian Angel with a macebearer to either side, and at the very top the Virgin Mary.
El Cid within the Arco Santa María. Doesn’t look a bit like Charlton Heston
Burgos Cathedral
Burgos Cathedral
Burgos Cathedral depicted on some €2.00 coins
Tomb of El Cid and his wife Doña Jimena Díaz in the centre of Burgos Cathedral. It’s mostly in Latin but note the Spanish bit in the middle which is the end of El Cantar de mio Cid again
Inside the Major Chapel, Burgos Cathedral
Burgos Cathedral – the Ambulatory has three stunning works like this depicting the passion, the death and the resurrection of Christ
Burgos Cathedral – the ceiling in the main Sacristy....
....has the most amazing plasterwork
Bronze statue of El Cid, Plaza del Mio Cid, Burgos
La Isla Palace, Burgos – Franco's headquarters during the Spanish Civil War
Erm, how many types of chorizo do you really need?
And how many types of Serrano ham?
Pamplona, Navarra
Pamplona bullring....
....third largest in the world behind Mexico City and Madrid
Never a commercial opportunity lost
Pamplona
Pamplona’s Puente de Santa Engracia over the Arga, and the tower of the Church of El Salvador in the background
Wild-camp at Pamplona, with the Navarra museum in the background across the Arga
Chocolate Latte
Into the Basque Country....
....and stunning it is too....
....Eguilaz-Egilatz church against the Basque mountains
It’s also home to one of the most inexplicable languages....
....with nothing similar anywhere in the world and no idea where it came from
Bizkaiko Zubia, or Bilbao’s transporter bridge
Bongy waiting patiently to cross the river
The bridge was built in 1893 and was the first such bridge in the world....
....and is still operational over the Nervión
Comillas, Cantabria. An unfortunate name
El Capricho, Comillas....
....third of the three Antoni Gaudí buildings outside Cataluña
Rather sparsely furnished inside though so difficult to bring it all to life
Muzette with Gaudí’s statue
The most frightening experience ever....
....Mrs Muz driving and Muzette navigating
Toro! Llanes, Asturias
Even more frightening through tunnels
The result of Muzette’s navigation skills
No better time like now to try Cantabria’s famed anchovies
Dinner in Parrilla Antonio II, Gijón, Asturias, with a bottle of fine white you should seek out if you can
Gambas al ajillo
Patatas bravas
Calamari
Steak, lamb chops, pork chops, lamb & pork ribeyes, pork ribs, chicken, chips etc
We were hoping the chips went to the bottom of the dish, alas it was all meat
The Baroque palacio de Revillagigedo, or the palacio del marqués de San Esteban del Mar in Gijón
Área de servicios, Gijón
Hundreds of cars on their way for export
Time to sample a large wedge of the renowned Picón cheese from the Tresviso and Beges area in the Picos de Europa. Although you can buy this at home in good delicatessens, the real deal is wrapped in sycamore maple leaf Not ideal for breakfast, but hey-ho we’re still on holiday!
Approaching the Motorway of the Sea
Louis Dreyfus Lines Norman Asturias....
Norman Asturias
Norman Asturias
Norman Asturias
....for a 25-hour cruise home....
It hasn’t cast off yet and Mrs Muz is on her second bottle
Awww
Catching those last few rays on the sun-deck
Norman Asturias
Poole harbour
Brownsea castle, Brownsea Island, used by the toffs at the John Lewis Partnership as a luxury hotel
After our relaxing voyage, time to jump on the Bramble Bush Bay….
….for the 2 minute trip across the Poole harbour entrance to the Isle of Purbeck
Corfe castle in the imaginatively named village of Corfe Castle on the Isle of Purbeck
Back to Poole on the chain ferry, recently repaired after Brittany Ferries’ Cherbourg service cut the chain, see HERE
As a fitting bookend to yet another stunning tour, Imperial Leisure Vehicles, Poole, where we bought our trusty Bongo almost 7 years ago
Many thanks to Martyn & Bob for supplying a bulletproof vehicle all those years ago!
And that, we reckon, is the best tour we’ve ever undertaken. Bongoing at it’s best
¡Hasta la vista, amigos!
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Re: Team Muz on tour in Iberia
Fabulous! Amazing pictures too
When were you in Carcassone and Narbonne? We past by there on our trip to Italy. Think we may do something similar next year. Italy far too expensive for us and prefer staying on Aires or free camping
When were you in Carcassone and Narbonne? We past by there on our trip to Italy. Think we may do something similar next year. Italy far too expensive for us and prefer staying on Aires or free camping
I love cheese!
- Muzorewa
- Supreme Being
- Posts: 5245
- Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:00 pm
- Location: Team Muz HQ, Outer Bongolia
- Contact:
Re: Team Muz on tour in Iberia
13th/14th August, I think you were back by then. Even though it was August there was plenty of free camping about, although the Sète site we used would be no good for a big white bus, there was a height barrier on it
Mrs Muz wants to go back to the Carcassonne area next year
Mrs Muz wants to go back to the Carcassonne area next year
- umbongocat
- Supreme Being
- Posts: 2251
- Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 5:02 pm
- Location: london (north)
Re: Team Muz on tour in Iberia
Yep, we were home by then. I'm in agreement with Mrs Muz, I would like to go back to Carcasonne and Narbonne and spend more time around there. I was very ill in Carcasonne so didn't appreciate it very much. They thought I had some tropical disease after returning from Nicaragua. Simple gastro thankfully
I love cheese!
Re: Team Muz on tour in Iberia
Absolutely fantastic Muz! Thank you for posting it must of took ages to upload all those pics.
My next task is convincing the wife this is what we need to do with the kids, all the pics of nice food and drink may help.
My next task is convincing the wife this is what we need to do with the kids, all the pics of nice food and drink may help.
Do what you like.Like what you do.
Re: Team Muz on tour in Iberia
Thanks for sharing Muz, that is an amazing record. Can't see us ever doing anything quite that adventurous but it's good to live it through someone else
Vivaro named Stewart however ex '96 4wd 2.5TD owner.
- Jillygumbo
- Supreme Being
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- Location: Swindon, Wilts
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Re: Team Muz on tour in Iberia
Absolutely fantastic Muz! Now you've made me late for work!
Jillygumbo, Tonto & Ruca
The night conceals the world, but reveals the universe!
The night conceals the world, but reveals the universe!
Re: Team Muz on tour in Iberia
Another fantastic trip and report.
I must complain to a moderator though I am now on a diet and all that foods making me very hungry
I must complain to a moderator though I am now on a diet and all that foods making me very hungry
- PixieAndTheMoon
- Supreme Being
- Posts: 1364
- Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2008 11:41 am
- Location: Allithwaite
Re: Team Muz on tour in Iberia
Really lovely adventure, not sure I would take on all those miles in 3 weeks!
Thanks for sharing guy's we really enjoyed your moments.
Jo
Thanks for sharing guy's we really enjoyed your moments.
Jo
Re: Team Muz on tour in Iberia
Great pics Muz - I feel as if I have had a holiday too after looking at all those many places you visited.
And may I say how timely your 'refreshment' pictures were between the miles travelled
Well done Bongy - All that way and no problems
And may I say how timely your 'refreshment' pictures were between the miles travelled
Well done Bongy - All that way and no problems
Keep Calm and Bongo On!
- helen&tony
- Supreme Being
- Posts: 9869
- Joined: Thu Nov 18, 2004 12:49 pm
- Location: Bulgaria
Re: Team Muz on tour in Iberia
Hi
Muz...
Absolutely lovely!!!...the pictures are great, the food looks gorgeous, and what a lovely trip....Your saga of the police brings a smile to me...I have only ever had courtesy from police in Europe, and people complain!...something wrong, there, methinks...Our experiences date over 30 odd years. When we were on the way here, Tony went to a cash-point in a small French market town....Well...he has no sense of direction, and got lost, and the local police, the postmen and some locals ended up looking for me!....a postie stopped me in the street and pointed me in the direction of where Tony was!...similar experiences from all "Forces"...and in the UK, I hasten to add!....all of them polite!
Anyway...I have said it before, and it still makes me chuckle.....Chat = Cat in French....Eau = water....so it beats me why the French call their magnificent castles "Catspee" (Catwater)
If you ever do a tour of India...book me in!
Thanks again for the picture-tour
Cheers
Helen
Muz...
Absolutely lovely!!!...the pictures are great, the food looks gorgeous, and what a lovely trip....Your saga of the police brings a smile to me...I have only ever had courtesy from police in Europe, and people complain!...something wrong, there, methinks...Our experiences date over 30 odd years. When we were on the way here, Tony went to a cash-point in a small French market town....Well...he has no sense of direction, and got lost, and the local police, the postmen and some locals ended up looking for me!....a postie stopped me in the street and pointed me in the direction of where Tony was!...similar experiences from all "Forces"...and in the UK, I hasten to add!....all of them polite!
Anyway...I have said it before, and it still makes me chuckle.....Chat = Cat in French....Eau = water....so it beats me why the French call their magnificent castles "Catspee" (Catwater)
If you ever do a tour of India...book me in!
Thanks again for the picture-tour
Cheers
Helen
In the beginning there was nothing , then God said "Let there be Light".....There was still nothing , but ,by crikey, you could see it better.