26. Apr, 2017

26. Apr, 2017

26. Apr, 2017

26. Apr, 2017

WEDNESDAY 26-4-17

It was quite a cold night, not helped by either our altitude or the summer-weight duvet on the bed. I got up at about 08:00 and put the hot water and central heating on so that it was ready for when we got up a bit later on. We didn't need to hurry as we only had Avila city to look around.

It was a funny old day weather wise. I ended up wearing trousers, long sleeved shirt, sweatshirt and carrying my mac as we were getting the occasional light shower with more expected later. The Chef was dressed pretty much the same, though I carried her mac in my backpack. I then spent the next hour or so continually taking off, and putting back on, layers of clothing.

We paid €10 for two tickets to walk the city wall. It would have been a long walk except that half of it was closed for maintenance work, though I don't suppose they were charging half price.

After that it was a wander round, and the purchase of a nice crusty baguette for lunch which proved to be a difficult thing to find.

Rather than hang around in Avila (or its car park) with the weather being cool and showery we decided to hit the road again and make our way to Segovia, the theory being that we'd be there for first thing tomorrow morning for a look around. It was toll road most of the way, quite expensive given that it wasn't very far.

When we arrived at the campsite, Camping El Aquaducto www.campingacueducto.com  (GPS: N40.931289 W4.092396) it was nothing special at all and a rip-off at €26 a night including electricity. I dumped our waste water, found a grassy, sandy pitch which didn't slope as much as most, and parked up. I told The Chef that there was no way this was worth the money and so she went back up to the office and took the electricity off which dropped it to about €21, barely worth that really, but it is a convenient location.

There was nothing to do, it was too cold to sit outside and so we hopped on a bus and took ourselves in to Segovia to play tourists. Lots of Yanks in tour groups again. I think they must all tour the centre of Spain top to bottom which I suppose is where the culture is.

The Chef had marked down the Gothic cathedral, dating from 1525, and the last great Gothic cathedral in Spain, the Alcázar, which was the Royal Palace of Segovia, and the Aquaduct, built at the end of the first century AD by the Romans and in use until the late 19th century.

That didn't take us too long, and we were ready for the trip back on the bus. Tomorrow we begin making towards home. If the weather doesn't get any better there's no point in hanging around. For a number of reasons this is now getting to feel like hard work, so we may as well be at home. I'll see how it goes.

26. Apr, 2017