As we drove the 350km to Santander, through the plains and distant snow capped mountain ranges, passing multiple villages, all with their oversized churches punctuating the skyline, we started to dream of Frome, with its own iconic architecture, culture and fountain centrepiece in its bustling and cosmopolitan square. We had a few hours to wander… Continue reading The Road to Mandalay…. Frome
Category: The Great Escape – Covid Tour 2020
our first trip out of the UK in Fred the Frankia
Stunning Salamanca
Salamanca isn't a natural tourist stop, it doesn't tend to find its way into the "Valencia, Seville, Madrid guidebook must see's" but it really should be. We both confess to being ignorant of its vibrancy and style. It is known as La Dorada, the Golden One, and it radiates beauty. Many of the buildings are… Continue reading Stunning Salamanca
Extremadura Beauty and Birdlife
We left Sevilla and picked up Via de la Plata (The Silver Route). This is an ancient commerce and pilgrimage route running North to South through the west of Spain, modern days have extended it from Seville to Santiago de Compostela. Most of the drive in our first stage was high, on a reasonably featureless… Continue reading Extremadura Beauty and Birdlife
Solitude in Sevilla – Part 2
Staying at Puerto Gelves marina we could get the bus into Seville for €2 or we could go in via a cycle route, really easily. The bikes gave us a capacity to get off the beaten track. Our highlights are not only that an old Tobacco Factory in all its glory could become University de… Continue reading Solitude in Sevilla – Part 2
Solitude in Sevilla – Part 1
Having the opportunity to view Sevilla in times like these, felt like a blessing. Feeling like 'A listers' who had organised for Sevilla to be closed for the week, just so we could wander freely without paparazzi, was an alien concept but that's how it felt. Joking aside, there were no tourists that we saw,… Continue reading Solitude in Sevilla – Part 1
Purrturbed
Hello, Jigsaw here..... I just read the most recent posts and I'm right miffed. This whole blog is supposed to be about me, the travelling cat and they didn't even mention me! I'd go grrrrr.... if I could! In fact, they don't really talk about me much at all.... that needs to change I meowed....… Continue reading Purrturbed
Plaza, Balcony, Narrow Street Repeat
Ah Cadiz, this is a difficult post to write without having to use a thesaurus for alternative words to stunning and beautiful! Having said that, our Aire parking spot at the docks wasn't so glorious but it was interesting! Being able to watch dock cranes loading and unloading from 100m away was something to behold… Continue reading Plaza, Balcony, Narrow Street Repeat
Tunnel of Doom v Clinica Abyss
We moved East along the coast to a site near Zahora. Having taken a walk around Zahora we concluded that there might be lots of second homes there and maybe some people, but given everything was behind high walls and gates we couldn't really tell. It was thus, soul less and I guess being off… Continue reading Tunnel of Doom v Clinica Abyss
The English Mutants (Ninja Turtles)
We moved on yesterday from Tarifa area and having spent three fabulous weeks there we got to know some of the other folks on the site, some stay there for months. On saying our goodbyes it transpired that the mature German blokes on the site (who didn't mix with anyone else) 'jokingly' called us The… Continue reading The English Mutants (Ninja Turtles)
What did the Romans ever do for us?
So due to my unfortunate altercation with a barrier, cycling has been off the agenda for a little bit. But out of adversity comes "DuoLingo" to send me daily reminders of my "57 day Streak" and I do not mean I'm following in the footsteps of the hiker at Torcal! No, DuoLingo has awarded me… Continue reading What did the Romans ever do for us?
The Curious Adventures of the Cat in the Camper Van 