We are coming to the end of the European part of our adventure, due to Brexit we no longer have the right to travel around as we please, the 90 / 180 day rule will apply going forward. We are looking forward to discovering the gems that our home country offers over the summer months. But luckily for us the lockdown here is much lighter than in the UK and we are taking advantage of the much-improved weather and being allowed to move around the province.
When we left you last week we had stopped at a lovely restaurant for two nights and had found some lovely walks. But the weather turned on us again and we had driving rain so we headed further inland to a tiny campsite that had rave reviews, lots of lovely walks a nice restaurant and a bar, and it was in the middle of nowhere. It was as described truly beautiful but not really ready to receive guests as we were to early in the season. The owner Jose could not have been more helpful and gave us a drink and guided us to a spot. We had electricity but the water was broken as were the showers, so as we had our own this was not a problem.
As the rain poured down we cooked dinner and relaxed, we had no signal on our mobile phones so Karen was overjoyed to have some peace and quiet. But overnight we got a text from Pino’s foster carer about some paperwork we had to sort out for him. With the weather still poor we had to sadly leave and head for a larger town so we could get the paperwork printed out, signed and in the post.
We headed to a town called Cabra, this was one of our favourite stops on our last trip in 2016, so off we went, and like magic the weather changed for the better, and we had free parking and we were where we loved. Inland Spain for me is magic, the people are more relaxed prices are lower and stopping places are plentiful and, in many cases, free. We quickly got the paperwork sorted and were able to wander the streets and enjoy the very relaxed atmosphere, the bars and restaurants are able to open until 9.00pm and the locals were carefully enjoying the extra freedom.
We enjoyed the tapas, a couple of drinks and the feeling of wellbeing that this freedom was giving us. Another benefit Cabra offered was a barber and I now sport a rather short haircut, I did ask for a George Clooney look. I think the poor man though it was impossible and gave me a more standard look. Karen decided to search Google for eyebrow threading in Cabra and found some establishments in Dublin but none where we were.
Lastly Cabra is on the longest Via Verde (Cycleway) in Spain running on the old Olive Oil railway line between Puente Genil and Jaen a total of 174 km. This is a reason to come here and we had two days day one heading to Zuheros in the east a 39 km round trip and the next day we cycled to the start point of the Via Verde at Puente Genil and then back to Cabra an 82 KM round trip. As it is built on a railway track there are slight gradients but I can assure you we did sleep well after the trip. The sun shone all day the scenery was amazing, this is olive oil country and the trees stretch out for miles. Such a pretty place. Again pictures can be the only way to do it justice.
We have decided to stick closely to Cadiz as it has been our home for the past few months and after a couple of days we had to move on. We chose a small town called Algodonales it had an Aire that had rave reviews, free, including electric hook up, and just in case other options if it was closed due to Covid, which it was.
We had hear of a tiny campsite near the village and it primarily caters for paragliding folk.
We were able to stay here and it had that very similar feel to where we stayed in Turkey this time last year. It is a community and extremely helpful friendly people in an idyllic location. Except this time, we are at the end of a lockdown rather than a start so there is a bit more flexibility and we can go for long walks to the stunning villages nearby. We had visited Zahara de Atunes on the coast but Zahara de la Sierra is extraordinarily beautiful and a good solid 18km round trip walk from the campsite. Pictures paint a 1000 words.
We will stick around here for a while as if possible it will give a tick to something on my bucket list, it seems that even someone as large as me can do a tandem paraglider flight so I am working out if I really have the courage to do it but you will have to wait until next week for that information. The blog has
Helena says
It looks great! I’m north of Salamanca and am going on to Burgos today.. Safe travel!
David says
Wow you are moving we loved Burgos.
Bernard Kenna says
I pass through Cabra , in Dublin every day , and it is nowhere as nice as your Cabra 🙂
The Communion Dresses are very cheap, very good value for the customers, and nice cotton laces , rather than polyesters
Enjoy , be safe
Bernard
Katherine Clune says
Hair cut looks OK!!!
Michael Stanley says
1950’s slick. Don’t worry, hopefully regrow..
Gilda Baxter says
Interesting that you can move around so freely and even eat out. Your photos are beautiful, keep having fun.