Day 7 started a little late. The Hotel offered a reasonable breakfast which we could take in our little patio or on the roof-top terrace. It was a lovely day so we took it on the terrace and enjoyed the roof-top views, the sunshine and the bread, pastries, etc. I have to say that cake for breakfast seems a very civilised thing to do (bacon is still a preference though).
Having had our fill we set off for the Cathedral & Giralda - Giralda is the name for the big bell tower that stands next to the churchy bit. AJ said that, after the spiral staircase incident in Segovia, she wasn't going up any towers.
As it happened she didn't have to - the tower was closed for repairs that week. Here's where see a theme repeating. Basically, Segovia Cathedral is very much like the previously visited places only even bigger. It also has even more gold and intricate carving so must have been even scarier and awe-inspiring to the C14th peasants. For us, though, it was more of the same and we would probably have been better off finding something else to do.
Yet more cathedral carving
They did have rooms full of "treasure" though, so even more gold. They can afford to given the amount they charged us to get in...
After that I knew we would have a more interesting time - we went to see the Alcazar which is an old Moorish castle turned Royal Palace. The Alhambra at Granada is unparalleled but this place sits credibly alongside it. The ornamentation and scale isn't the same but neither was it crammed full of tourists so you actually got time to roam around at your will rather than feeling herded. We enjoyed it very much and would recommend it as the best place to visit in town. You could pay extra to visit some upstairs apartments in the place which we didn't do but neither did we feel we'd missed anything...
Sevilla Alcazar (apologies for the leaningness – I have subsidence)
Some more ambling about the old town continued, interspersed with drinks stops and another church. Then it was back to the hotel for a rest. Then, about 4'ish peckishness set in (we'd had nothing since the late breakfast) so we moseyed out for some tapas. Very nice. The evening meal was at another tapas bar, this time for more substantial raciones. The waiter was very good. Whilst we'd ordered individual meals he served the plates up individually so we effectively had big tapas action. At the end of the meal we found out that the guy was from Chile and was, of course, a Liverpool supporter (isn't everyone?). He did a couple of quick lines of YNWA and explained that he'd learned most of his early English from Beatles numbers. He was dead busy which was a shame because we couldn't really chat but I can definitely recommend La Mesquita for good tapas and service.
Then to bed to polish off more sherry and get some kip in prior to the big slob that the next week had in store (well hopefully)
Day 6 was to take us to a potential highlight of the trip - Seville. Certainly the biggest city we were going to see on this trip.We left Caceres early, trusting to O'Reilly's instructions yet again.This time I decided not to ask it to send us to the hotel.This was because I knew that we couldn't park at the hotel, we'd have to drive past.I also knew that there was a car park not far from the hotel so I got O'Reilly to take us there.This he did without too much of a slip (there was one attempt to get us to drive down a road that was being dug up - can't blame him for not knowing that).We got to the car park only to see a sign saying "Completo" - it was full and only open to residents.Oh dear (or words to that effect).We drove around for a few minutes and eventually found somewhere to leave the car but it didn't feel like a bona fide parking space so I knew I'd be back...
We trolled over to the hotel and checked in. This hotel is the Amadeus - a small independent place in the old part of town and best described as quaint (or maybe quirky).It has a musical theme (clue in the name?).For the first time this trip we were given a 'real' key rather than a piece of plastic and told our room was just round the corner.Before we even got in the room I thought it was a bit strange because we didn't appear to be on an outside wall - the whole of the room appeared surrounded by the rest of the hotel so I'm thinking "where's our window?".No problem.
We walked into the room (which was reasonably compact) and there, on the left hand wall were french doors leading to the tiniest little courtyard (a little larger than an apartment balcony).It was a nice surprise and we were very happy with it.
Amadeus Room
Another happiness generating thing was that the hotel had a spare space in the previously 'completo' car park (albeit for a significant fee) so I took it and went and retrieved the car, no problem (O'Reilly helped once again).
Actually, our first sight-seeing in Seville was inside the hotel.We've never been anywhere quite as individual as this place...
Amadeus Lounge area - note the sherry, centre right
View from Amadeus roof terrace
Hotel having been 'seen' we went out to find coffee. We didn't think we needed anything to eat but we sat at a tapas bar and somehow got persuaded to take 6 assorted tapas plates (like they REALLY twisted our arms...).Very nice and it all slipped down.Then we had a wander, leaving the main sights for the next day.
The tourist map we'd picked up was really confusing though until I worked it out.Call me conventional but I generally expect a map to show North pointing to the top of the page and it quickly became clear that this map didn't work like that.However, having sussed that North was to the left (west) of the page the thing started to slip into place and we found our way to the riverbank.
We did the Museo De Bella Artes which is described as one of the best collections in Spain and is, thankfully, free.I can think of at least 2 galleries near home that are both better than this was but maybe I'm biased (Brit Art is way better than Spanish art after all - well when you take Picasso, Miro and Dali out of the equation...Better leave that one before I dig any deeper).
Once again tiredness took over so we went back to our lovely room for a rest before going out to dinner. Another fantastic thing about this hotel - FREE SHERRY!!! I have to admit to more than one trip to the decanter during the course of the late afternoon. So to dinner - dinner is very easy to do in Seville because decent places to eat seem to be all over the old quarter... Stay at the Amadeus and you won't have to walk more than 200 yards for some decent scran...
Day 5 was mainly a travelling day.We were headed for Seville but it's a fair way from Salamanca so we broke the journey overnight in Caceres - stopping in Plasencia at about lunchtime for a bite and a coffee.
All of a sudden I am reminded of the Yemas (see day 3 for pic) and can describe them in 2 words - "don't bother".They are the confectionery equivalent of a "local delicacy" - you know, the sort of stuff that you'd only eat when there's absolutely nothing left and even then you'd maybe hold your nose.These things looked like little egg yolks and were very soft.They tasted eggy and sweet and where the lemon ingredient was is anyone's guess.I definitely wouldn't recommend them (but, actually I did eat them all) and AJ wouldn't touch them.
Anyway, anyway, off to Plasencia...Sat nav took us in very easily (although it's all on the main road to Caceres so hard to miss) and after a bit of shuffling round we found an easy parking place.It's quite a nice little town to stop in and we ate at a cafe on the main square - all very pleasant.It's town hall has a clock tower with a bloke who dings the hour bell just like on Trumpton - a shame we only saw 1 o'clock but never mind.
Plasencia "Trumpton" Town Hall Clock
After lunch it was back into the car and then the sat nav went and let us down.It took us around the town, sort of, trying to send us the wrong way up a one way street (thankfully ignored) but then it sent us around some newly built roads and into a market / gypsy camp / dead end sort of place.We forced our way out of that, gleefully ignoring O'Reilly's instructions (as the sat nav was now known) and finally we arrived on some roads that we both agreed would take us to Caceres.
Everything was going well and we entered the heart of the old town of Caceres but then O'Reilly told us to turn right and, flipping heck, this is a bit of a narrow street...Some Spaniards were walking the other way waving hands and fingers in a good natured way as if to say "turn back" so we stopped.They saw the sat nav, jabbered a bit and chuckled and then helped us work our way backwards for the 20 yards required to get us out of the street/alleyway.
"The" Caceres Street (apols for googleness)
It appears that I had taken O'Reilly too literally and should have waited an extra 20 yards to turn.Now then, the hotel we were staying in was on the Plaza Mayor and I saw a sign which matched the sat nav but then O'Reilly said turn left and, whilst I could see the Plaza beckoning about 30 yards away, the sign in front of me said no entry. The thing is... you can't actually drive through the Plaza... At least not in the middle of the afternoon. No wonder it looks so clean (it's a very clean Plaza).What I was then left with was a requirement to park somewhere, anywhere, within a "reasonable" distance of the hotel.We managed to find a space about 5 mins walk away but it was definitely temporary.
The Hotel Casa Don Fernando is a nice little place - all modern and a bit quirky but very good for the price.They had a cut price deal on the local multi-storey so I plonked the A1 in there.
Caceres are trying to do tourism but there's not really much there.A nice square and a very ancient old part of town but not a lot of gold in the churches maybe and definitely no castle. I did take a couple of pics but nothing worth adding here. We wandered about it a bit but felt we'd earned a lie down before tea.
Finding dinner was probably more tortuous than it needed to be.We'd had a drink in a place called El Pato earlier and that seemed OK.It was also recommended in the DK guide but when I went on Tripadvisor it was unanimously panned - seriously panned.So, we ended up wandering around the busier end of town (definitely not much fun) and coming back to the square where we had a meal in the restaurant next door.The service was good but the house wine was distinctly ropey and the desserts came in plastic tubs.Oh dear... Still, I guess you can't have a good meal every night (unless you've loads of dosh).
Day 4 was full on Salamancan sight-seeing action and we even had a plan (well sort of...). First up we visited the University - it looks like there are 2 bits to it so we went into the old bit. It is, indeed, very old but, to be honest, there's not that much to see. In fact the facade on the front is pretty fancy compared to the bits inside - in fact the facade contains the frog that is the symbol of Salamanca (although it's well hard to find). You could see that some of the lecture facilities were ancient although, even then, designed for mass education. No interactive whiteboards though...
Ancient Lecture Hall
Lovely Old Library
That done I had a much better option up my sleeve - Casa Lis. This was a rich dude's house back at the start of the 20th century. Consequently it's been created in an Art Nouveau & Deco style and it is now a museum for such. We both enjoyed going around it and I have to say that they've conserved it brilliantly. Loads of exhibits were originally bought by the guy who owned the house and a lot more has been donated. The only thing we didn't really "get" was the dolls exhibition but what the heck. Would recommend it though.
Casa Lis Roof - Spectacular...
After that, just for good measure, it started raining again. This happened whilst we were on our way to the roman bridge. The city and the bridge stand on an ancient highway - The Ruta De La Plata which I think runs right through from the south to the north of Spain. The bridge is old and it goes across the river. The Romans built it. That's about it really. Also, there's nowhere on it to shelter from the rain (see, the Romans weren't THAT clever).
Now things get a little hazy as I can't remember whether we visited the Cathedral next or the Convent of San Estaban. It was probably the Convent but I'll write about the Cathedral first - actually it's Cathedrals, plural, but they are built next to one another so it's probably the first time we've visited a semi-detached Cathedral. We visited the "new" Cathedral which is actually quite old (from C16th) - this was also the "free" Cathedral (no entrance fee) and you could kind of see why. Basically it was a larger version of the place we visited in Segovia and in some respects was simply the lobby for the older place (from C12th). So, a massive organ and choir stalls in the middle and lots of dimly lit and fenced off chapels around the sides with varying degrees of gilded and painted wood carvings.
We didn't go into the old cathedral (well it wasn't free) but I'd seen some of it on t'internet and apart from a big fresco thing at one end there wasn't much to it...
That reminds me - an interesting 10 minutes was spent in the Ciel de Salamanca. It's in this little building near the Uni and is a type of early zodiacal planetarium. Very interesting and peaceful(it was dark and nobody else was in). No pics though, not allowed.
So, to the Convent. In our guide book this gets a listing but it isn't highlighted like the Uni and Cathedrals which is a shame because it really was impressive and not at all busy. Basically you got a standard type convent arrangement - cloisters, various rooms, sacristy, etc. Then you’ve got this church next door. Not another church, surely. Well, maybe not just another church... First of all I should say that the church had about 3 other people in it so it felt more tranquil than any of the others we'd been in (which does make a difference).
Inside it was very light with fewer caged off chapels but basically it had this massive gold altarpiece at one end which was way better lit and more impressive than anything previously seen (in Spain, this week, at least). At the other end was this huge fresco above a galleried choir / organ area - kind of like the circle in a theatre. Having viewed all this from ground level you then had the chance to go "upstairs" and look at it from the gallery. The organist was higher still - a great seat to view proceedings from (although we weren't allowed up there). I remember now that we definitely did do the convent thing first because the cathedral was a major disappointment afterwards...
San Esteban Altar
San Esteban Choir
We then had a late lunch and a wander about, ending back in the Plaza Mayor. It wasn't raining now and, in the middle of the square, a big temporary stage had been set up and these African dudes were rehearsing something. We had no idea what was going on - much singing, shouting, stamping and few acrobatic leaps but it all looked jolly good fun so we thought we'd come back later for the show.
That night we ate out next door but one to the restaurant from the night before then, a little before 10, went to the Plaza for the show. We sat on a bench whilst the usual pre-show messing about went on. Then decided to stand near the front as it was obvious we would otherwise see nothing. What we did get was a show about a white guy making friends with some African chums - singing, dancing and some great acrobatics (including male pole dancing - but none of that mucky stuff...). The only regret was that I didn't take my camera. I took some shots on the phone but they were pretty rubbish so you won't see them here. Later on I found out that they are called Cirque Mandingue and here's a flavour of what they were like.
Day 3 started looking rather damp.We had had some sporadic showers over the previous few days but this looked more like brolly weather.Anyway, not trusting the vagaries of the hotel breakfast buffet we nipped round the corner for a bite (which was pretty much all we got...).Then we headed off for Salamanca.
The plan was to stop in Avila for lunch - this ancient town has a magnificent wall around it so I was hoping to wander around it (sad but I like that sort of thing).So the sat nav got set for Avila.Now the thing about sat navs is that they like to take you to a specific address, so after getting Avila as my town I needed to give it more detail.The problem was that I didn't have a specific address in mind, nor did I know any addresses in Avila.I decided that the best bet was to set it for the Plaza Mayor because every town has one of those.Then when we got there I could just park up somewhere as usual.
The sat nav got us out of Segovia very handily, after a stop off to take a picture of the Alcazar from outside the town (you get a better idea of the scale...).As it happened Avila was well signposted, as it's a major town, so we didn't really need the sat nav but I left it on anyway.The fun started whilst we were headed down a reasonably major route that seemed to be taking us all the way to Avila.
Segovia Alcazar from outside town
The sat nav told us to turn left off this main road onto what was clearly a more minor road.A short cut, possibly, I thought - or maybe I just didn't think, I just did what the nice Irish man told me (he can be very persuasive).This road turned out to be the literal high point of the tour. It took us past a quarry - in fact we did wonder if it was going to take us THROUGH the quarry (did that earlier in the year in Cyprus).Thankfully it didn't but it did keep climbing.In fact it took us through some really nice scenery and we did stop at one point to take photos.
We basically drove into the middle of nowhere for about 20 minutes.We were still vaguely going in the right direction and because the landscape was very nice and the roads OK we weren't too perturbed.We "topped out" at 1467m and, on one of the straighter bits of road, did get a km check for Avila.
The thing was, though, that the sign then said we had about 20kms to go but the sat nav said 5...A bit strange.It was when the sat nav then suggested that we turn right towards a small village, and that we were nearly there, that we switched it off.Clearly I had programmed it to take us to some random Plaza Mayor in some random little village in the Province of Avila. We then followed signs to Avila and found it , no problem... The moral of this tale being program the sat nav carefully and don't forget that provinces and capital towns regularly have the same name...
Avila walls in the rain
We parked up and at this point is was raining "properly", like back home - no ridiculous thundery stuff that ends after 20 mins, this was a full "set up for the afternoon" sort of rain.So, brollies out and we wandered around Avila for a bit.Nobody was walking on the walls and, whilst it was clearly set up to do so (rails and such) there didn't seem to be an obvious way up so I gave up on that.
Instead, we walked around the old town and decided to find some lunch - a nice little bar did the job filled with little old ladies consuming tapas and white wine before 1pm.It was clearly a haven for golden girls.Anyway the bocadillos were very good and so, suitably nourished, we wandered round a bit more of the town.
Then we found the main square...Now Avila has a famous saint - Teresa.She had visions and stuff and is variously painted and sculpted in an ecstatic state (nuns clearly can have fun).No real surprise therefore to find that the main square in Avila is not a Plaza Mayor but THE Plaza de Santa Teresa...
Santa Teresa having ecstasy
Bernini - Santa Maria della Vittoria - Rome
Another thing the nuns are famous for is making Yemas (Spanish for yolks) which, according to all the books are a "delicious" local confection.I am known for consumption of confectionery so we bought a small box to try later.According to the box the Yemas are made from egg, sugar and lemons.Sounds good.
Yemas... Lovely...
Because we are nothing if not optimistic, the sat nav got set for our hotel in Salamanca and we set off yet again.There were no problems finding the place as the little computer did its job well.The only wrinkle appeared to be that the hotel is in a vaguely pedestrianised little precinct but anyone who's been to Spain knows that you can drive and park almost anywhere, at least up to a point, and the front of the hotel was not even approaching that point.So, we checked in and I went and sought out some longer term parking.The hotel had its own parking but the (efficient but not very friendly) reception staff didn't mention it.Anyway, I'd already decided that I wasn't going to pay so, after driving a couple of circuits of our part of town for 10 minutes, I managed to find an acceptable spot to leave the car.
Now you will recall that in Segovia we got a room with a view which was very nice...In Salamanca I actually paid to get a room with a nice view (flipping heck dude, MORE expense...) because tripadvisor reviews recommended it.This effectively means that you do get quite a nice view rather than no view at all...And it was quite a nice view apart from the large television aerial on the building opposite.That meant that you could get an unobstructed pic of the University buildings but not of the cathedral.A few rooms further down the corridor and we'd have been perfect...Never mind.
The lovely view of Salamanca
The "not quite as lovely" view of Salamanca
It was a little late in the afternoon for sightseeing so we had a little amble around instead to kind of get our bearings which isn't a bad thing to do when you're sense of direction gets as bad as mine.I used to be quite good at directions and stuff but as well as hearing, sight, and just about every other sense, it appears that directional capabilities also reduce with age.So we headed into the old town which is very interesting, despite the graffiti.
At this point note that Salamanca is kind of Cambridge and Oxford rolled into one from a Spanish perspective which means there are loads of students about (although, thank god, not many bikes - Salamanca is for walkers). I'd also note that the students didn't appear to be that posh (rich) either - maybe they hide it well.
Anyway we wandered about and I suggested that we head for the Plaza Mayor (in between showers). After a while, however, it appeared that I couldn't find said Plaza which may have had something to do with a total lack of map action.So, we headed for the tourist info and got a map.It turned out that the Plaza Mayor was only 5 minutes away and it was indeed Mayor...
Placa Mayor in the rain (and slightly tilted)
At this point the heavens opened so it was just as well that we were here - it has a colonnade thing all around it so we ambled around twice waiting or the rain to stop.It eased a bit so we then slowly ambled back to the hotel checking the restaurants on the way.That night we ate in a small place called Restaurant Ruta de la Plata on Calle Melendez.A very nice meal ensued..
There's something you'll have to bear in mind at this stage. It's still day 7 as I type and I'm not sure how much wifi I'm going to get over the next few days so I will cram stuff in and maybe forget pics (for now).
Anyway, there we were all set up to explore Segovia in the late afternoon. SO we had a reccy around the town - it only takes about 15 minutes to walk from one end of the old town to the other but there are plenty of cafes, etc. to suss out for food later on. Also, we were a bit peckish (well AJ was) so we stopped at a bar for a bocadillo and a drink. Nice tortilla bocadillo... Then we decided on a restaurant for later - Asi nos ponen de huevos las gallinas.
This restaurant had different interesting menu del dias and didn't go for the traditional Cochinilla Asado. This is slow roasted suckling pig which doesn't appeal at all. It's a signature dish of the region but is that really an excuse for it appearing everywhere? Imagine finding jellied eels in most of the restaurants in London... So, we went over to the restaurant in the evening. It was very quiet but that didn't put us off - actually the place was in two halves - a cafe and a restaurant. The cafe was busy with locals... Anyway, on the table was a menu de degustacion - a tasting menu. It had 3 different first courses, 3 different seconds and a sweet. Just as we were deciding whether to go for that and what to choose the owner came over and explained - actually you get everything on the menu... Excellent!, off we go then. So we had everything and everything was good - even the lasagna with the "secret" filling. It tasted good and I didn't try to work it out... I'd recommend the place on tripadvisor but I can't find it... Here endeth day 1.
Day 2 started and, rather than try and find somewhere for brekkie, we decided to eat from the hotel buffet. It tends to be an expensive option but at least you know what you're getting - or so we thought. As it turned out the hot element of the breakfast had pretty much run out (with an hour until the end of the session). This was a very bad start as, for me, a breakfast buffet is incomplete without bacon... I had some cereal and decided to wait things out. I noted a Spanish chap doing the same... After a while the Spanish dude talked to a "waitress" and I suspect the news wasn't good because he went and got himself some ham. His daughter and wife carried on regardless (the wife wearing sunglasses throughout - a heavy night before maybe?). He wasn't happy and neither was I. I had some cake instead. Then I had more cake... Spanish dude finished breakfast and went out to complain. A few mins later the bacon (well some) appeared. By this time I'm really done with breakfast but I was determined to get some bacon anyway (after all I'd paid a FORTUNE for this - well over a tenner). Bacon toast then got consumed (now really full) and a complaint to reception was avoided.
The rest of the day was sight-seeing. The cathedral (free on Sunday) was quite interesting but, as I was to find out later in the week, once you've seen one Spanish baroque cathedral you've pretty much seen them all. Much intricately carved stone on the outside, much intricately carved, gilded and painted woodwork on the inside. A huge organ (oo, er, missus) and choir set up in the middle. All generally designed to scare the crap out of a self-respecting C16th peasant.
Segovia Cathedral
Good example of gilded carved stuff
We had a break for coffee and enjoyed the spectacle of the traditional Sunday Segovian pet-walking...
Sunday pig walking
In the afternoon we went around the Alcazar.I have to say that the Spanish do good Alcazars (even if they were generally started off by the moors - desculpe).This one was very ornate here and there and quite impressive generally - you can see why the royals liked it.
Alcazar Room of the Kings
There was also a tower (extra charge - really pushing the boat out here) but this is where we nearly came a cropper (well one of us did).The problem with these old places is spiral staircases - some things that AJ is really averse to are me (sometimes), spiders, heights, and spiral staircases.Clearly the heights and spiralness are linked - it's not the going up that's the problem, it's the going down.The place said 152 steps so I wasn't counting (OCD usually overtakes me in such a situation) but the staircase seemed unrelenting.We then got to a point where AJ's bottle finally ran out."No more" she said. "Do you want me to come down with you?" I said. "Yes please". At this point an English voice (Rule Britannia!) says "Keep going, you've only got about 10 steps to go"That’s the other problem with spiral staircases - you've no idea how near the top (or bottom) you are...So we carried on and got to the top - thanks to the lady of the steps...Quite a nice view but I wouldn't bother with it next time.
The view from the tower
We wandered around the rest of the town, had another bite to eat, wandered the length of the aqueduct (not that interesting) then thought about evening meal. Nothing much to report there I'm afraid...And that was day 2.
Actually, it's day 7 already but everything has to start somewhere and this started with a 5:45 alarm bleep followed by a shower, brekkie and a short trip to LPL JLA arriving about 7:20. Everything very smooth - the flight isn't full and arrives in Madrid early. No huge queues at passport control and our bags are almost first off at the carousel. Even when we get to the car hire place there isn't really a queue. Something has to give...
So, the girl at the car hire desk offers me a choice of cars. This is pretty unusual. Usually they just look at you and try and work out what they can foist on you - and bear in mind that they aren't going to get this car back because I'm leaving it a long way away in Malaga... So, they really could have tried anything... But maybe they recognised that I don't take rubbish or maybe they just had loads of cars free - figure... The net result was that my booking was for "Seat Ibiza equivolent" and the girl asked me whether I would take a Nissan Micra or an Audi A1. Now I have to say that my first thought was "I've got 2 cases and both cars sound a bit small so I just checked that those vehicles equated to a Seat Ibiza (which sounds bigger). Unsurprisingly the girl said that they did. After that there really was no contest. I mean,come on, would you choose a sad little Japanese model over a brand new entry level Audi? The choice between on of these
and this
Sorry little A1, I seem to have squashed you a bit...
To be fair to Nissan, the Micra in the pic isn't a current model and the A1 pic is of the actual car we were given, but even so, it's pretty much a no-brainer. So, it was "an A1 please" from me. Paperwork got signed, credit card swiped and off we went to the car. Now to check for extra dings and scratches (don't get caught out folks) and I found one. Nothing major but I thought I'd get it checked. I went to find someone to do it but there was one bloke who was dead busy so I thought "no big deal" and went back to the car. Time to go. Turn the ignition key. Dashboard lights up OK but nothing happens engine-wise. Hmm. Obvious solution - turn the key again... Still nothing. Time to look around the dashboard for something to push - these new fangled cars like starter buttons don't they? Very retro. Nothing. There's some Spanish on the dashboard read-out but I don't know enough to work it out. So now I HAVE to find someone. As it turns out a young lady is available and she comes to help out. First the scratch - too small to bother with she says. Then starting the car - you have to press the clutch pedal she says... Oh, Right, Bingo, off we go.
The car is only a 1.2 and we will be doing something in the region of 1000 miles in it... I get a "you will always go for the cheap option" from AJ but actually the car has a little secret - as well as being fuel injected it is also a turbo so it actually goes pretty well. Speed is limited to about 70 on the Spanish Autovia so I'm not caning it and all in all I have to say that it's a very competent and comfortable motor. More competent and comfortable than me anyway (damned with faint praise).
Our Sat Nav is working (today) and the air con and cruise control all do their respective jobs. So, in fairly swift time, and having avoided all tolls (stingebag strikes again) we arrived at our hotel in Segovia. On check-in the young lady at the desk told us that the car park is available in the hotel at 14 Euro a night. However, she also told us that we can park around the corner at the on-street pay and display parking for free on Saturday afternoons and Sundays (it's already Saturday afternoon). Off I went around the corner and (finally) found a space. By the time we left on Monday I'd paid 1 whole Euro for parking. Result. Our room was very nice and had a view of Segovia's aqueduct - the best preserved piece of Roman architecture in all Spain. A room with a decent view is effectively an upgrade for us. Another result. All in all this probably ended up being the best first day's holiday on record from the persepctive of everything going completely right. This cannot continue, surely...
