TOLEDO & A GLASS OF RIOJA

Buenos Dias,
You can't put a price on a view like this.

Actually, you can. 34 euros a night which is twice what we normally pay. In truth the view of Toledo is the best bit. Sitting in the restaurant with a cool drink and some very good food looking over the city is just fine. Otherwise the town is fine if you have not had your fill of walled medieval cities and gothic cathedrals, as below, but we have!

One thing we have noticed throughout our trip has been the high number of American and Japanese tourists who have been missing for the last few years. The weather was a bit cooler in Toledo and as we approach our next destination, Haro, in the Rioja region, it is a bit chilly. Many websites have said that Haro is not particularly nice and it is a bit scruffy. But we like scruffy. It's a working town and still has attractions like a decent art gallery of local artists and many street sculptures covering the area's devotion to wine.

Of course there is a stork to view on top of the bell tower.

And views over the looming mountains from the campsite which offered a very tasty braised quail as part of their menu del dia.

And some good restaurants - this one where we ate is on the site of an old convent and produced good local food involving beans, lamb, sweetbreads and sucking pig. All in typical large portions.

Of course we visited a couple of wineries and sampled some excellent vintages. The one below, Lopez de Heredia, offered large glasses and we had already enjoyed one of their wines the day before. So a couple more bottles have found their way into the van. We also visited Gomez Cruzado and a couple more bottles followed us to the van.

Leaving Haro we are heading north and a big clue as our current whereabouts. On the wine trail again.

Many thanks again for your comments. I must admit Andy, I know you are legendary fisherman but catching your cod already filleted is a new high.

Adios

J&P