Via de La Plata Part 3

Roadside Dining

I arose from my siesta and hit the streets of Almaden to plot out the next days exit from the town and in search of proper food, by this time ham and cheese were dead to me. What was a road when I arrived in town was now transformed into a restaurant terrace, giving new meaning to Roadside Dining.

Although I do my best to speak Spanish, I was very helpfully presented with a menu that had English translations, and I realized, whilst I was having a good giggle at their translations, I probably sound just as bad to them.

Almaden to El Real de la Jara Leaving Almaden I carried on through the Parque Natural and this turned out to be the best section so far from a scenery perspective. I came across this cute little dude who followed me for a while, I wanted to pick him up and put him in my backpack. But luckily the sun hadn't yet addled my brain and I kept walking! Of course I'm in deep trouble with Marga and Shreya who are fox fanatics!

Serious as a Sheep dog The route takes you through farmlands and fields of sheep, complete with bells around their necks and a sheep dog who was dying to be petted but was trying to retain his serious demeanor lest the sheep see his soft side! The Trail to El Real de Le Jara was only 14.8 kms but lots of climbing - 48 flights of stairs according to my fitness app. Flipping heck. No wander my calves are now almost the size of my thighs! Siesta Spain As you know the Spanish take their siesta time very seriously and in the small rural villages it's even more apparent, trying to have an early dinner is just not done and I was politely informed that the kitchen is only open at 10pm! But luckily I was given some olives with my glass of wine. So it was olives, yogisip and gluten free choc chip cookies for dinner. A dinner of champions! But the other problem is that when you've hit the road at the crack of dawn to beat the sun and arrive in town at 11:30 absolutely ravenous you are again politely informed that the kitchen will only be open at 1:30. Ai ai ai.... But I guess when in Spain...

Monesterio and the festival of Ham

I arrived in Monesterio today after a 20km walk. It's a town that takes their ham very seriously. I actually saw a ham museum whilst walking into town and thought that my eyes must be deceiving me. They apparently were not!

For those interested The Ham Festival Day is on the 9th September.

The Good Drink - enough said!