MONDAY, 17 OCTOBER, SIGUENZA, SPAIN,10.46pm
Busy day today. Had a really good breakfast in the Monestario de Piedras and decided to go for our hike through the park. I don’t think Paul and Cheryl realized how many steps were involved, but I digress! We entered the parquet at about 10:15 and were immediately ambushed by photographers. I would like to say it was our celebrity that attracted them but alas they were only the park photographers trying to make a living. We duly posed with cheesy grins and then the guy with the owl approached us. Yes! An owl! A beautiful, beautiful owl, big too! I got to hold him and duly grinned again with great delight for the camera. You just know that Paul is going to buy these!
We entered the long slog down the hill to the waterfalls. I was a bit concerned after Paul’s recent face-plant, and Cheryl’s dicky knees, but everyone survive the first descent. We walked around and climbed steps and viewed such beautiful scenery that I was almost beautified out after about 30 minutes! Ron and Sandy, do you remember when Paul pushed away from the table last year and said “ I am sick of eating” ?, well I was just about on overload this morning! The waterfalls were just stunning and the walk beautiful. See I just used that word again! It was wonderful. If anyone gets the chance to come here, this is a must see experience. The difficulties with finding reception and bars notwithstanding, the climbing of steps and assaulting hills, listening to the puffing and panting of my companions, painful as it was, was worth the effort and we all survived as mature and decrepit as we are!!! Just terrific.
Paul was ready to wimp out, but Cheryl and I wanted to see the raptor show. They have the wonderful hawks and owls and falcons and they put on a show. Again, at the expense of being redundant, terrific. It wasn’t even noon, checkout time. Talk about overload!
We eventually left this little piece of paradise just as all the day trippers were arriving. Success! We headed on down to Siguenza, only about 70 miles, but we came by some back roads and took our time. We got here about 2PM and asked a gal posting posters about a good place to eat and she directed us to a good restaurant. After a leisurely lunch we headed up to the castle of Siguenza which is the Parador. We have a lovely room, but unfortunately it is the same room as 4 years ago and the shower is just as moldy now as it was then! We summoned housekeeping and it was taken care of. It is an uncomfortable feeling sitting in the sitting room listening to someone scrubbing your shower, but damn it, we complained about this 4 years ago and it they haven’t got it right by now it is not my problem!
This castle is very old and quite spectacular, with crenellated walls, towers and central courtyard with gardens, It was the fortress of bishops ,when bishops warranted such things. It sits above the town and is spectacular. Why did the shower have to be moldy?? Cheryl is about a half a mile away even though she is on the same floor. Anyway, having had quite full day already, naps and reading were called for. (naps for the younger more decrepit ones and reading for me). We met at six in the bar and had drinkies. Cheryl and I tried to find a way up to the towers and walls to walk around (Paul wimped out again) but reception was uncooperative so we went exploring on our own, got nowhere! They are not very friendly in this Parador, I think this will be our last visit here. Moldy showers and surly staff will put me off everytime!
Off down the hill to explore a little and buy water, Pacheran, and bleach, because I am just not happy with that shower! We had a drink and some snacks and headed back to our rooms, we were pretty tired by this time even though it was early by Spanish standards. The town was quiet by this time so we did not feel too bad about going up to our rooms to chill out. So here we are, clean shower (finally) a nice bubble bath and in bed by 11 PM . I am done!
We have only 2 days left. Off to Alcala tomorrow for a couple of days and then back to the USA. I could get used to this travelling thing. Having a great time. More tomorrow.
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