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| Line 337: | Line 337: | ||
2h in Peñíscola, 3h50 in restaurant and playas | 2h in Peñíscola, 3h50 in restaurant and playas | ||
| − | == Peñíscola == | + | === Peñíscola === |
<center><wz tip="View of Peñíscola in the tempest, on the eve of our visiting it (18 April 2019).">[[File:Peniscola-Apr19.jpg|750px]]</wz></center> | <center><wz tip="View of Peñíscola in the tempest, on the eve of our visiting it (18 April 2019).">[[File:Peniscola-Apr19.jpg|750px]]</wz></center> | ||
| Line 348: | Line 348: | ||
File:Peniscola-19Apr19-5.jpg|The castle. | File:Peniscola-19Apr19-5.jpg|The castle. | ||
File:Peniscola-19Apr19-6.jpg|The church (Ermita de la Virgen de la Ermitana). | File:Peniscola-19Apr19-6.jpg|The church (Ermita de la Virgen de la Ermitana). | ||
| + | </gallery> | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Playas === | ||
| + | |||
| + | <gallery perrow=3 widths=200px> | ||
| + | File:Playa-MedCoast-19Apr19-1.jpg|Julia by the sea. | ||
| + | File:Playa-MedCoast-19Apr19-2.jpg|Elena at the Serra d'Irta. | ||
| + | File:Playa-MedCoast-19Apr19-3.jpg|Best games are the simplest. | ||
| + | File:Playa-MedCoast-19Apr19-4.jpg|Don't get caught by the sea. | ||
| + | File:Playa-MedCoast-19Apr19-5.jpg|Pretend you're not afraid. | ||
| + | File:Playa-MedCoast-19Apr19-7.jpg|Try to stay as long as possible. | ||
| + | File:Playa-MedCoast-19Apr19-8.jpg|And run, run, run. | ||
| + | File:Playa-MedCoast-19Apr19-9.jpg|Run for your dryness. | ||
| + | File:Playa-MedCoast-19Apr19-10.jpg|And start again. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
Revision as of 20:30, 11 May 2019
Eastern trip (with Antoine) to Eastern Spain (April 2019)
Day 1: Tarancón & Ucles
We took the van at 10h30. We spent 1h30 in a nearby supermarket (Rivas-Vaciamadrid) to get our stock of provisions and another 1h30 a few minutes later in the nearby parking of the Parque Regional del Sudeste, which we knew from our visit of the meeting point of the Manzanares and Jarama. There we had to dry the cooker which the silly woman had inundated. Then we drove to our first important destination, Tarancón, where we stayed for about 1h20, mainly walking around, visiting the church (under the guidance of a local). Our next stop was Ucles. A portion of the road to get there was more difficult, but it was worth it as Ucles was the highlight of this first day. We stayed 1h40 there and another 25 minutes in a nearby viewpoint of the city, where we captured excellent shots with the sunset.
Tarancón
The highlight of Tarancón is the church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción.
Ready to start the trip (with "petit Renne").
First stop in Tarancón.
The door to El Castillejo, the oldest part of the city.
The retablo (reredos), the masterpiece of the church.
Detail of the reredos: Judas betraying Christ with a kiss.
The church from the lower part of the city.
Ucles
An Ucles house.
A glimpse into a patio.
The monastery shadowing the Plaza Mayor.
Door to the monastery.
Gigantic walls.
Statues cast in the columns.
Little windows.
Going round.
The main facade.
The tower in front.
Medieval shortcut.
Decoration of fortress walls.
Julia pensative.
View from a mirador nearby.
At sunset.
Day 2: Ventano del Diablo, Callejones de Las Majadas, Mirador del Tío Cogote, Huelamo and Tragacete, Nacimiento del rio Cuervo
We spent half an hour at the Ventano del Diablo, then three hours at the Callejones de las Majadas (12:00-15:00) and one hour at the nearby Mirador del Tio Cogote. We initially thought of spending the night in the area, maybe going back to the Callejones, but as this was going forward (even though a short ride), we decided to push our luck forward and carried on till the Embalse de la Toba (20min) and a longer pause in El Huelamo (50min), visiting in particular the ruins of its castle that dominates the local scenery, as well as the Jùcar, where Fabrice and Julia bathed (1h10min). We refilled everything at Tragacete and visited the place (40min).
Ventano del Diablo, Callejones de Las Majadas, Mirador del Tío Cogote
El Mirador del Tío Cogote also known as Los Miradores de Las Majadas
Antoine overlooking the cañón del río Júcar.
The Ventano del Diablo.
The view without us in front.
Devilish vantage point.
The Callejones de las Majadas.
Impressive rock formations.
Which you can climb...
Or walk on.
Or walk from below.
Feelings of giants.
They are karst formations made of limestone and dolomite.
Dating back from the Cretaceous period.
Rain falling on the original limestone plateau wore down the porous limestone.
Releasing the more resistant dolomite, that was not distributed evenly in the original rock.
Leaving behind irregularly eroded shapes.
Which are for us to admire.
Antoine's reaction expressed emotions that I could not decipher.
Our group broke in two.
Everybody back on the top part.
When the mountain becomes the sidewalk.
Looking down.
A so-called mushroom.
Little Julia trodding a giant rocky mushroom.
Antoine jumping (while Julia takes a picture with her imaginary camera).
Mirador del Tío Cogote.
Antoine, with same, from closer.
Rim of a canyon.
Antoine.
Back to safety, playing with Julia.
At the Embalse de la Toba.
Huelamo and Tragacete
Climbing towards Huelamo's castle, with Huelamo in background.
View from the top.
The village's church, by the plaza de toros.
City center with the rock of the castle in background.
Bathing in the Jucar before leaving Huelamo.
The church of Tragacete capturing the moon.
Nacimiento del rio Cuervo
The walk towards the rio is an easy one.
Cascades and pools.
A perfect background for family pictures.
The rio Cuervo, shortly after birth.
Walking upstream.
Fabrice pointing at the point where it all starts.
Day 3: Nacimiento del Rio Jùcar, Cascada del Molino de la Chorrera, Nacimiento del Tajo, Cañon de los Arcos
We spent 2h50 chasing the nacimiento del rio Jùcar, and another 2h40 exploring the Cascada del Molino de la Chorrera from various viewpoints (above, side, below). Then half an hour at the Nacimiento del Tajo (which we stumbled upon on our way). The highlight was the Cañon de los Arcos, to which we devoted 2 hours.
Nacimiento del Rio Jùcar
The mountains accompanying the Jùcar's first flow.
Still a baby.
Birth-place... bubbles indicate something is starting here!
The Jùcar has several birth-places, we hunted for more.
Here it dried again, which discouraged Antoine who stayed there.
Carrying on with Julia and Elena only.
Estrecho del Infierno.
By now, with Julia only.
As far as we could go, looking for the manantiales.
Back to the post-birth area.
Which is the most beautiful one.
Leaving the beautiful mountains behind.
Cascada del Molino de la Chorrera
The cascade from above.
From the side.
From below.
Antoine getting daring.
Fabrice joining in.
Julia at a distance.
A bit downstream, when the cascade turned back into the Jucar.
Antoine finding time.
The best seat to enjoy the country-side show (can you see him?)
Nacimiento del Tajo
The river Tagus (Tajo) is the longest river in Spain and we stumbled upon its birth-place by chance, our attention being attracted from the road by the Monumento al nacimiento del río Tajo, that honours the location of this important natural wonder. The monument itself is from the sculptor José Gonzalvo Vives whose recognizable work we met on several occasions during our trip. The sculpture, that brings together various iron sheets, is a tribute to the three provinces that surround the location: Guadalajara (with a knight), Cuenca (with a Calice) and Teruel (with a bull). The Tajo itself is personified by a gigantic masculine figure, Padre Jajo, crowned with a snowflake in reference to the source of the river and holding a spade in reference to the Roman origin of its name. One of the most interesting aspects of the monument is the sculpture Piel del Toro, which represents the Iberian Peninsula appropriately and cleverly carved in the shape of a bull. A line crosses it, from the birth-place to Lisboa, which is of course the Tagus itself. The weather was stormy and it even rained intermittently for the short duration that we walked around. The temptation was great to get walking along till Lisboa, but we carried on our route instead.
The Tajo a few meters after its birth. It's already fairly big!
But it passes through this basin (here under the rain).
The birthplace is nearby this monument of the Padre Tajo (the interesting Piel del Toro is also visible).
Cañon de los Arcos
Elena at the beginning of the Canyon.
Somewhere in the middle.
A brige to cross under.
Antoine going up.
The other side.
Crossing.
It's a long way when the canyon is big.
Looking down.
Back with Julia, for more quiet activities.
Day 4: Albarracín and Teruel
We spent 3h20 walking Albarracín up and down and 4h15 in Teruel. More time in this less interesting place, as we spent time at some nearby attractions and to buy shoes for Antoine. The rest of the days was spent trying to buy something in the outskirts of Teruel to recharge the battery in the campervan (vain attempt), or recharge it in a gas station (where we also refilled the water and disposed of the used one). We then drove to our next destination to spend the night there, at the foot of the castle of Mora de Rubielos.
Albarracín
One was not supposed to go there, let alone with a football ball, but Antoine who preceded us, not reading Spanish, went anyway.
Overall view of the city.
With Elena, Georges and the cathedral.
The city walls.
The walls from the other side.
Antoine strolling along.
In the streets (Casa de la Julianeta).
Other typical houses.
The Plaza Mayor.
On the walls.
The castle of Albarracín.
Majestic houses from the past.
Best view of the walls.
Antoine going off-route on the walls.
Elena at the window.
At the Torre del Andador.
Which affords privileged views...
in particular of the castle and the city.
Although one can always get a better bird-view of the city.
Teruel
Escalinata del Ovalo.
In the Plaza del Torico.
Julia asked to pause.
Torre de San Pedro.
With the Torico in background.
Cathedral of Teruel
Practicing for the procession.
Torre de San Martín.
Not straight!
Julia studying the program of the holy week.
The viaduct.
With passageway in its columns.
Another torre on the border of the city.
Back to the Plaza del Torico.
The Torico itself.
Torre de San Salvador.
Teatro Tenor Marín.
Another statue from Nieves (father of the Padre Tajo).
Day 5: Mora de Rubielos & Rubielos de Mora, la Iglesuela del Cid, Canjavieja, Mirambel, Morella and Vallivana
2h25 in Mora de Rubielos and 1h55 in Rubielos de Mora, then in other notable villages on our way: 34min in la Iglesuela del Cid, 1h25 in Cantavieja, 1h15 in Mirambel, 1h in Morella and 1h20 in Vallivana.
Mora de Rubielos
(not to be confused with Rubielos de Mora)
Julia refilling our water resources.
Our sleeping spot.
Antoine hiding.
View of the village.
In the castle.
Medieval weapons (catapulta tipo scorpio and manuballista on the wall).
View of the Calvario from the castle.
Marks left by sculptors.
In the caves of the castle.
A door to the city.
Arcades.
Another door.
At the Calvario.
Passageway between the towers.
More modern housing.
Rubielos de Mora
(not to be confused with Mora de Rubielos)
First must-go destination.
Ex Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor.
In the streets.
Glorious facades in the center.
Less posh street on the borders.
Refreshment in the Oficina de Turismo.
Portal de San Antonio, from inside.
And from outside.
Third encounter with Nieves' artwork.
Another refreshment stop.
In the streets.
Merging with the woods.
la Iglesuela del Cid, Cantavieja, Mirambel
La Iglesuela del Cid.
(id.) Talking.
Cantavieja.
Casa consistorial.
This is the main spot of the town.
Antoine finding the location inspiring.
The old Templar Castle.
Now turned into a Calvario.
View of the continuation of our itinerary.
Mirambel.
A town of stones-houses.
Elena found this facade inspiring.
Back to the village.
Beautiful door to the city.
On the other side.
Morella and Vallivana
Main entry to Morella.
Going up.
Vallivana.
Day 6: Delta del Ebro
Punta de la Banya.
A wild-looking beach.
The farthest point you can go to.
A little friend we found.
Playa del Trabucador.
Delta del Ebro.
Day 7: Peñíscola, Playas
2h in Peñíscola, 3h50 in restaurant and playas
Peñíscola
View from the castle.
The saturated mediteranean coast.
Julia in jail.
Safely sheltered by Peñíscola.
The castle.
The church (Ermita de la Virgen de la Ermitana).
Playas
Julia by the sea.
Elena at the Serra d'Irta.
Best games are the simplest.
Don't get caught by the sea.
Pretend you're not afraid.
Try to stay as long as possible.
And run, run, run.
Run for your dryness.
And start again.
Day 8: Sagunto, Requena
2h in Sagunto, 4h10 in Requena
Sagunto
