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Trip to la Rioja (November 2016)
Atapuerca
On our way was Atapuerca, one of the major archaeological sites worldwide, where the earliest and most abundant evidence of humankind in Europe is found. This is still in Burgos province but a destination on our bucket list, so we took advantage of visiting la Rioja to stop by. Because of the wine culture, the area is not culturally well-defined anyway, and Atapuerca's resources come, like the wine, from its peculiar soil properties, so it is a good first step to see what has been planted in these grounds in times immemorial before tasting what we now cultivate in them.
In the museum, the model shows how the site was discovered: by carving a train railroad through the mountain.
This is Unesco protected, so you don't visit without appropriate equipment.
Including helmets.
That's about as exciting as it gets. You don't see much of the fossils. You mainly walk through with the knowledge that it's loaded with tons of them.
That's the village that gives its name to the mountains, Atapuerca, as seen from the archaeological park.
And that's Julia going round the church, with the Atapuerca lagoons behind.
Various pueblos (Tormantos, Herramélluri, Cuzcurrita & Briñas)
That's a burnt mountain nearby Belorado, where we stopped to eat (sadly with no time to visit the place itself).
The Palacio de los López Dávalos in Tormantos, a small village we passed by.
Beautiful arcades in Herramélluri, another small village of interest.
Elena and Julia waiting in the car as I'd go round evaluating if it's worth unstrapping the baby.
In the wineyards of Rioja at last.
Now in Cuzcurrita de Río Tirón (Elena holds grapes from the previous field for Julia).
Cuzcurrita's beautiful bell tower.
Imposing building by the Río Tirón.
On the balcony of our hotel in Briñas, in the morning.
Cloudy and Autumny.
Breakfast.
In the village (Briñas)
Haro
Haro was our big destination, where we had the cata de vino in the Bodegas Bilbaínas.
Julia waiting that we get everything prepared.
Urban art. Everything seems to be about wine.
A nice palace.
The village used to be extremely rich, clearly from the wine industry, and counts with imposing buildings.
Many facades are elaborately decorated.
A very old house.
Julia spotted something.
In the small streets toward the church.
Decoration of the church's door.
Mandarine break.
Waiting for the mass to finish.
Someone was playing the organ, which frightened Julia.
The once rich village now turned into a decadent one.
Visiting the Bodegas Bilbaínas.
In the oldest parts of the caves.
Briones & San Vicente de la Sonsierra
More villages on the way, this is Briones.
Going to visit the church; it had an organ that plays itself for 50 cents.
A very old house.
It is in fact, we believe, the oldest house in Rioja.
The door to the city.
By the time we got to San Vicente de la Sonsierra, it was night already.
Santo Domingo de la Calzada
In the parador of Santo Domingo de la Calzada.
It is just in front of the cathedral.
The main square.
A more thorough visit by daylight.
The church has an actual hen house, with livestock, to honor the most famous miracle of Santo Domingo.
Art inside.
A statue of Christ in the crypt.
The main square, not much busier by day.
The old murals, falling down.
Ezcaray and other villages
Arrived in Ezcaray.
Its river, not much water.
But beautiful bridges.
By the church.
Beautiful architecture for the city hall.
Julia contemplating.
The streets by the mountains.
Arcades.
Julia drinking at the fountain.
Village by the mountains.
Fresneda de la Sierra Tirón.
Arlanzon.
Id., the church.
Id., the streets.
Last stop of our trip, diner in Lerma's parador, in company of the biggest supermoon we will know.
