Madrid - here I come

The drive was through the mountains with many many hairpin bends, but the roads are well constructed with good camber and sightlines so it was a fun drive, just had to pay attention. Other vehicles were few and far between but there were lots of hairy bikers enjoying the mountain roads. Was getting ready for a break, but there was nothing, until I came across the hairy biker's pit stop, a proper restuarant with white linen and all.

I chose from the menu del dia ($15). The waiter wasn't very helpful and I landed up with a sort of pale bean soupy dish followed by a black fish dish. When I say black, it was like boot polish with strips of spongy tasteless fish. I persevered, eating the nice hot peppers with it managing to get some black sause on my thumb in the process. I still have the stain!

I had a desert and coffee. The bill was $15 plus $1:20 for the coffee, wine was included! A bottle was placed on the table, drink what you want. Unfortunately I was in the middle of twisty moutain roads or I would have.

And the twisty roads continued before eventually coming down from the mountain on an especially exhilerating set of hairpins which the van and trailer only just went round.

A period across the plain before up in the mountains again onto the elevated plain where the roads were straight for several kilometers, still no cars, until I approach Madrid.

The plain is miles and miles of open farm land and they have started the harvest, even though it's still May.

Have been reading and finished two books, remarkable for me. A Line in the Sand (James Barr), a compelling account of the middle-east after the fall of the Otterman empire. How the British restricted Jewish immigration to Palestine to appease the arabs only to antagonise the Israeles to be. Where are we now, what could have been done differently? Is there an answer to this? My next; Great-Uncle Harry, a tale of war and empire (Michael Palin). I have always been intrigued by what drives individuals to war, conscription I guess, but not before the huge loss of life at Gallipoli and the Somme. And now I've started A God in Every Stone, Kamila Shamsie, also set in the great war years, more of who served for the empire.

Back on the road and crossing more mountains, I check the fuel and see I should make it to the next filling station, only to find it closed. With the next fuel stop 40km away I decided to stop over. Friendly locals showed me some waste ground where I set up for the night before heading to the one and only bar/restuarant in town, for dinner.

I still have difficulty with a Spanish menu but love those croquettes. So that's what I chose along with Cherizo and egg. Now I thought this was a restuarant. What I got was a Chorizo sausage cut in half and fried along with fried eggs dripping in fat, no garnish, no nothing at all appertising - disgusting! I'd asked for un vasso de Rioja which was quite tasty, so I had another. A nice soft fruity finish. I'm sure it was hanging around for ever, fortunately I have no palate.

In the morning I'm first at the filling station and off I go again, more huge expanses of farm land and of course, mountains, I'm in Spain don't you know, Madrid, here I come.