Off to the northlands of Spain

Our driver, Ramon, met us at 10AM sharp. Brand new Mercedes custom van, leather reclining seats and three sunroofs. We be riding in style. The drive out of Madrid was easy and the city just as pretty everywhere we went. Ah those euro zone infusion dollars at work. We started our ascent into the mountains to about 3,000 feet passing Francis tomb and monent-a not very visited site and certainly not by us.

We reached the hill town of Avila and its magnificent walls-almost as perfect as when they were built hundreds of yeas ago. We toured the medical cut with its impressive cathedral and narrow streets, had a coffee and some of the local and famous pastries-of course. From here we traversed the Castilian high plains to Segovia. Perched high atop a rocky hill the cathedral and castle could be sen for miles. Ramon took us to the top and to the min square where we found an outdoor cafe and had aegivian suckling pig for lunch. No P,E,T.A. Fans in this place.

Next it was the cathedral with its 150 foot moorish vaulted ceilings and gold guilded altars. Walking downhill through winding streets we found the Roman aqueduct almost perfectly preserved and functional until the late '60s. A few hundred pictures later we drove to the Alcazar (Moorish castle) and toured the main floor ended with a 200 step climb to the top of the tower. The last 50 through a narrow spiral reck stairwell! From the top the views of the whole city and the surrounding landscape were outstanding.

Our drive back to Madrid was all downhill ending back at the hotel where we said goodbye to our charming driver. Another wine and cheese picnic in the room with too much good Spanish Rioja ended our day.