Day: May 6, 2019

Avila to Madrid

Our plan for Monday was to drive to our hotel in Madrid, check in, Leave the luggage, drive to the rental car office and return our car, then take the Metro to the airport to meet our friends Roger and Gayle who will be traveling with us for the next two weeks. Everything went pretty much according to plan although maneuvering the narrow streets of Madrid and the traffic did prove to be a bit of a challenge.

This afternoon we walked and checked out some of the sites of Madrid with stops for drinks and tapas.

We ate dinner at Botín. It was founded in 1725 and according to the Guinness Book of Records is the oldest continually operated restaurant in the world. I had roast suckling pig

We’ve had a great time with Butch and Myra who will be flying home on Tuesday.

Salamanca to Avila

Sunday morning we walked across the Roman bridge from our Parador into Salamanca. When we were in the old town Saturday night the place was packed with people. Sunday morning it was almost empty which allowed us to appreciate the buildings.

About half way through our back roads drive to Avila we came upon Ermita de las Fuentes, a wonderful old church near the ridge top a long way from the nearest habitation. They had picnic tables so we had a wonderful picnic.

We found our Parador in Avila fairly easily. After our welcome drinks and the obligatory Duke vs Butch cribbage game we went out to walk the wall surrounding Avila. The wall is quite amazing. It is more than three kilometers long and very tall and formidable.