Month: March 2025

Cáceres to Zafra

Today we explored the historic center of Cáceres then drove to Zafra where we are staying in the Parador of Zafra. After breakfast we checked out of our hotel and drove into the center of Cáceres. We had a bit of trouble getting there and finding parking because there was a foot race going on. We parked and got to watch finishers in the central plaza..

The finish of the race course
The race seemed to put on by the Policia Nacional

I think we saw the finish of the 10K race. We saw a big group of soldiers run in formation across the finish line. It was fun to watch them celebrate.

Group picture of the army group.

Next we went to the tourist office and got directions to walk around the sites in the old town.

Inside the tourist office.

Cáceres is a beautiful old town.

The cathedral
Inside the cathedral mass was being celebrated

We went through the town museum.

Part of a treasure trove found in 1920

As we walked back to the car it started to rain. Luckily it was just drizzling and soon we were on the road south to Zafra.

Parador of Zafra

The courtyard of this Parador is beautiful.

The Parador courtyard

For dinner we walked to a nearby cheese restaurant. It is a rainy Sunday night so we had the place to ourselves. The food, wine and ambiance were very special.

Our cheese plate
Queseria Bar La Bendita.

There was a light rain as we walked back to the Parador. It was the perfect end to a wonderful day.

Quesaria Bar La Bendita

Parador de Gredos to Cáceres

Today we explored a bit of the Gredos mountains and then took the backroads to Cáceres. When we were in Gredos in 2017 we saw some amazing wildlife and hiked a bit from the trailhead called La Plataforma.

This morning after a leisurely breakfast we headed towards the same trailhead. This time we are here later in the year and today is Saturday. We were told that the Parador was full and it was obvious that a lot of people come up into the mountains to explore on the weekend. We explored lots of beautiful backroads but there was just too much traffic to make our way to La Plataforma again.

So we found other places to explore.

Ice by the side of the road at one of the parks where we stopped.
You ever know what you will see on country roads.

After going south through a mountain pass over the Gredos we saw a sign for a Roman road and stopped. We realized that we stopped at this exact same spot on our trip in 2017. I am aways in awe of how well preserved the roads that the Romans built 2000 years ago are! The road is near the top of the pass too!

The Roman road

We stopped later to stretched and saw these guys.

Hello!
Future ham

Tonight we are at a wonderful spa hotel on the outskirts of Cáceres. Duke had a massage while I relaxed in the room. (I don’t like massages.)

Hospes Palácio de Arenales & Spa

For dinner we had a fabulous dinner in the hotel restaurant, Las Corchuelas. The menu was amazing. You can see it here.

Starters – artichokes for Duke and rice, asparagus, mushrooms and game meat for me.
For the main course I had Corvina and Duke had lamb.
Duke’s brownie and ice cream.
Nougat and orange semifreddo

It was a fabulous meal!

Madrid to Parador de Gredos

This morning our first stop was Chocolatería San Ginés for chocolate and churros. Yum!

Churros and chocolate
Chocolatería San Ginés
Inside Chocolatería San Ginés

Then we walked through the Madrid Plaza Mayor.

Plaza Mayor

We went back to our hotel packed up and checked out. We walked to the rental car agency and picked up the car we will have for the next month. Then we left Madrid and headed southwest.

Walking to the rental car office.
Ready to hit the road

Tonight we are at the Parador de Gredos in Spain’s Gredos Mountains. It about a two and a half hour drive from Madrid. We stopped to stretch a couple of times along the way. It is nice to be out in the country.

Our rental car. You can see the snowy Gredos mountains in the distance.

We saw these birds in a field and had to stop to take pictures so I could use Merlin to identify them. It turns out they are Eurasian Griffons.

Eurasian Griffons

We are planning to stay at several Paradors on this trip. The Parador of Gredos was the very first Parador established. It used to be the Spanish King’s hunting lodge. It is at an altitude of 5,200 feet.

Parador of Gredos
Our welcome drinks

For dinner we had a very good meal in the bar. They are very busy here tonight. I assume it’s because it is a Friday night.

We visited Gredos for the first time back in February of 2017. It is as nice as we remember it.

Madrid

I slept for twelve hours last night. And I was only awake for a bit in the middle of the night. That should help with the jet lag!

It was about 11am when we finally went out to breakfast. We went to a great place we’ve been before, La Austriaca, I’ve told myself I will take fewer food pictures this trip but we shall see. It hard when there is so much that is so good. This morning we had more of the great food that makes me think of Spain.

In La Austriaca for breakfast
Coffee, fresh squeezed orange juice, Tortilla Español, and a pastry all for less than €10

Then we went to the museum of Romanticism.

Inside the Museo del Romanticismo

After a coffee break we walked around a bit enjoying the beautiful streets. We both remarked on how clean the buildings are. Then we saw a sign about the exhibits and viewing platform in the Madrid city hall. The Palácio de Cibeles is emblematic of Madrid.

The Palácio de Cibeles used to be the Post Office. Now it’s Madrid City Hall.

Inside the ere were several art exhibits and we really enjoyed the view from the observation platform at the top.

Our hotel is just a couple of blocks behind us.
This is one of several art installations. This is all by the artist Mar Solis.
The tile in the stairway of the building

For dinner we went out for Tapas. Every time we are in Madrid we go to Cervecería Alemana. It was recommended to us by a good friend who was here around 1970. The bar is about 120 years old. It’s always good too.

Cervecería Alemana
Our table.

San Francisco to Madrid

Our plane out of San Francisco wasn’t until late Tuesday afternoon so Duke took me and the bags to the BART station and then he drove back to Allison’s and walked back to BART. it took about a hour.

This was the first time we’ve used Air France to fly to Europe and it was great.

Our premium economy seats
Champagne right after take off

We changes planes in Paris.

I think these chef mice with their baguettes in Charles DeGaule Airport look very French!

The flight to Madrid was almost 2 hours. Then we took the Metro into the center.

Waiting for our Metro train.

For dinner we had a jamon and cheese sampler at the wonderful chain, Museo de Jamon.

Jamon, cheese and beer

Then we walked back to the hotel where I plan to sleep for a very long time!