Author: marionvermazen

I am a traveler, hiker, avid reader, Sun alumnus, computer geek, Spanish and French language student, knitter and genealogist. I am retired after working for almost 30 years in the Computer Industry. I live in Reno, Nevada with my husband Duke.

Alcañiz to Tortosa

Along our route today we saw a sign for Poblat Iberica which we think means Iberian town. The Iberians were the people living here before the Roman conquest. The site didn’t have any signs and we were the only ones there but it was still fun to look at the ruins.

We continued on and drove into Catalonia to the coast on the Ebro River to the town of Tortosa. This town has been a strategic location with people living here for centuries. We are staying in a Parador on the sight of the old castle and fortification that dates from at least Roman times.

It’s been gray and threatening rain all day. We ignored the threat and walked down into the town to explore. We had a coffee. I think that is becoming our habit mid afternoon.

And then we toured the very well done city museum. They even had an English audio guide

This is a tax collecting box. It has holes on top for the coins. It also has three locks on the front so that it could only be open if the three required officials were present.

This is the actual letter the town received in 1492 from the King ordering the town officials to expel the Jews.

The Ebro River Valley is the sight of one of the biggest battles In the Spanish Civil War. The town was bombed and 100,00 Republicans died in the battle. Below is the battle monument and a couple of the bombing before and after pictures from the museum.

We ate dinner at the Parador. We shared black rice squid paella. The rice is black from the squid ink.

Teruel to Alcañiz

Today we drove about two hours northeast to Alcañiz. As we neared our destination we came around a corner and could see our Parador for tonight in the distance. It’s the castle on the hill!

After checking in we went down to the old town center. The church is enormous and has cranes (birds not lifting devices) nesting on the roof.

Under the main square there are tunnels and rooms that they used to use for food and ice storage. After enjoying a coffee in a nearby cafe we explored the narrow passageways. Most of them required you to stoop to walk

our parador room is in a tower overlooking the countryside. By the time the sun went down the fog had come in and we could barely see the church below us.

For dinner Duke had a veal steak. Our deserts were really special. Mango and cream for me and brownie and raspberry sorbet for Duke.

Xabia to Teruel

We woke up to gray skies and rain this morning in Xabia. After croissants and coffee at a beachfront restaurant we headed northeast to Teruel. We passed Valencia then headed inland and passed turnoffs to ski resorts. When we got to Teruel the temperature was about 30 degrees and it was snowing!

We drove into the historic center of town and visited the regional museum then enjoyed a couple of beers (cañas) and ham (jamon).

We had dinner at our Parador. I started with a salad.

Then Duke had lamb chops and I had a special dish made with local black truffles.

For desert we had cheese tarts and mango ice cream.

Mojácar to Xabia

Today we drove three hours up the Costa Blanca to Xabia, not too far from Valencia. This is the view from our Parador.

After checking in we walked along the water to the point in the distance.

There are a lot of English people here. This is the view looking back at the Parador.

For dinner we walked down to the beach again. We had an excellent dinner, one of the best of the trip at Posidonia. I started with mussels in a curry sauce and Duke started with ceviche.

Then we shared a paella.

And ended with ice cream and pumpkin cake.

Lorca to Mojácar

When they started building the Parador next to the castle in Lorca in 2002 they didn’t know what they would find when they started to dig. They immediately found ruins of an old Jewish Quarter and synagogue from the fourteen and fifteenth centuries. Lorca was strategically important because it was on the border of catholic Castillo and Muslim Granada. Before we left Lorca this morning we toured the recently excavated Jewish Quarter and the castle tower. It was interesting how they built the Parador over and around the ruins.

After the tour we left Lorca and headed to the coast. The drive along the Mediterranean reminded me of the California coast.

Tonight we are in the eastern edge of Andalucia in Mojácar. This is the view from our room.

For dinner we had pizza and sangria. I forgot to take a picture of the pizza.