8
September
Next
stop Cuenca via a mountain road that traces the course of the Rio
Júcar for most of the way. It
turned out to be an excellent road and very popular with bikers and
wild donkeys.
Bikers
beware wild donkeys around the next bend
The
river has, over time, eroded gorges into the rock creating 200 meter
deep vertical walls. The best double heebejeebe view of one of these
gorges is from the Devil's window, a skull shaped rock complete with
two eye shaped portals.
Linda
waving from the Devil's window
View
from the Devil's window
According
to popular tradition, this spectacular view point is the work of the
Devil, in the guise of a hollow rock, vaulted like a giant skull, the
Devil organised witchcraft sessions and hurled into the abyss all
those that dared to lean over the balcony overlooking the void.
Hocus
pocus aside, we arrived at Cuenca to view the famous hanging houses.
This UNESCO world heritage site did not feel as intact as Albarracin
which for some reason has not be given the UNESCO seal of approval
(yet).
The
hanging houses of Cuenca
We
didn't dally too long in Cuenca and by late afternoon we were out of
there and heading south to a tiny village called Fuentealbilla. For
those readers of our blog who do not follow European football, this
place has a bar/cafe owned by the grandfather of Andrés
Iniesta, the legendary Barcelona midfielder.
The
cafe is a museum of Iniesta's football career documenting it from the
age of six. We met his grandmother but unfortunately grandad was away
with the keys until the following day so the best we could do was
peak through the shutters at the wall covered memorabilia.
Fantastico!
Linda
having a sneak preview at Cafe Lugan
It's
by now getting late in the day and we are miles from nowhere looking
for a place to stay, so we kept heading south and by chance we
finished up once again following the river Júcar.
The
Júcar Gorge doing a very good
Spanish impression of the Ardeche
The
road from here on suddenly narrowed and began snaking its way around
blind corners with overhanging rocks, it was a mixture of the Amalfi
coast road and the Ardeche, just what the doctor ordered after a hard
day at the office. We finally managed to wild camp the night at
Alcala del Júcar. As luck
would have it, arriving just prior to a violent thunderstorm, must
have been the Devil's work.
9
September
Alcala
del Júcar morning after the
storm
9
September
Enough
of hanging houses, rivers and gorges its time for some R&R beach
and sunshine at our favourite camperstop of Muchavista, just a short
2 hour hop from here.
On
arrival we were treated to a very agreeable 24°C
and blue skies with a bonus of a similar sea temperature. But then
came trouble in paradise for a couple of hours by way of yet another
violent thunderstorm.
It's
behind you!
Bang,
crash wallop
