Oropresa

The Carretera Provincial is again a wonderful route through the countryside. A pleasure to drive and cycle. Leaving Talvera la Reina, one of the biggest towns in Castilla - La Mancha, the going is tough on gravel paths. It feels like Don Quixote country but that is more southerly of Madrid. Maybe the silhouette on the walls of tonights hostal influenced me.

Oropresa has a fairytale mediaeval castle strategically perched on a highpoint of what is otherwise a flat plain. Camino Real de Guadalupe is a new camino to me and extends some 250 kms from Madrid or Toledo to the mediaeval monastery in Guadalupe. It passes through Torrijos and Oropresa and locals assume I'm following it. I'm not but it has added some significance to my journey. 

Expansive undulating plains seen from the grounds of the castle in Oropesa. Tapas always served with drinks. Temperatures on the trail in excess of 30°. Very little English spoken. Tomorrow takes me into the region of Extramadura and a bit closer to the Via de la Plata.

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Torrijos

My route crosses the Camino de Levante from Valencia to Santiago de Compostela in Torrijos. My planned overnight stay in Torrijos would bring about challenges. Albergues Municipales always do as any camino go-er knows. In this case nobody at home, no telephone numbers to ring, no tourist office where shown on Google Maps. At the end the ayuntamiento staff help out.

En route I begin to realize the Spanish fascination with statues and plaque names. They exist in number in all small towns and this one to commemorate "las mujeres' (the women) of the town was notable. A simply warm loving gesture.

That puncture would happen on a busy highway at the hottest time of day!

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Numancia de la Sagra

Real Iglesia Parroquial de Santiago y San Juan de Bautista (St James and John the Baptist) is the official start of Caminos from Madrid. A donation made and a pilgrim's passport recorded on the register. How many more places titled 'Real' I wonder! There's a certain well known football team of course.

Torrential rain easing off by lunchtime. Few photos. Designated cycle ways from the centre to the outskirts. 21 kms of continual tracks through suburban parklands. All to myself. It was raining.

Travelling South East the gonglomeration of apartment blocks was unmissable.  Much like Central European countries and former East Europen Soviet countries. A big difference is these apartments are all very well maintained and many very new. Nearby the infra structure for future industry suggests Spain could really take off sometime.

A stork's nest above a church in Illescas in this Spanish region called Castilla - La Mancha. The independent region of Madrid left behind.

Numancia enjoys a very tranquil small town centre containing a church and ayuntamiento. More storks too.

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Madrid

SUNDAY arriving in Madrid

Following the anticipated tortuous journey by bike from Barajas-Madrid airport, it was a pleasure and relief to see the Fuente de Cibeles at the heart of the city. The Palacio/Ayuntamiento of Cibeles (it seems to be referred to as both) standing alongside was surprisingly the main Post Office until not so long ago. The Greek goddess Cibeles symbolically holds the keys of the city. Her chariot drawn by lionesses located at the centre of a very heavily trafficked roundabout.

The very real Palacio Real de Madrid is built upon the first millenium Moorish Alcázar with ground steeply falling away to river below. An obvious selection for a fortification. No longer occupied by the King and Queen of Spain who now live in something less grandiose out of town.

Opposite the Palacio Real stabds the Cathedral Santa Maria le Real de la Almudenda and, a relatively short distance away, the most lovely Plaza Mayor. Understated in comparison with some of the splendour and grandeur of other historic buildings yet most appealing.

In comparison, Hostal Alonso (my overnight stay) is pretty basic. I share the room with my bike.

Outside many tourists enjoy the warmth of the evening. And until light for the youngsters.

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Inspirational signpost on Church Village cycle trail