SEPTEMBER 13th DAY Three

SEPTEMBER 13^th  DAY Three:

Need to leave our first top location, Toledo, and head towards the south and the city of Almagro where we will be staying in the Parador. Our first hotel, Cardenal was actually a Best Western chain location, I did give them my Membership number so it will be interesting to see if I get Sky Miles credit for our stay.

As we headed south out of town we had trouble getting  our Garmin to fire up and start giving us directions. After about 5 minutes, Jane had held the ON button down for a solid 20 seconds for a Cold Restart according to Garmin but awake she came and she starting barking directions to us. Sit up straight, shoulders back, let’s get this show on the road she barked, now full of electricity and life again.

It was an easy drive, we stopped for coffee in Sonseca which was an SATCOM site back in the day. Continued on to Almagro through dry high plains. Olive trees  and windmills dot the landscape because this is Don Quixote and Sanco Panza country where the Knight tilted at these windmills. This part of the country was well known to Cervantes as he travelled through it often while following the Royal court of Spain . Here was born the idea of Don Quixote who embodied the ideals of the Knights, justice, equity, loyalty, integrity, prudence, generosity, and kindness.

We stopped for lunch in Almagro at the restaurant Mauri. We had a fabulous meal. Red peppers stuffed with bacalao and covered with a creamy, cheesie sauce! The main course was Merluza in salsa berde with cockles and boiled potatoes. The owner was a young man from Portugal called Paulo, very, very cute!! He has only been open for 3 weeks and three days and already business is quite good! The Spanish do love their food! I ate far too much, again!

Handmade lace is common to Almagro.

The Parador is very nice and the Plaza Mayor is lovely in such a small town.