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| El Rocio |
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| El Rocio |
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| Hospederia Diques de Medina Sedonia |
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| Hospederia Diques de Medina Sedonia |
Ok, it was bound to happen last year with Cheryl 22 days
without the umbrellas and the first 16 days of this year’s trip without the
brellies but as we checked out of the Parador Ayamonte there the beginnings of
sprinkles during the luggage arrangement process.
We had been keeping an eye on the local BP
station with Diesel Plus listed for 137.9 per liter whereas we had paid 144.9
on our first fill up so we topped before heading East. The first order of
business was setting the wipers to keep pace with the torrents that
intermittently pelted the car. We took a side excursion down into the confines
of the National Park to a rustic little place called El Rocio that had sand for
streets and hitching posts of either rustic logs/posts or in some cases metal
hitching posts. Although we saw no horses tied up nor tracks of recents horses
either in the soggy sand roadways. Right time for a coffee at the local saloon
which cost us 2 euros for two cortodos. The bartender had a long bushy mustache
like Billy the Kid. It began to rain again and so we headed back out on
blacktop the highway down around Seville and the coast at Sanlucar de Barrameda
. Carmen Garmin found our hotel without too much trouble so we pulled in popped
open the umbrella to shield as we tried to locate an entrance door. We stood
under cover and attempted to call the hotel without success to alert them that
we were just outside the main door wanting to come in out of the rain. Finally,
an elderly lady answered our door knock and let us into the office. Right copy
the passport and check in 3 keys (outside front door) room key, and key to the
breakfast room 0830 thru 1130 daily. A tiny chap was summoned to help with the
luggage between car and room 1 across the flooded courtyard with yellowish mug
across the slate stepping stones.
The Hospederia
Diques de Medina Sedonia is a very old listed
building. When we walked into the room I thought we had stepped back 200 years!
Of course by this time the rain is absolutely pelting down, we are wet and it
is dark. I cast a quick look around for Dracula or Igor but luckily there was
only Paul and the chappy who helped us with our luggage. First order of
business was to find somewhere to eat. I changed into my Sketchers and a pair
of pants and then we headed out……..and the heavens opened! The Senora at
reception pointed us towards the closest place to eat and we ventured forth. By
this time there were rivers running down the middle of the streets, no other
choice but to forge the river! There was water up to our ankles! My shoes are still
wet and it is now Friday morning at breakfast! We had a decent meal
at a place called El Conejo (the Rabbit) but
they had none, rabbit that is, and then went back to change clothes again as we
were soaked up to our knees. When the rain stopped we took a chance at heading
out to explore and explore we did. Got lost in fact, had to use the Spanish to
ask for help and then had a pretty receptionist call us a cab. Had tapas back
at the Conejo and decided to call it a night, though not before buying me an
umbrella! I told the ladies in the store that this was the first time in 12
years I had forgotten my umbrella and look what happened! They said thank you,
we needed the rain. Funneee!
Well, I checked to see that you are now in Sanluca and caught up with the blog. I wondered if you ran into rain because we had a downpour in merida which prevented us from doing too much exploring that first afternoon. But, the next day was gorgeous and we loved seeing the Roman theater.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you're having some unique experiences on this trip and that's what you were looking forward to - hope your shoes dry out.
Now Saturday AM almost time for breakfast and Jane'a sketchers are are still wet. TV has shown floods streets and issues all across Spain, still heavy rain forecasted for Malaga today. We should be dry for the ride to Merida today, though. And partly sunny too.
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