Castles in my Hair

Castle Number 1

Valencia. Land of the castle.  Those Moors and Christians were at it back then as well.  Spent just two nights at an aire in Peniscola.  It was strange being back in a town that we visited on our first year travelling.  Had a lovely lunch though.  Washing done, off to Segorbe.

Castle Number 2 Segorbe

We go and visit an olive oil museum which I really like.  Especially as I get a tasting at the end.  I just love olive oil.  And olives.

The olive press

We drove up a long and winding rd to Benagaber up in the mountains.  No castle there but I put it down to the fact that the old village had been drowned by a reservoir and maybe that took the castle with it.

Benagaber

There wasn't very much in village at all except a massive swimming pool and sports centre which was all locked up.  It was a shame the place was empty.  We wanted a drink in a bar.  Never mind.  It was very beautiful and daddy said the tap in the aire was the best water pressure he had ever had.  He was happy.

Village

The next castle was in Jalance.  We had a long climb past prickly pears to the top.

Castle No 3 Jalance

It was very very beautiful and the view of the town was amazing.  Except, as we turned the corner......

Nuclear Power Station

Apart from that there were some amazing views.

A view

The town

The castle

Onto Castalla.  And guess what?  Another castle.  We liked this place.  The aire was next to the sports centre and they gave us electricity and water for 3 euros and the lady came out and invited us into the sports centre and we went and cycled round the track.  I had the best dish of a faggot in a broth at a cafe La Sucrera.  (Faseura de la Abuela).  Lovely

Faggots

Buckets

We went to the tourist information office and they gave us a beer bucket which I liked so much I carried round town.  The next day we drove up the Xorret de Casti

Many mountains to climb

It was another steep and wiggly road.  Don't know how Daddy manages to squeeze Nona up there.  They made me climb to the top.

Top

We thought we might stay the night in Elda as Mama liked the idea of shoe making but we couldn't find anywhere to park for the night so we went back to Onil.  It was wonderful there.  £ playgrounds and a maze and some beautiful park land.  All with the view of the castle in Castalla.

Onil

Park

A door

We loved the stop in Onil.  It was very special.  Especially as we arrived on Sunday afternoon and it was packed with families playing and barbecuing and I had a good play with them.  By 10 pm it was deserted and there was only us and the stars and the view of the castle.
After a morning getting lost in the maze we drove to Biar where there exists the best sweet shop in the world.  Heretet de Solar.  I can't tell you about their turrones.  Daddy says he will bring us back here.  Mama spent my inheritance in there and then ate it all in an evening.  Oh and a castle.

Beautiful Biar

Castle number 4 Biar

A Snow Well

Castle at night

Then to Ibi in the rain.  Castle there too but fortunately it was raining too hard for them to make me climb it.  Fabulous toy museum there though.  Inside an old toy factory.

Toys

It was beautiful in there and no one in it apart from us.

An Orange picker toy

And our final stop in Alcoy.  A strange town on a bend in the river.  It reminded Daddy of Burnley.  It was an old mill town and even had run down terraced houses.  And it rained.

Alcoy

It had a brilliant fire museum and we spent hours in there.  It ws the best.

Daddy eyeing up a future camper van

It also had some moderniste architecture but no so great as their viaduct.

The last ten days have been fast and furious and I am tired.  I have a cold but I have discovered that I love museums and views and castles and Spain.  And faggots.