Well, thinking about travelling home, anyway! But that’s days away yet – time for more adventures.
First, we decided to visit the Monfrağue Park again for one last look at the lakes, plants and vultures!
This time we followed the Tiétar River up past the Torrejón-Tiétar dam…
… to the Portilla de Tiétar. Another great big rocky outcrop covered in nesting vultures.
Well perhaps “covered” is a bit of an exaggeration but you get the drift. And there were lots of rocks covered in something white!
The following day we revisited the Jerte Valley and decided to see whether the cherry trees were in full bloom up the mountain-side. So, to El Torno via the Statues to the Forgotten (of the Spanish Civil War). The Mirador de la Memoria.
On this occasion, the parking area was being totally upgraded. Workmen everywhere! Spaces for cars only available on the steeply sloping verges. Stay on the in-board side of the road, Barry! A pesky camper van was blocking the side track we wanted to follow. We met a couple from Philadelphia (Lisa and David) who were visiting the memorial having seen the film (The Silence of Other, 2018) about the issues involved in the civil war.
A few days after it was inaugurated, in January 2009, the monument was shot at! Apparently, the bullet holes that can be seen on the sculptures, which haven’t been repaired. Must look next time!
At the memorial, the “Day of the Guerrilla” is celebrated each year on the first Sunday in October. This is in memory of the guerrillas who defended the mountains of the Valle del Jerte. I thought you should know that!
Before I forget, El Torno has a superb illuminated promenade for over a kilometre approaching the village and another through the main street and on up the mountain. At one very 20m, that’s at least 100 lamps. The population of the town is falling, but in 2018 there were 884 residents. That’s one street lamp for every 9 people!
Before heading further up the mountainside, we had a high altitude coffee with a view!
Our visit confirmed that we had seen the blossom at the peak time last week in the valley. Now the leaves were sprouting, diluting the impact of the flowers. However, up the mountain, the trees were still magnificent…
We are heading for the mountain pass at Cabezabellosa which translates succinctly into “Beautiful Head”. At the pass there are some public access points to paths around the alpine meadows and to other nearby high points on the ridge. Well, we did have to break the padlocks off a couple of gates. But I’m sure they were public footpaths – probably. Anyway, they are now! Cows with cow-bells and calves all over the place.
Fabulous views! We think the peak behind us was indeed named Beautiful Head…
… as was the village just over the pass.
When in Spain, park like a Spaniard! There don’t seem to be many rules! Actually, there are lots, but they are widely ignored. One thing people seem to abide by is the rule that says you can’t cross a solid white central line. According to Volvo-man in Aranjuez, the penalty is an on the spot fine of €100 – and he should know!!! Yellow lines on the kerb seem to mean no parking. Blue lines mean permit holder parking – but only sometimes.- on other occasions they designate metered parking. White parking spaces appear to be fair game for anyone. What pale blue lines mean is anyone’s guess! When there are no lines it’s a free for all. So, parking on a corner, half on the pavement and half on a zebra crossing, on the wrong side of the street outside the civil guard station seems to be acceptable! So that’s what we did in the village of “Beautiful Head”.
Another typical, drowsy, virtually deserted place perched high in the mountains. There was a neat little square lined by houses with wooden balconies.
The town hall had an in-depth appreciation of the merits of the place written both in Spanish and, helpfully, in English. The narrow streets …
… led downwards in a ziggy-zaggy sort of way to the edge of town where the houses had a distinctly dilapidated, falling-down sort of air about them.
From here there was a steep path down to, then up, the adjacent hill which was crowned by a sort of aerial platform giving (allegedly) panoramic views of the region. These views remain unseen by us!
Let’s go and see if our car has been towed!