Rioja and more Wine

Madrid did not hold many charms for us so we were pleased to be on the road again. I am sure that a week spent staying in Madrid would be better so that journeys would be less fraught and long.

Driving does provide some insights into a country and in the case of Spain, at least for me, has opened my eyes to its scenic splendours. I am disappointed for the many Brits who see Spain simply through the eyes of the Costas and its concrete facades, not to mention their anglicised foods. The richness of the lands as well as its surprising nature is for me quite marked.

Driving from Anarjuez in the south of Madrid northwards via the eastern ring road shows how much Madrid is built on a raised plateau in the middle of a huge plain. The road hugs the edge of this plateau and then, as we headed for the airport, it drops down to the valley/plain area. But, in front, as one heads north are more hills and more climbing. Madrid stands at about 2000 feet, and the top of the hills that now faced us lie at over 4000 feet. As well as that, we also see the signs for snow and ice edvery few kilometres along the road. In one town that we passed, waiting in a sort of car park were a row of snow ploughs. All of does this comes as a surprise because although I was aware that Madrid can be cold in winter evidence such as this makes the claim rather more pointed.