Not a sound in the night. When we say good morning to N+G we all claim to have seen the lynx, but then own up to both Nicks using the same brand of shower gel. We cross the large bridge over the depleted waterway and join the main road towards Merida. It is mostly flat and straight as we pass more olive plantations, rather than the scattered woods we saw yesterday these are orderly groves wit trees varying in size from mature down to newly planted sprigs i...

After yesterday's rain we have a bright sunrise this morning. A quick visit to E.Leclerc for groceries then we start out on one of the 'Back Roads' tours. We start on the EX208 to Zorita then follow the EX108 to Guadalupe. It really is a spectacular ride with a beautiful mixture of scenery; small drystone-walled fields of brown sheep; olive and cork plantations, some with cattle or brown pigs grazing among the trees; green field with little brooks; ranging vi...

The bin men make sure no-one sleeps in this morning. At 10:00 we are ready to walk into the old town. The streets are narrow and cobbled as we go uphill to the now ubiquitous Plaza Mayor, which is a large, sloping square surrounded by arcaded restaurants and bars with the town hall dominating the higher end. More narrow streets lead to the really old Plaza Santa Maria, unspoilt by any modernity at all. The buildings are mid tone sandstone, cut into regular bloc...

Cold and drizzly when we leave Salamanca and join the A66 dual carriageway towards Caceres. We climb up to rolling pastureland with pale, sparse grass in fields with dry stone walls. Sheep and cattle are the first livestock we've seen for some days. The higher we get, the nearer we are to the clouds and soon we are driving in heavy drizzle. Descending in height the field turn into woods of very old Grandee olive trees stretching for miles. The next l...

Although it is only 5C the sun is breaking through as we walk through the park and across the arched stone Roman bridge and into town. First stop is the cathedral and rather than queue we are let in a ramped side door free of charge. This is another, very impressive structure with massive columns and high vaulted ceilings. One of the most eye catching features is an ornately carved gallery/balcony way up on the walls. Like Burgos there are numerous perip...