The Road from Santiago

  We are heading into Alagon. It is one of those Spanish towns where you wonder how they managed to get an ox cart down some streets, let alone cars today.  The town centre is a maze of tiny roads, all crammed with shops and the like. Alagon has had the usual lot of Pre-Medieval chaps thinking that being near the Ebro was a spiffy place to be, especially if there was a slight rise in the ground.  In the year 714, Islam arrived in the Ebro Valley , with Alagón being an important town in the Upper Mark of al-Andalus The Caliph Abderramán III slept in its castle on 14th October 935. It all ended in 1118 with the conquest by Alfonso I. The town had Muslims, Jews and Christians. From the  16th century onwards , the town spread out towards the northeast around Calle Mayor and Plaza Nueva (now Plaza España), encompassing pre-existing neighbourhoods such as San Juan. In the  18th century , the Jesuits built a school, dedicated to San Antonio, on the site of the old Je...

  I suppose, if we were going by car, we would zip down the straight path and cover each da Building seems to be going on.  The streetview pictures are a bit unclear and from at least a year ago.  The Satellite is not too helpful. All I can say is, go to Alagon and discover what is what for yourself. We will skim by the Ebro and pass the Residencia Mascots Alagau.  The sixty reviews tend to like it and if you want cute dog pictures click here https://alaguau.es/   Francisco said ‘ Great professionals. I went because of referrals from friends and I am delighted.’ and Valeria added ‘Very happy with the treatment of our dog Lia. Always attentive and available when you ask them any questions. They send you photos or videos if you ask them. Our dog is delighted. Highly recommended.’ The next site is the Finca los alamares, where they appear to be building.  Four years ago Farid opined  ‘Excellent place for barbecues, there are 5 camping tables and the same ...

The Ebro works around the valley and we continue on the straight road.  Cabanas de Ebro has spread to meet the road.  About 500 people live here. In the 19th century is was about half that number.  The Geographical-Statistical-Historical Dictionary of Spain says of the place. CABINS: l. with town hall of the province, aud. terr., cg and diocese of Zaragoza (5 leg.), Jewish part. and rent adm. of Almunia (7): situated on a plain, mainly affected by the winds from the N.; it enjoys a healthy climate , the most common illnesses being intermittent. It has 100 houses and a town hall distributed in several streets; a primary school attended by 12 students and equipped with 22 bushels of wheat, the teacher having to serve as town hall secretary, and a church (San Ildefonso) attached to the parr. of Figueruelas: the residents get their drink from the waters of several fountains that spring up in the term. : which borders on the N. with that of Remolinos; on the E. with that o...

I am poorly.  This had lead to a flurry of rescheduling and a decision.  We are going to nip down to the river and watch the Ebro go by.  We will go to the EDAR waterworks.  It has no reviews. I beg you to go there and do on. Watching the river makes me peckish.  AN Argones speciality is TORTAS de CAÑAMONES, or seed bread. You will need  2 kg of bread dough 250 g of lard Hemp seeds, cracklings, raisins, etc. Sugar Put the lard on the bread dough and knead it well. Add the hemp seeds, cracklings or raisins, without the stem and preferably without seeds. The addition of these things will depend on the flavour you want the cakes to have, as well as the quantity, if you like them heavier or lighter. Form the cakes and when you see that they have fermented well, cover them with sugar and put them to cook in the oven. When they look golden and done, let them cool and are ready to eat. Enjoy.

  We are still heading down the wide Ebro valley, with large amounts of farm land either side.  We do get to pass SAT Forga, an animal feed shop with covered parking. https://forga.es/inicio/   Reviewers give it 4.3 stars and you can’t beat the most recent, worded one, Josep who gave four stars and said ‘ Products for animal consumption.’ and he’s right.  John Rowan added ‘Good cereal dehydrator fast loading paperwork too’  I think that sums it up really. We will pass very near the Old Purasal factory warehouse.  When you realise that the 1960s is ancient history you may get the vibe.  https://turismoriberaaltadelebro.es/catalogo/antigua-nave-de-la-fabrica-purasal/   The Purasal salt factory was made up of a series of facilities connected by rails : warehouses, mills, storage rooms, premises for machinery and engines, salt hoppers, a forge, housing, corrals, stables and water tanks. The complex remained in operation until 1964. The introduction ...