The Road from Santiago

  Welcome to March.  Also welcome to a day without a house, shack or wayside cafe.  We begin the day, alongside the main road.  Google will have us scrambling up the embankment, nipping over the barrier and so across the way and out among the olive trees. Today is the Dia de les Illes Balears.  This day was picked because on 1st March 1983 the Statue of Autonomy was published.  It became a non-working day in 1999.  I’m sure they are up to larks over the sea. It is Saint David’s day.  Last year the Welsh migrant community came together at the Plaza de la Mezquita in Benalmadena to, to quote Euroweekly, ‘ to eat and drink Welsh cuisine, sing, dance, and celebrate the ex-pat Welsh community’. This is what I have found out about St David in Spain.  The websearch answering to the call did offer me a fair bit of St David’s as a Pilgrim Route; the Camino de Santiago and ‘Napoleon Crossing the Alps’.  Hum Ho. Not much going on. Not a lot to look...

  We are walking through one of those areas where we are between reviewable villages and similar factories.  We are going down backstreets with only olive trees in pots and palm trees to act as our muse.  A single thing is near us, an open air gym.  Luis was not happy.  Three months ago he wrote ‘It's fine, but it's a shame the back door doesn't leave open. It's a huge pain to always have to go through the entire park to get to the monkey bars.’ Towards the end of the day we will pass Escobas Artesanas SL.  They seem to make brushes of the put a witch on them and fly to a sabbat sort of thing.  Marcial gave five stars and no words. I m assuming you have been busy since last time we talked about New Years so let us do so again - in case you forgot. Firstly, have grapes at the ready.  You need 12 of them.  When the clock chimes midnight eat one grape per chime and then try to be the first to eat them.  This will bring luck - although I hav...

  We need to find a way across the AP-7 so we are heading north, under the railway, and towards a roundabout. The High Speed Rail Network is 3973km long, making it second, only to China.  The whole thing kicked off in the early 90s, linking the Expo at Seville, with Cordoba, Puertollano and Ciudad Real.  The connection with the Levante began in 2010, with the line from Madrid to Valencia.  In 2013 they went to Alicante, Elche in 2021 and so on to Murcia. On the roundabout is the Bar Rocio.  Two days ago Juan gave three stars and no words.  Two months ago Rudi gave four stars and said ‘Busy bar, but delicious tapas’  Two years ago Ana opined ‘A traditional bar with simple but delicious dishes. Everything we tried was delicious: gazpacho, beans, tuna, pork loin, and Calatrava bread. The only drawback is the noise, but that's not the restaurant's fault, but the customers'. We'll be back.’ Under the railway we go.    We will pass the BR Fresh Veg...

  We are wandering into the countryside and near Andreas Footwear SL.  People seem to like them. Mario said ‘Organic sandal factory. Very good quality products, quality materials. I've seen the work done, and they're professional. Hats off to you.’  Possibly a different Mario said ‘A very well-maintained (organic) shoe factory. Good prices and product quality. The managers are very hard-working and professional. I recommend it.’ We are heading into a tiny enclave of accommodations.  So small is it that the Plaza Mayor is the Plaza Ayuntamiento.  El Realengo is a bit small and local.  It has a association with a website.  https://sites.google.com/view/asociaciondevecinoselrealengo   The place was built between 1957 to 161 by the National Institute for Agrarian Reform and Development and about 300 people live there.   The people had basically been moved from areas in Albacete which were to be flooded.  I quote - at length - the website. ‘T...