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Segorbe is a good idea

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  We are heading into Segorbe. We have reached a town of standing, some 10,000 souls, guarding the way down to the coastal plains. It has History - well, where doesn’t.  The last Almohad governor of Valencia, Zayd Abu Zayd, hung around here till he was deposed in 1229. James I made it part of Aragon in 1238.  Martin I had a residence here and married local girl Maria de Luna in 1372.  The town wandered around the 7000 mark until the 1940s.  Since then it has grown, especially after 2000. We are going to enjoy wandering through the backstreets and tiny squares, crammed with cafes and diverse delights.  We will pass the Medieval aqueduct. Yes, I know, not Roman! No, its an 11th / 12th century Moorish piece of water based joy.  The suruving bits date to the 14th century,  https://turismo.segorbe.es/patrimonio/monumentos/acueducto-medieval/   Next to the Cathedral.  Built in the  13th century , on the site of a mosque, the works began ...
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Perfect Beauty and Stolen Swings

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  Down we go, another 120 metres, in one of those days where we follow roads, footpaths and roadish things that have seen better days. We start the day near Navajas, another one of those towns on the edge of the wider countryside which has about 900 people, a mayor from the ‘Alternative for Navajas’ party and surprisingly has almost returned to 1950s levels, after a dramatic slump to 450 in 1991.   What has brought people back to this commuting town?  Is the 18th century Parish Church of our Lady of Light? Is it the 11th Century Arab Tower or a 14m almost 400 year elm tree?  Well, we aren’t going so we may never know. We haven’t talked food for a while so maybe it is time to muse over the joys of ‘ buñuelos de hoja" - a local dish.  Who would not want some borrage fritters Here is the recipe. ½ Kg of borage leaves. TA small leek, finely chopped 100 g of white flour 2 eggs (yolks and whites separated) 150 ml of milk One level teaspoon of yeast Salt and pepper [an...
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Unusually Friendly

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  We are rising up - about 80m. It is one of those get over the next hills before the next towns moment.  First things first.  We are going off the road and taking a footpath.  We will walk past another former station, that of Jerica-dehesa.  That is as exciting as it gets .  Welcome to Spain.  Welcome to the internet.  Content is everything. One of the pieces of content I came today is a survey that lists the least and most friendly cities.  It was made by GeoStev. It claims Mexico City is the friendliest city in the world.  Spain gets 4 of the top ten - 2nd Malaga, 3rd Valencia, 4th Alicante and 9th Madrid.  Berlin is apparently the least friendly. Of course, the whole point of this is to do what I’m doing now - talk about it - rather than search for inner truth. Cultural bias, will no doubt, have an influence here. I am not sure if the good people of Madrid would be happy to think they are seen as friendly and approachable. ...
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Officially devistated

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  We are heading to Xerica - if you like Valencian and Jerica is you want to go all Spanish  It has the usual collection of Roman tombstones and Moorish bits.  Everyone’s favourite freebooter, El Cid, conquered the place in 1098 and the oldest sections of the castle date from that. It was finally taken by the Kingdom of Aragon in 1098.  A more detailed History can be foud here https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%A9rica We are going to nip up a street or two.  Ok, we will go down one of those new roads which was designed to have things built round it but they haven’t quite managed yet. We will scramble up the space between it and the road we were meant to go and so find ourselves in the Restaurant El Rullo.  It has almost 1000 reviews and gets 4.4 stars.  https://elrullo.vistaandco.es/ Suckling lamb chops costs 17 euros and artichoke is 8.50.   FM Deluengo said, three days ago, ‘ We had dinner in the tent, deafening noise, I think there was a bache...
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