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Dirty and Very Old. Everything was perfect.

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  We are in Guadalajara. It is a name that quickens the pulse of those interested in the Spanish Civil War and so we will go there first. Unlike Germany, which committed specialists and equipment, the Italian Army itself took part in the War. On 8th March 1937 four divisions of the ‘Corpo Truppe Volontarie. Attacked Republican positions around the town. It was meant to be a diversion to support the Fasc attack at Jarama.  After four days of cautious advance in rainy weather Republican aircraft shot up the Italian columns . The deployment of Soviet made armour and Italian anti-fascist troops saw the Fascists defeated, with heavy losses of men and material. Guadalajara was founded in the 9th century, when a castle was built there. It was annexed by Alfonso VI in 1085 and in 1133 it got its first charter. The Mendozas dominated the town from the late Middle Ages and who hung around till 1657.   The town grew from about 5000 in 1842 to 19000 in 1950.  Cars and population...

A taste of really generous portions.

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  We are heading towards the E-90 and one of those major transport links which means lots and lots of blocked buildings, be they shop, factory or warehouse. We start following the N-320, which follows the Arroyo de Valbuero. The Santuario Jessaeth is marked on our route, but has no reviews or dedicated photos. Fornor appears to be a seller of those sort of things that are not essential, but enhance life in some way - a bit like growing olives in Caesar III.  They also sell toilet tissue. https://www.fornor.com/   Truck drivers have views.  Mamadou’s was this ‘ Fast download and on time’. Oner, less so ‘I arrived at 8 a.m. There are 11 loading/unloading gates, all free, but I've been waiting for four hours and they're asking me to wait longer. Loading takes a long time, the entrance is unclear, there are no restrooms, it's unclear where the office is, and no one comes to you to tell you what to do or where to go. ‘ We need to nip of the road to visit La cocina de Vict...

Broken phones with good appetizers.

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  We are going to turn eastwards but not before we pass the Iron Mountain Corporate Office.  Gema said, four months ago, ‘ Great atmosphere! Amazing colleagues! ’  Nobody says much else. We will cross country it a bit and cross back into Castile-La Mancha.  We end the day in Torrejon del Rey.  6435 people dwell here, which is about 6000 more people than who lived here in 437.   Our dead friend the Historical Dictionary gives a snap shot of 1845.  ‘ TORREJÓN DEL REY: town with town hall in the judicial district of Guadalajara (3 leagues), territorial court of Madrid/ SITUATED on the left bank of the Toróte stream, with good ventilation and a healthy CLIMATE, it has 104 HOUSES; the town hall; a primary school, attended by 35 students; a parish church, mother church of those of Camarma del Caño and Camarma de Encima, served by a priest and a sacristan. MAIL: is received and dispatched in Guadalajara. PRODUCE: Wheat, barley, rye, oats, chickpeas and o...

Widespread festive cosplaying and the gridded sister settlements

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  Welcome to Valdeolmos, evil twin of Alalpardo - or vice versa. The Historical Dictionary says this of the place in 1845: VALDEOLMOS: village with town hall in the province and territorial court of Madrid (6 leagues).... Situated on the slope of a small hill; it is most frequently exposed to north and south winds, and its climate is prone to intermittent fevers. It has 38 houses of inferior construction, including the town hall; a jail in poor condition, and a parish church (La Concepción).... Two small streams cross it, whose waters are used by the residents. The land is of medium quality. Roads: those leading to the neighboring towns are in fair condition. Mail is received in the district capital. Production : wheat and barley; it maintains coarse sheep and raises game such as hares and partridges. Population : 26 households, 155 inhabitant   Spanish wiki is quite fulsome on the wildlife.  ‘ In Valdeolmos-Alalpardo, you can spot different species of mammals, fo...