A lot of bull


It is the Day of the Kings.  You may have guessed  that from yesterday.  They have arrived - although they have been having to fight off the Santa Claus franchise in the gift giving business.  A 2015 survey put the may in Red as having 27% of Spanish kids routing for him.  Breakfast is meant to be a special occasion with the Three Kings’ Cake ( Roscón de Reyes)  consumed. This is a sweet bread that is decorated with dried fruits and sugar. Inside, the cook having hidden a small prize wrapped in paper as well as a bean. The one who finds the lucky prize is supposed to be King or Queen for the day (a gold paper crown is sometimes provided with the cake) while he who ends up with the unlucky bean is expected to pay for next years Kings’ Cake.










We are wandering through Arendo and past the Arena.  It is a fairly new building and is used for all sorts of events - including Bull Fighting.  The Zapato de Oro - well, we are in shoe town aren’t we.  In 1963 the first Zapato was awarded for artistry in the ring.  Winners have been mainly Spanish, with a couple of French men,the odd Mexican and a few Venezuelans In the 70s.  I have heard it said ‘you just don’t understand bullfighting’ and so, presumably., aren’t not in a position to judge it.  I have listened to the explanation.  No, no matter how you dress the whole thing up it is is still killing animals for fun and putting on a shiny suit just makes it worse.  Somehow sending you mates in on horseback to worry the beast first doesn’t make it any better. Now, given we developed as chase predators, albeit by wearing the prey down till the time came to use the flint hand axes to finish the job.  This, I think, would be a more suitable alternative.  I feel that if sufficient land was turned over and the matador and picadors were armed with nothing more than the odd hand tool then chasing the bull might have more value.  It might be a fine line, but an important one.












Time to leave town.  We do so via the Parking de Caravans Arnedo.  Roman sums up the location and the place.  ‘This site is very good for camping, very beautiful nature with the Cidacos river.’  Roberto added to the sum of human knowledge thusly ‘Good parking, close to the center of Arnedo and next to a very nice promenade. Fairly straight ground, which saves you having to shod the motorhome. It has a small garden area with a table that, if it is not occupied, allows you to eat there./  Roberto Jorrin was less kinds with two stars. ‘It is simply an esplanade next to the river to park about 10 motorhomes.  There is no fountain or containers, except for a fountain inside the dog park and two small trash cans. The good thing is that it is a very quiet place to spend the night.’










So weave out way out and into the hills.




















 

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