They know how to connect politely with the client

 How I plan the route is having a big map with a general direction.  Each day I move the end marker on about 3.6km.  Sometimes I find the next day I seem to have to go back on myself.  I like to think that this is a bit of realism in the matrix.  Sometimes, I take a wrong turn.  Today I seem to be going out of my way, leaving the N2 and then going back.


The N-2 is one of the great roads of Iberia. It begins in Madrid, sweeps north and eastwards to Zaragoza and thence to Barcelona and then the French border.  It is 790km long and got its N-2 designation in the 1940s.  Alas, it has been motorwayed and only 266km is still a good, solid A-Road.  I know, you want to know about the N-1.  It goes from Madrid to the French border, but unlike the N-2 which goes to the eastern Pyrenees, the N-1 goes to Irun in the west.




Back on the road we come across one of those typical major road restaurants.  It is big and has a splendid view of the road.  I clicked on the website. The message came ‘the page you are looking for appears not to exist’.  I like the ambivalence of the message; a slight tease, a bit of mystery.



 Recent reviews tend to be five stars / no words.  Charlie White said, a week ago, ‘Breakfast every day. The waitresses were charming and fun. They know how to connect politely with the client’  The owner calls him Carlos in the thank you reply.  Two weeks ago Antonio opined ‘Lots of variety, fast service and huge place. We had a very good lunch. What a pity that it is so far away that you always have to go by car.’



The petrol station, attached, gets 3.9 stars.  It opens at 6am and closes at 9pm.  Jose reckoned ‘Finally a Repsol service station where the staff serves fuel and I didn't have to touch the pump hose. They also clean your windshield and diesel at the same price as the others, what a difference in service compared to other Repsol gas stations.’   Jesus reckoned ‘The bar and its variety of tapas and sandwiches is very notable.



We must tear ourselves away and potter on along the road.


















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