All along the watchtower

 We are heading along the same road, with the same solar to the north and olives to the south and then, a mystery.


It is the way with writing these that some days we are spoilt for choice. Go into any urban setting and you will have electricians, bakers and even the occasional house of negotiable affection, complete with its Trick-Advisor report.  Sometimes we go somewhere which sparks a memory - not the aforementioned houses - and so I ramble off on a diversion, while sticking to the straight path ahead.  Today looked like it was going to be a day where I needed to find something to write, maybe discovering one of Escaarton’s lesser known offspring - and seeing as you asked, wiki lists Miguel Nicolas Ambrs, vet and student of pathology; Miguel Navas de Carrera - whose study of cocoa is on of the few food science monographs printed in Spain in the 18th Century; Juan Mora Insa - who was well into Aragonese architecture; Sara Mora Romeo, an actor on stage and screen; Tadeo Ubon, who resisted Napoleon and Jose Florentin Zaurin Casanova - who was an Engineer, president of the UGT, supporter of the Republic and has a foundation  https://fpabloiglesias.es/entrada-db/zaurin-casanova-jose-florentin/ Aall this is not needed because I have discovered a tower.








It all began with a Google Map reference to an Army Barracks.  This seemed unlikely and the one unworded four star review seemed unhelpful.  Satellite shots revealed what looked to be an deserted tower like thing.  Eventually I found a document on it so her is a brief history of El Mocatero.




The Third Carlist War [1872-1875] came in a period of political instability. Queen Isabella II had abdicated in 1868 and the less than popular Amadeo I proclaimed king.The Carlist Pretender. Carlos the 7th, I am really, honest, promised the Catalans, Basques, Valencians and Aragonese the restoration of regional rights and tried to get a rebellion going.  While this was going on Amadeo I abdicated; there was a short lived republic and Alfonso XII, the son of Isabella, was restored to glory.  Details of the War can be found here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Carlist_War 



In 1875 things were not looking healthy for the Carlists.  The Basque lands were holding but Catalonia was under threat.  General Manuel de Salamanca Negrete had stabilised the frontier along the Ebro for the government troops and was busy establishing his political power in the region.  https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_de_Salamanca_Negrete He established a network of 45 signaling towers across the region.




El Mocatero was constructed along the general design for the region. It was a square tower with two floors, a roof protected by a parapet and deep ditch around it.  The guards lived on the first floor and the roof had the optical telegraph, ready to send vital information.  Almost as soon as it was built the world moved on, Catalonia fell and the war ended in 1876.












Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Much a do about something

Image
  In North Lincolnshire there is an OS square which is all but empty,  In a single corner stretches a few metres of power cables to spoil the virgin whiteness.  Today’s walk is not so blessed with flat calm.  We will see trees.  We will see ups.  Views are compulsory.  Houses aren’t.  Let's talk about Asturias in the years from 718 to 757. In 711 the full force of the Islamic tide swept from North Africa into Visigothic Spain. At the Battle of Guadalete King Roderic and much of the nobility were killed and the Iberian Peninsula collapsed before the all conquering crescent.  The thing is, Asturias is a long way from the main body of Spain. It is a bit wet and more to the point lacking the plunder which was the way of paying the Army of the Conquest.  The Caliphate’s hold on Asturias was tenuous to say the least.  Enter  Pelagius. Pelagius has many myths swirling around him and a very butch Victorian statue in Gijon.  Accord...
Read more

In which a Roman Bridge and a Funeral Parlour are reviewed.

Image
  We are rising again. We are rising 20 of your earth metres today. We will be 818m above the level sea. We are about at the highest point in the Cheviot Hills. We cross the Rio Porma and into Villarente and Puente Villarente. Both these twin settlements, lurking along the roadside, have generally grown in size since 2000.   https://www.turismocastillayleon.com/en/art-culture-heritage/great-routes/way-saint-james/puente-villarente First we must cross the Roman Bridge. Coyotuco is back with a five star review: A beautiful BRIDGE with a lot of history but it is not PEDESTRIAN. For pedestrians they have made a PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY right next to it. We are passing by the Artesanias Luyma so let us gaze at their ceramic goodness. Let us wonder  https://www.artesaniasluyma.com/categorias/pereruela/ While we are here and we are passing the Tanatorio Camino de Santiago let us visit this 39 reviewed funeral home. It gets an average of 4.9 stars.  https://www.antamontalvo.es/esq...
Read more

Mini Pieces of Supposed tuna

Image
  Pina de Ebro has something for everyone who enjoys the architecture of Spanish pueblos.  It has the tiny lanes, on which houses have been rebuilt for generations without a care for the needs of the modern motorist.  We have the pathways which have been tiled over but once were dirt tracks.  We have the modern suburban developments of low rise houses and 80s hopefully aspiring shacks.  First all, however, we have a park. One thing we noticed, especially with a small boy in tow, was the number of parks with interesting play equipment.  This is because, in Spain, people seem to like children.  This does make them a semi-public property and people feel free to indulge them with sweetmeats and pass comments. ‘I think sucking thumbs makes children look ugly’ said one elderly woman.’ My Spanish for ‘well desiccated prune face, no one asked you’ deserted me.  The play equipment is in the Plaza Pilarin Artigas.  Honestly I’ve looked and was giving u...
Read more