We ate the bandits

 Caspe is one of those towns on a hill that gives a place a bit of tone. A 100-150,000 year old hand axe has been found so it must have something to offer, even to the Neanderthal.  In fact, the place is a veritable abundancy of the old and stoney.  A rock shelter at Plano del Pulido has the figure of a large deer.




Look, every one has stopped over here, CeltiBerians, Hispano-Romans, Visigoths, Moors and, in the summer of 1169, Alfonso II and his Aragonese horde.  The Knights of St John took possession of the town and by the 13th century the population was about 1500.  The town became a centre of the glass industry.  Being in a valley that offers a lot of access between Catalonia and the rest of Spain, Capse was plundered a lot, all the way up to the nineteenth century Carlist Wars.




As a result of all this raiding the town has several fortifications.  Compromiso Castle, or, as Google translate has it, Castle of Commitment, is a 14th century pile in great disrepair.  The Tower of Salamanca, was built in 1875 by the order of General Manuel de Salamanca Negrete.  It was built in the form of a four-leaf clover, had roof space for signalling operations.  



Population wise the town has segwayed from 10,600 in 1857 down to 7800 in 1900, back to 10,000 in 195, down to 7900 in 2001 and is now up to 10,000 again, 28% of whom are foreign born.  The town is twinned with Almeria. Gaillac [France], Santa Maria a Vico [Italy] and Rule [Cuba.]



We will wander up the main drag into town, along the N-211.  As we will be passing the interestingly named Supermercado Orangutan.  It opens from 9 till 9, except Sundays.  https://www.bonpreuesclat.cat/   Four months ago J.G was clearly moved. ‘The dark-haired girl who just charged us at the checkout is the living example of excellence in customer service. Meeting people with their attitude makes you value even more the dedication, good work and kindness of good treatment in any establishment. Good job’





Up the hill, the Bar La Cabana, which Pilar rated ‘We spent a luxurious New Year's Eve Congratulations 👏 👏 …’  Jesus was also moved ‘A super cool place!! We ate the "bandits".....super good!!! All kinds of portions and super good too!!! Great treatment!!! And a super good atmosphere!!! Everything super!!! We will return!!!’




So we end the day, wandering out the other side and off west again.


















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