Death and attempts to halt its progress - ended by war

 We going to have to positively run backwards.  The way ahead is only by detours and/or motorways.  Being good people we won’t dash across the dual carriageway but go back.  I’ll have to put in some extra kilometres to compensate. Mind you, we will be traveling less in the city of Granada itself so it will probably all work out.

This is a day to be skirting round hiking areas.  The roads tend not to be.  The tracks obviously get motor traffic but not much.  Occasionally google pops up and tells you this is the Cerro del Muerto.  I think they are overworking the end of life stuff.  Norbert said ‘Beautiful landscape with hiking trails that require a good level of fitness’    Gregorio added ‘A beautiful spot in the Huetor mountain range for a hike, with an area populated by pine and scrub oak trees.’

We are near the Cerro del Pulpito.  Jose reckoned ‘A very beautiful place, like the entire area. You can pass by its base while exploring the Cañada del Sereno.’  No one else added to that.

We will be nearing the Sanatorio de Tuberculosis de la Alfaguara. 70 or more years of progress against disease and relative peace in this corner of the world lulls us away from the realities of things like tuberculosis.  Here, in the hills, is the ruins of the sanatorium.

Back to the beginning. Berta Wilhelmi arrived in Granada from the newly formed Germany in 1870, aged 12. Her parents and brother were going to build a paper factory, the last one having been burnt down.  The brother would die of tuberculosis.   Berta was of a philanthropic nature and in 1923 she opened the sanatorium. It was a bit of a bash and many of the great and good appeared. Queen Victoria Eugenie donated the furniture. 

The building had two floors and a large porch, with a capacity for 24 patients. The inmates did not have to pay for the treatment. Berta ran the place until she died. Her daughter then took over the running of the place. The Civil War saw the end of this.  By 1939 it had 60 soldiers garrisoned in it and after the war the place was abandoned.

97 people gave it 4.4 stars. Panelacnik reckoned ‘It's free to visit.  Doesn't really have carpark, but can park on the side of the road.. so quiet and peaceful around.  Nice bit of history to learn there.’  federico added ‘Very interesting place. Some people say they hear strange noises. But after spending the night there, we heard absolutely nothing. Respect the ruins; there's a risk of collapse in some parts. There are models where you can get an idea of ​​what the place was like.’

We will walk by the Fuente de La Teja. There is something wonderful about starts, and the Darro River certainly benefits from starting and will go through Granada city and we will meet it again.  Near here are Civil War Trenches and a couple of lead mines.

So we end a somewhat exhausting day.  Walking is fairly tiring but not for Alvaro Martin and Maria Perez, who won gold in the 2024 Olympics for the mixed marathon walk relay. I didn’t even know that that was a thing.  It hasn’t been for long.  Paris was the first time this 42.195km racewalk took place. Ecuador came second. Australia third.  Spain also came ninth.