Indiana Jones and the sugar factory of doom

We are going to head into Guadix today. I think we had better, despite what they did to Baza’s bishopric. We are first nipping under under the N-342 and heading down a camino de Servicio - see, I said we would use the term and we are.

Turning south we are going under the motorway again and passing the station at Guadix.  It has a spaced service. At the time of writing the first train seems to be the 7.39Am to Granada and a 9.41am Madrid.   The 12.19pm goes to Almeria but don’t rely on this when making your travel plans.  Damon summed it all up saying ‘Train station with no extra services. There are restrooms and a ticket machine. Train to Granada, Almería and connections to other areas. Safe neighbourhood but only a few options for travel.’  Two weeks ago Ana wasn’t happy. ‘A beautiful station, but very neglected in terms of hygiene. The restrooms lack toilet paper, not just once, but countless times... and the overall cleanliness leaves much to be desired. It's a shame that something as beautiful and essential as this train station is neglected.’  Jorge was happier ‘A very interesting station to get off at. It's beautiful, as it retains the essence of its early days. It's quite far from the center of Guadix (about a 20-minute walk). They could improve the frequency of the trains, but that's not the station's fault, but the Renfe service's.  🎥 Interestingly, they filmed a scene from Indiana Jones here.’

Of course we need to know more.  Guadix became  Iskenderum, in Turkey, in the Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.  https://www.sceen-it.com/sceen/113/Indiana-Jones-and-the-Last-Crusade/Guadix-Station

Out and onto the main street we find, off to our left, the Azucarera de San Torcuato.  This now ruined shell of a place follows a theme for today.  Jorge wrote a year ago ‘The sugar factory began operating in 1900, although it only served that purpose until approximately 1915. The complex of buildings remained intact, serving as a supply center during the Civil War. Later, it was used as a prison, a time when the building would suffer the most damage to this day.

Today, after serving as a filming location for films such as "Duck Down, You Damn One" (1971), it remains completely in ruins. It is dangerous to enter due to the risk of collapse, but it is worth stopping by to see a piece of Spanish history. The area also has excellent views of the Sierra Nevada.

🐦🐦Beware of pigeons; they can easily hit you in the head.’

I think we need a stop and Diverso will provide that for us.  It is a midday to five, eight to midnight sort of a place.  Yesterday Samuel opined ‘We ate there as a group of four, including two children, and the waitresses were incredibly friendly. It was a very pleasant experience, and although they didn't have every dish, what we did have was delicious.’     Nuria agreed ‘It's great for company lunches and other occasions. We were very comfortable and everything was delicious. The waiters were polite and friendly. I would definitely go back. I recommend it 100%! 😁’

Let us cross the dried river bed, by way of a bridge and end the day in the Parque Municipal Pedro Antonio de Alarcon.   Who was Pedro Antonio de Alarcón I hear you ask?  Well, in March 1833 Guadix was delivered of a novelist, who would die in Madrid 58 years later. Apparently his best known novel was El Sombrero de tres picos’ - which is all about a magistrate who gets the hots for a miller’s faithful wife. It is set in Granada. According to wiki ‘The novel has a theatrical format and it has been compared with the Miguel de Cervantes novel Don Quijote.’  Presumably that is where the similarity ends.

Eight months ago Juanjo said ‘The park is beautiful, but it's seen better days. There's no fountain, no water, and the restrooms are deplorable. They've been closed for two years, and the urinal is always in a disgraceful state. What a shame for such a lovely city as Guadix.’

Tomorrow, a cathedral.