Binary Islands and costly cheese

 When I were a lad we would would head off to Swansea and there was that bit where you would pass the oil refinery, built on land that was near enough to be convenient but far away enough not to be needed.  We are going to do a lot of that today - but first, a bridge.



Wandering across the car park we come to bridges ancient and modern. The Puente Mayorga is best summed up by our old chum pablompsy.  Historic 18th-century bridge that gives the neighborhood its name. It connects the neighborhood to Guadarranque, crossing over the Cachón River. It is very steep and, due to its narrowness, has a traffic light for vehicles. A pedestrian crossing has been created alongside it.


We are walking alongside ‘Repsol Central Térmica Ciclo Combinado Bahía de Algeciras.  It gets 2 reviews.  Pedro gave five stars six years ago. Juan gave a star three years ago. Neither said why.


You know, that’s it really.  What shall we talk about.  Apparently the stapler was invented in the Basque Country in the 18th century.  It was done for Louis XV. Each single staple had the king’s emblem on it.


Spain has the Guiness World Record for the most expensive cheese.  Apparently the Asturian Cabrales, the semi-hard flavoursome beauty sold for 10,250 per kilo.

Pheasant Island is an uninhabited river island located in the Bidasoa river, located between France and Spain. It’s ownership varies - alternating every six months,  Spain controls it from February to July, and France takes over from August to January. 


We were near Pheasant Island when we crossed into Spain at Hendaye.  The island is 200m long and 40m wide - at present. It is eroding.

Pheasant Island can claim some notable history.

  •  Luis Méndez de Haro, a grandee of Spain, and Cardinal Mazarin, Chief Minister of France, in 1659 following the end of the Thirty Years' War.

  • Maria Theresa said farewell to her father, Philip IV, in 1660 - en route to marry Louis XIV in 1660.

  • 1721 - Louis XV met Mariana Victoria of Spain. It didn’t work out.  She married Joseph I of Portugal.

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