As beautiful as it is dirty and neglected

 La Mancha - land of sweeping plains and knight errants attacking infrastructure.  In the case of this area - a land of areas of natural beauty; holiday places and big emptiness.

We are passing through Peralvillo.  The 19th century description is ‘a cluster of farmhouses.’  It’s not grown much. Apparently it is name checked in Don Quixote Chapter 11 Part 2.  It has a picnic ground which Santi described it as ‘As beautiful as it is dirty and neglected ‘  Many people were grumbling. Vicky liked it ‘It's a very nice place in a small village between Fernán Caballero and Ciudad Real! The food is quite good. On Saturdays they have migas and gachas, and on Sundays paella! ‘

By an appalling oversight we are following the N-401 and not the N-401a split into Fernan Caballero.  We will be missing a town created during the Castilian push south in the 14th century.

The town saw a huge rise in population after 1842.  Admittedly, in 1837 bits of it were burnt down during the Carlist Wars, however the solid rise to 2683 by 1950 has seen a similar decline to 1040 in 1981.  Currently 965 people dwell here.   We usually arrive late.  We are now arriving too early. I will quote the Spanish wiki in full for the big August bashes, all in honour of Saint Augustine.

• ‘On August 26th, the traditional lemonade competition is held, a drink made with white wine, soda and pieces of fruit.

• On August 27th, the San Agustín patron saint festivities begin. In the morning, there are children's games and contests. Among them is the traditional "rompepucheros," small pots that must be broken blindfolded, revealing surprises inside—similar to the traditional piñata in many parts of Spain. In the afternoon, there's the popular parade of giants and big-headed figures, followed by the opening proclamation of the festivities and the crowning of the queens and ladies-in-waiting. At midnight, the "toros de pólvora" (firework bulls) take place—bull-shaped carts carried on shoulders for the enjoyment of the crowd, while they release fireworks and gunpowder.

• The 28th is the procession of Saint Augustine, which ends with a grand burning of fireworks castles offered in his honor by the people of the town.

• August 29th is the traditional stew competition and from 7:00 pm onwards there will be a release of young bulls.

• On August 30 at 7:00 p.m., the traditional Fernandu-style bull run takes place, declared a regional tourist attraction on August 24, 2012. Earlier in the morning, there is a children's bull run, first held in 2011, with carts made of recyclable materials on a bicycle wheel.

• The festivities end on the 31st with the Octave of Saint Augustine, during which, at the end of the procession, fireworks are set off again in his honor, culminating in a grand finale. Some locals, imitating the people of Pamplona, ​​sing: "Poor me, poor me." The Saint Augustine festivities are now over.’

We have missed the town and missed the lemonade. Let us be more vigilant tomorrow.