Humanist currents in a healthy climate

 Today is a day of bypassing a lot of places as we head out east. We won’t do them all in detail but you might get a snippet or two.

Our first hilltop town is Cuevas de Almunden.  It had a town wall and a still has a Baroque church. Its coat of arms proclaims ‘Liberty, Progress, Administration.’ I think this is a very liberal call to arms.  We will overthrow the tyrants, but let's not get carried away.  Currently 119 people live there. Once several hundred did. 

The current council https://www.cuevasdealmuden.es/ seems to be in the hands of the Chunta Argonesista. The party , according to wiki ‘They consider themselves influenced by the experiences of the socialist movement, the movements for social and national emancipation, and ecopacifist , feminist, and humanist currents . They have been vocal in their opposition to any transfer of water from the Ebro River to other basins.’  The mayor is Jose Luis Gresa  Juste.

Some highlights from the GSH ‘situated on a plain and exposed to the north, south, and west winds, with a healthy climate , although prone to internal inflammations. The land is almost flat and of medium quality; some orchards are irrigated with the surplus water from the spring. Products : cereals; sheep are raised; hunting of partridges and rabbits.

Onto Jarque de la Val.  It had above 300 people and now has 66.  GSH notes ‘situated around a hill whose height the locals call Torrejon, with west winds and a healthy climate , pulmonary catarrh being the most common illnesses. It has 62 houses built around the circumference of the aforementioned hill, among them the town hall, which, due to its solidity and architecture, denotes being from the time of the Arabs; a public jail; a boys' school attended by 36 and endowed with 25 fanegas of grain and 700 reales; a parish church (Santo Toribio de Astorga), served by a priest appointed by competition and ordinary provision; a hermitage situated at the exit of the town in a southerly direction and dedicated to Santiago; And lastly, a cemetery that poses no threat to public health.’

On the road is the Bar Asador Jarque de la Val.  Three months ago JER opined ‘A great experience with Mariana, a hardworking and enterprising woman. She provided excellent service at a very reasonable price. Call her and she'll prepare her Argentinian barbecue for you.’  

As we approach Hinojosa de Jarque we will pass the Ermita de la Virgen del Pilar.   Our old chum Jose is once more filling the gaps of our ignorance.

Built in the 18th century (1718) in the Baroque style, it consists of a central octagonal space surrounded by eight square chapels. These, interspersed with small triangular niche chapels, form another octagonal perimeter.   The central area is covered by a large hemispherical dome on a drum, as are the square chapels, where the domes are slightly lowered. Natural light enters through the lintelled windows of the drum and the oculi of the central dome.  It is constructed of masonry with ashlar reinforcements at the corners of the large drum that surrounds the dome, and is covered with glazed ceramic tiles. Ashlar masonry is also used on the façade, which features a semicircular arch on one side of the octagon and is topped by a triangular pediment flanked by two pinnacles.  The interior is decorated with plasterwork and stucco in pastel shades, giving it a Rococo touch, already hinted at in the decoration of the portal beneath the entrance atrium. A visit to this beautiful and peaceful village of Hinojosa de Jarque is highly recommended 

Hinojosa de Jarque [once 400/ now 104] is in the hands of the PSOE.  We missed the fiesta of San Joachim by three days.  The GSH notes

situated on the left bank of the stream that flows down from Mezquita to join the Guadalope River and on the slopes of the Sierra de San Justo to the south, with north winds, resulting in a cold climate , with inflammations, pneumonia, and fevers being the most common illnesses. The land is mountainous and of medium quality; it also includes plains that are used for sowing cereals.  Products : wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, peas, some hemp, and fruit. There is sheep and cattle farming and hunting of partridges, rabbits, hares and quail. Industry : agriculture and a flour mill. 

It has Talleres jarque, a vehicle repair ship which gets 4.8 stars from 19 reviews. Two weeks ago Clara reported ‘Excellent service. Pedro is very professional, explains everything perfectly, and works with a transparency that gives you great peace of mind. Fast and impeccable service. 100% recommended, I will definitely return.’

So we end the day and rest before tomorrow's labours.