Day 3 - Doing things the Spanish way

First of all apologies for the late issue of today's activities but as you'll note we're having a night away and I won't be able to get to the internet. Also thanks to Lucy and Tony for the butterfly information. Nina would like to know if it's rare in this part of the world.

Ok, on with today ....

Up at 8 and on our way to Requena. This is an ancient Spanish town with origins dating back to the first iron age and with buildings dating back to the 14th century .

Requena is to be our staging post for our foray up the Jucar river tomorrow. We've come with Richard and Nina and met our dear friends Anne and David here this morning. We will spend the night in Requena and drive over to Cofrentes early tomorrow for the boat trip.

Late morning and early afternoon were spent looking round the old town. There are many old buildings here which have changed little in the past 500 years, but some don't look like they will be here much longer! Zoom in on the photo of the church on the right and you'll see a huge vertical crack. Large steel beams are now the only thing preventing collapse. What the photo does not show is the row of terraced houses running down the side of the church on the right hand side only 2 metres away. I'm not sure I'd be able to sleep easy if I lived in one on those!

Just down one of the streets from the church, hanging on a nail on a house wall was a tatty old bit of leather which looked like it had been there for many years. It looks like a bridle with blikers and a nose bag, but I'm sure Sally will put me right if its not. You might have to look at the picture full size to make it out properly (just double click on the picture Sal).

At David's suggestion we decided to do things the Spanish way by having our main meal in the afternoon followed by a siesta and then a little party in the hotel lounge (at least the siesta's traditional here but I'm sure they party a bit too).

The restaurant was located in a very quiet little square (well it was till we got there) and we ate outside but under a canvas sun screen (I don't think I've mentioned yet that temperatures today were around 27 deg C - how's the weaher back home?). Everyone was taken with the very attractive young Spanish girl who managed the place , but only Nina with the somewhat less attractive older woman (or man depending on who you were listening to) who sat at the next table, but that's another story ....

Lunch (or should I call it dinner?) lasted a leisurely two and half hours and we're now half way through our siesta - thought I'd better write the day up before the party, just in case ...)

Tomorrow's update might be a little late too.