Another Border

Thursday drove from Salamanca to Caceres, stopping for coffee at Banos Reservoir viewpoint, unexpectedly great views.

 

Salamanca was definitely another running city, Caceres not so much…in fact haven’t seen a runner here.

From the motorway, we saw our first giant black bull silhouettes, and then stork cutouts…and then on pylons beside the motorway real storks nesting. And loads of Red Kites wheeling above the landscape – we got a bit blasé like we’d been in Dorset about another spot of “little Egret” from the house. Storks haven’t yet reached saturation point for us….two days later we were still enthralled when they glide into the their nests on the rooftops of the old city in Caceres.

Spanish driving….well outside the cities on the motorways, its easy and quite relaxing…but in the towns – well scary in Caceres, especially Friday when there were police out, roads closed and a noisy demonstration going on. None of the navigation team were much use or prepared for road closures!

Caceres campsite gave the Tollers and us our first walk through Olive groves on the hill above the campsite. Some of the trees had even had bark harvested from them….makes them look like they’re going to die…but they were clearly sprouting new leaves.

And Friday 8.2.13 on the hill, I saw my first Swallow of the summer… I wondered how far towards England that tiny bird was headed.

Café culture beckoned again in Plaza Mayor on Friday afternoon, sun shining, totally blue sky, temperature display in the square …..16C. Very pleasant indeed, much better than a Friday afternoon working! Interesting old city, dating from 1300’s and another World Heritage site. We’re soaking up the warmth and culture.

 

 

Saturday the sky was clear blue all day, sun blazing as we crossed the border into Portugal. This time a new country for all of us, no exceptions. We realised that we don’t have a word of Portugese between us, and haven’t even got a dictionary or phrase book….um, we might have to remedy that as soon as we can.

To add to our brain overload on “which language is that?” we’re realising just how many other Northern Europeans are into this snowbirding malarky…..at Caceres we chatted to Swedish motorhomers, sharing information as you do….then the campsite we’ve moved to over the border in Portugal near to Evoramonte…is run by a Dutchman, and we’re camped next to Finnish motorhome…whose nice people have just given our dogs a bag of dried chicken fillets all the way from the Arctic circle. The Tollers noses were twitching before I’d even opened the bag, and the treats look like jerky….

The weather is still glorious, this afternoon we both sat out in shorts, poloshirts, hats, sunglasses and grinning like loons…for about an hour before I decided I’d better cover up again before getting sunburnt. We’re viewing it as Vitamin D medicinal, but wonderful for February 9^th.