We finished the worktop eventually. The kitchen was up and running a few days before we left, so we could invite relatives and friends for lunch to give them a proper farewell. We are now back on the road ready to enjoy the last few weeks in Spain.
We are very sad to leave Guisando, we won’t probably be able to come back before xmas. But we are also excited about the next six months of travelling. Very weird how we can reconcile those contradictory feelings.
On the way out, we pop in to Talavera to have lunch with my parents and my brother. After lunch and before we go, we must play the last ‘pocha’ for a while, we have become quite addictive to this cards game. Shame, we only play it when we are in Spain. We are gonna have to try harder to make friends over the next 6 months, otherwise we are going to develop pocha withdrawn symptoms.
After ‘pocha’ we leave. My parents and brother looked okay at the time we leave (They are probably glad to see the back of us! GDR). Gary and I looked more emotional, though. Spending so much time in Guisando has made both of us realise how much this place means to us. There could be big changes ahead in our lives, which we are still maturing, but let’s leave this for another post.
Anyway, we are back on the road, heading east, towards Valencia and Puerto de Sagunto. But first, we stop in a couple of places: Cuenca and Benidorm.
I have been to Cuenca before, it was twenty years ago. Cuenca is famous for its Easter processions. But there is one, which has always appealed to me and my friends more: ‘procession de los borrachos’ (drunken procession), most famously known by ‘Las Turbas’. I knew someone who lived in Cuenca at the time, so a couple of friends and I went to see what this procession was about. It was good, although I can only remember the musicians and a big night out afterwards.
Now, a little bit older, with slightly different interests in life (mainly because I couldn’t cope with any more night outs, drinking) I want to see Cuenca proper. It is still a pretty cute little town. Gary doesn’t know it either, so another reason to visit.
Cuenca is also known in Spain as ‘La Ciudad Encantada’ (the Enchanted Town). Also for its ‘casas colgadas’ (hanging houses), a conglomerate of houses with exposed balconies hanging over the river Jucar. That is probably why they have been given the name.
After popping in in the tourist information office to get a map of the town, we drive Dora towards a car park near the river. A few metres walk up, we start to see the San Pablo bridge.
Nice, elegant, thin but stable (the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava should learn to do bridges like this one 
)
This bridge seems to be the bridge of love. Couples have placed locks, their names written upon them, along the bridge, as a commitment for life, I guess. Gary and I promise to buy one, but we would never see a shop.
Already in the town, we head towards the Contemporary museum, in the hanging houses. We are not museum people but we like abstract and contemporary art.
The attractiveness of Cuenca reveals itself. ‘You were right” Gary exclaims, it is worthwhile stopping in this nice, little town.
This little art gallery is a real gem, fascinating art bought together by one person Fernando Zóbel who is a good contemporary artist himself, for me the best on display.
http://www.epdlp.com/fotos/zobel1.jpg
The conversion of the building is also wonderful, showing off the art well, while also responding to the surrounding landscape.
You can also download an app telling you a bit more about the exhibits. Highly recommended. GDR
A few more photographic records of the town.
The romans, who invaded Spain for centuries, left a particularly strong legacy in this town.
We are getting closer to the top of the hill, where we could enjoy spectacular views either side of the town.
We soon find a footpath that we takes us down to Dora. The paths seems to get closer to the river, and along a line of poplars, one of my favourite trees, for their majesty and height. Nice way to end up our couple of hours tour around Cuenca.
We soon see the famous ‘hanging houses’ where the contemporary museum is.
Contemplating Cuenca as we drop down to the river.
From here, a much nicer shot of the ‘hanging houses’
Very enjoyable. On the way out, we find out that Cuenca also has a Lidl, we like it even more . We stop to get some bits and have a quick lunch before heading off South East. Quite a long drive. We will stop in Elche overnight and visit Benidorm tomorrow.
Benidorm, completely different town from Cuenca. Very well known among holiday makers, especially Brits. Some Spanish seem to find it a glamorous place to spend the summer. Me, among them, although twenty years ago. I came here two summers with friends.
These days, I wouldn’t choose it as a holiday destination. I have simply decided to spend my free time doing other things. However, I am not ashamed having liked it in the past. It was a different time in my life, very social, very crazy, very frivolous, but enjoyable though. Now, twenty years older, it is time to move on.
Sometimes I have occasionally been criticised by some people of having changed too much. “You are not the ‘Susana’ we used to know. You have a weak personality. You can be influenced by anyone” I have heard from them. In the past, I could have been hurt by these words. But now I couldn’t care less about these comments. Changes are good, fun and interesting. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to be the same person throughout your entire life, almost as if you wanted to stop the passing of time. Well, you can’t. So we better accept it and make the most of the so many wonderful things that this life has to offer.
Why does Benidorm attract people? Not sure. I have heard some saying that it has attractions for everybody. I used to believe that. I am so fortunate I have been able to and also made the effort of visiting other places in the world to compare.I have concluded that there are other amazing places in the world to visit, and other different ways of travelling without having necessarily to be more expensive.
Ok, the beaches are nice, but not the one on the postcard.
This is a nice shot. If only you find out that it is only a few metres from skyscraper style hotels.
Nothing has really changed from what I remember. Hotels may have gone bust, some may have been refurbished, but the layout, the concept looks pretty much the same.
One thing we have noticed though, it looks a resort incredibly busy at this time of the year. That is difficult to achieve for a place which purely lives from tourism. Benidorm must be doing something right. I give them that.
Walking along the promenade, we find lots of retired people enjoying a bit of exercise on the beach.
Lots of people on the promenade, watching, praising. “This is such a great idea, exercising outdoors, on the beach, in the sun…” they exclaim.
Maybe Islantilla should be watching. GDR
We couldn’t resist the temptation of recording them.
Anyway, two hours in Benidorm is more than enough. Time to move on to more interesting and exciting things. We are heading off to ‘Sierra de Bernia’ where we are planning to do a long walk along the ridge tomorrow.
SM
