Holidays in Spain part 1

We set off from Zaragoza on Monday morning. First destination, Ávila, via the minor national roads to the north of Madrid.

Past fields of sunflowers, province of Soria.

Romanesque church in San Esteban de Gormaz

To the walled city of Ávila. I used the GPS on my Smartphone to find the hotel I'd booked in the outskirts of the city. Reading maps is great, but the GPS was really useful to find the way found the ringroad of an   unfamiliar city, although a mis-callibration meant it led us to a block away from the hotel and insisted we were at our destination!  

Ávila

Is an amazing city; at least, the old walled part is a World Heritage Site

inside

outside

from the top

After spending Monday afternoon walking in Ávila, on Tuesday  we set off for the village of Tiemblo, past the big Burguillo reservoir.
                                                                                               

People were bathing from dry mud beaches here.

Our destination was just a little drive from the village, the bulls of Guisando.

four stone bulls

from 200 BC

the site of the "swearing in" of Isabel la católica

The bulls are made of granite like the great boulders in the fields all around. When you know, you see stone bulls and boars all over the place!

Ávila Parador grounds, stone boar