16 days since selling up David Jones recording.
It is a bright sunny morning and I am sitting in our apartment overlooking the main cathedral in Zaragoza. We have been here for two days and have a further two before moving on to a villa near the coast. I will tell your more about the ancient city of Zaragoza in the next blog. Today I want to tell the story about our journey here and the battle of the bands.
We left the delights of the supermarket car park hotel on the outskirts of Legrono and started to drive higher into the mountains heading for Soria. We had secured a cheap rate night in a Parador Hotel, some luxury after living above a supermarket. On the journey we drove through amazing mountain landscapes and rock formations.
As we drove high into the mountains the weather become colder, the wind stronger and bands of rain came out of nowhere.
We continued up high in to the mountains. Then we discovered the ancient ruined town of Numancia, a settlement dating back to the Iberian Celts and the Romans who invaded their lands. We explored the ruins and saw recontructions of houses and how people would have lived in them.
All the time as we walked around the ruined town the wind and the rain continued to batter us. We took shelter in the iberian huts and when we got to the southern roman villas the most sheltered spot in the town the sun came out. There are lots of photos in the Soria album.
We then ventured on towards Soria. Just outside the town we explored the ruined abbey of San Juan de Duero. Here there was an amazing romanesque and moorish design cloister. Again there are many pictures in the Soria album. Eventually we came to Soria and found our Parador which was high on the hill and had an amazing view. (see top photo). Whilst in our hotel room we kept hearing the sounds of different brass bands playing in various parts of the town. Curious we walked down to the town from the top of the hill through the narrow streets and alley ways. We then came across a square full of people chatting and drinking standing outside bars and there was a band playing in the corner. All the players wore red T shirts; we thought we had discovered the source of the sound. Then more bands appeared from different directions into the square some wearing green, some blue, others in orange, all playing different tunes with the crowds clapping and singing. What a sight! Our first impromptu fiesta! Paul took some video.
Comments