On the roof of our hotel at sunrise, but buildings hid the golden view. It was fascinating though to see the light suddenly appear on the eastern olive groves, then on the nearby stork tower, and slowly work its way down until the tower was fully lit. Mother stork was standing well before dawn while the storkling waited until sunrise before stretching its long coral legs. In the other room there is no dawn appearance at all for the one who lives on the plaza clock, maybe they use another method to wake.
No-one in the square save the plaza cleaning machine circling the large fountain. The water is often turned off so its thirst is not quenched until later in the day when more fountain watchers are quenching theirs. And you would never be able to email your friends about the fountain’s wonderful water colour display unless you were in town on a weekend.
Some light relief while researching breakfast venues. Corrie reached out for the menu which was next to a man sitting at the bar. The barista, without a word, took it back. Corrie, a little confused, reached out again, the barman beating her to it (now he’s looking concerned) moved it to the other side of the sitting man. Corrie, thinking he was giving her more room to read it, moved across and picked it up, the barista then cross, pointed to the sitting man – the ‘menu’ was his personal folder. Corrie mumbled something in Spanish as I escorted her out.
Time to go for a long walk just before summer tries to stop us, or at least make it more difficult. It was great to stretch out again and test the body’s working order which received, maybe a credit for both of us. We followed the camino Via de la Plata, (which starts in Seville) for a few kms along a fairly lifeless road with no corners, so not much of an adventure for us. We reached the top of a long low hill to see a lake, and scattered olive trees on undulating hills well into the distance below the mountains of the Sierra Villuercas.
A small bonus on the way home however was a different type of platter, a plato combinado. This is a mixed food dish that is quite hearty because it is often prepared for walkers. This was one of the best we have ever had and we would otherwise not have found it outside the old city. A lightly fried Merluza fish wrapped in a light sauce was Corrie’s choice, while lightly grilled sliced chicken in sweet butter was mine, both with chips and a small salad.
Now it’s Spanish siesta time, usually taken after a large lunch (roughly from 1400 to 1700) before shops open once more. Remember siesta time is often a time to be home doing those things you love to do which may also include a nap, of course. So Corrie’s siesta would probably involve exploring the internet for interesting things to do or see, while I will continue to ‘re-read’ my only book, because it’s siesta time, and the bookshops are closed.
