8 February

Up at 5:30am, getting better, & a couple of hours of work before breakfast. Then out & about beating the sunrise but 0 degrees. Did a bus trip to Avila & Segovia. Spent a while walking through a 1st/2nd century enclosed Roman town (probably the only reason to go there) in Avila, where Saint Teresa came from & started the Carmelite Order, quite amazing, especially for us non-religious folk. But the castle/town was incredible.
Then off to Segovia where there was an astounding Roman aqua duct, built without mortar, that was 17kms long bringing water from the mountains to the town. Snow capped mountains, not far away, provided a stunning backdrop.
Also checked out (another) cathedral that reminder me of Notre Dame, then an amazing castle that was used as the summer home for the king & queen.
The country side is harsh, I must say. Rock abounds with some amazing natural cairns every now & then, stoic trees have hardened with every winter they’ve lived though marking them not the prettiest of objects. You have to wonder how the farmers make their land fertile, but they do.
The weather, though starting at 0 each day, has been spectacular with us having to shed layer upon layer as the day progresses. It was only 10 where we were today but the sun felt like 20. It’ll get cold just before sunset though.
Feet & lower legs are aching due to cobble stones & steps, but well worth it. No more touring days here, just lots of walking around Madrid for 2 more days.
It’s now 5pm, as I write this in the bus on the way back to Madrid, & the woman beside me in nearly gnashing my arm off and screaming “wine, give me wine”, thankfully not more than 45 minutes to go until we can be in the roof bar, watching the sunset.