Friday 23rd October

Today was a little overcast but still warm and dry. We made the shortish journey of 39 miles ( 63 kilometres) north west from Berlanga to Zafra, still in the region of Extremadura. We parked in the town Aire and wandered down to the historic centre. This is the Parador de Turismo, one of a chain of state run hotels, mainly in historic buildings, set up after the second world war to encourage tourism in Spain, a country where there was no tourist infrastructure following the Civil War. It is amazing that they are still there. You can stay in 5 star luxury at 2 star prices.

Zafra has several beautiful old cloistered squares. This is the Plaza Grande.

Ann wanted to visit the Church but, as seems universal in Spain, it was locked. I wonder what the Catholic Hierarchy's position is on the Spanish Government's current programme of austerity? Perhaps they might see some connection between mass unemployment, the resultant poverty and the need to lock churches to avoid pilfering of relics, alter furnishings etc? I doubt it!

Here's another view taken in Plaza Grande. There are a few nice looking hotels around the square which might be even more economical than the Parador. Would make a nice city break. Not sure where the nearest airport is or whether any low cost airlines fly here from Britain.

Here's a view of the (locked) church tower from the Plaza Grande. Back at the Aire we met a couple from Devon - from Plympton in Plymouth. They didn't know our friends Jane and Tony who live there but then I guess it's a fairly large place so why should they? They have partially completed their own conversion of a Fiat Ducato van like ours. The internal layout they have chosen is almost identical to our van! It must be a major task doing your own conversion - my adopted sister's husband has done one but I have yet to see it apart from photos which look impressive.