Thursday 22nd October

This morning leaving Alanis our sat nav gave us no help whatsoever in getting out of the town's narrow streets and we ended up a few kilometres out of town at a dead end where Ann made friends with this beautiful black pig. As I said before these pigs, which are a special breed, feed on the acorns in the cork oak forests and are then used to make the finest air dried ham which only comes from this area of north west Andalucia and the adjoining area in south west Extremadura.

Anyway we retraced our route back into Alanis and this time Tomasina (the Tom Tom) made a better job of getting us through town and out on the road north. We made the short journey to Berlanga through interesting landscapes, firstly cork oak forest and then open grasslands. We parked at the town's Aire close to this artificial lake.We had crossed from Andalucia into Extremadura. Our journey today (including the diversion to meet the black pig) was 28 miles ( 45 kilometres).

Adjoining the lake is what one can only describe as a free entry zoo. There were numerous animals and birds on display. We were particularly impressed by this Ruandan breed of cattle.

Ann tried to ingratiate herself with this deer -it didn't want to know!

There were however plenty of wild creatures around in a lower artificial lake adjoining the "zoo".

Ducks.

Terrapins.

Black Swans.

And Herons.

Also in the "zoo" but in the "wild" part where the "tame" deer was we saw this creature a long way away -hence the poor quality taken on mega optical and digital zoom - we think that it might be a Mouflon - anyone any ideas as to its identity?

It's a lovely spot where we're staying tonight. Can you see the moon? It seems to be a favourite hangout for young female dope smoking couples! I didn't photograph either of the couples as there is a remote chance that the local DS might be followers of this blog!?