We enjoyed this unique sunrise but looks like a hazy sort of day ahead.We crossed the Greenwich Meridian again for the third or fourth time near Albocasser, heading to the Alt Maestrat region again.An attempt to capture the twists in the road from a safe overlook.There are a lot farms – this looks especially prosperous.There are multiple solar farms – a huge photovoltaic array.Of course we expect windmills in Spain – even modern wind farms!The village of Culla is nicely situated on a defensible hill. It also has an observatory so probably a good dark sky community.We took a break to enjoy the views and contemplate the history. If it was clear, we could see Penyagolosa – there is an annual pilgrimage from here to there.Made it to the Tower! Can now defend the kingdom!Knights Templar and their Interest in Culla.Very picturesque morning.`We continued on, almost at the border with Argon, to Villafranca del Cid. The history of this community is raising sheep, producing wool, and selling it to Italy. They realized they should make their own textiles to became more prosperous. There are many wonderfully preserved homes/buildings.Inside this medieval building from the 1500’s, we had a personal tour of the displays explaining “Piedra en Sec.” Buildings and walls were built dry stacking stones because they were so numerous and were readily available (free).We were given a map to find a walking route to learn more and examine more closely the Piedra en Sec techniques. We had been fascinated with these earlier in our trip at Valltorta.This area was very concentrated with stone walls to enclose sheep – some had little sheep openings and buildings for shelter from weather.Buildings have different ways to have the stones steps for reaching the roof to remove chimney rock allowing a fire to be built inside and smoke to escape. Some buildings are square, some round, some a combination depending on the artistic creativeness of the builder.Absolutely love this extraordinary gate hinge detail. A hole is created in the rock that is built into the wall to allow post of gate to go into it and allow it to pivot. You lift gate up a bit to swing it open.
We traveled to Valencia for a day to experience Santiago Calatrava’s architecture.We had time to walk around for an hour or so before opening. This is Hemisphere building – Planetarium and IMAX which opens like an eyelid but we did not see that operate.We are lucky to have such a beautiful clear morning to fully appreciate this City of Architecture complete with bridges.Great signage for Museum of The Sciences: Museu De Les CienciesLots of fun angles, shapes, and reflections.Doesn’t this Fiat 500 remind you of the Mini Cooper Chase scene in the Italian Job? This is a 50 meter Communicating Arc, where you can talk to someone at the other end. Perfect acoustics. And a pretty nice reflection!The fighter Jet gives a difference sense of scale. The columns are shaped to emulate trees. A truly grand space!In addition to the Exhibit on Mars, we saw one on the Mediterranean, the Talking Brain, DNA Coding, and other sciences.We even got to celebrate again the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landing.The legacy of Science: Severo Ochoa won this Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1959 for his discoveries about the decoding of deoxyribonucleic acid (RNA). We had not seen an actual Nobel Medallion before. There was a permanent exhibit on three science Nobel Prizes for Spain.The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland – there is science in many stories – or so we learn! We are ready to take our own lunch downstairs.The Umbracle is a green roof garden above the parking structure.There were a lot of young people in groups, on the boats, and playing inside these bubbles. A very popular community park.The next building to explore is the Palau De Les Arts – the Performing Arts Auditorium and Theater.This looks very futuristic!The center section is actually built like a bridge cantilevered over the top of the building.This is the other side where the support is anchored into the ground.A great day in Valencia!
Museum of Ceramics in Onda – 200 years of tile has been collected and preserved. We especially enjoyed this display.
The architecture of the building was modern and very well designed. View to the Castle with 300 towers on the hill.
Time to Storm the Gates! Just ask El Cid…
Detail of a tower with the mountains of Parc Natural de la Sierra d’Espadán
Imagine a Moorish Garden like Alhambra here on the top floor of the castle! Then the Christians came but the church is now an excellent museum on the history.
After passing miles and miles of ceramic factories we stopped at this Mirador for a picnic lunch.
This was the view of the reservoir Sitjar and the factories of Ribesalbes.
Vilafames, one of the most Beautiful villages in Spain with, you guessed it, another castle on the hill. We wandered the nicely preserved town up to this tower on the the top of the hill.
The Natural Park Cabanes – Torreblanca, just south of tour apartment, is dedicated wetlands with some hiking and biking trails.
Part of the route we hiked is along the coast of the Mediterranean. We saw lots of seagulls and cormorants in this section.
There are inland marshes and ponds with a variety of water fowl like coots and ducks, as well as these mergansers.
Back to our own Mirador balcony for a leisurely, very Spanish lunch of fresh bread, Iberian ham, wine and flan! Ready for our siesta!
Another beautiful sunrise – we watched the fishing boats as there were more than usual this morning.
We planned a day trip into the mountains of El Maestrat region.
This aqueduct, built during the Christian Era, supplied the hill town of Morella with necessary water.
The water still has a bit of distance to travel before arriving in the city.
We enjoyed walking around the old town area. It is quite a walk and climb to explore the castle.
The natural rock outcropping was incorporated into the castle so it almost hard to detect where one begins and ends.
Time to storm the Gates! Just ask El Cid.
Beautiful entry of the Cathedral.
Very large statues or very small human. Figures represent last Moorish ruling couple and first Christian ruling couple in the Town Hall – used for festivals.
This is also the area of dinosaur discoveries in the Formation Morella. In 2008 an intact specimen of a previously unknown species of sauropod dinosaur was discovered, believed to have lived in the earlyCretaceous period, approximately 120 million years ago.
We also explored Ares del Maestrat where we found this cool statue of a Knight Templar. We had to go home and watch a documentary on who were the Knights Templars.
It was the clearest day we have had. We could see all the way to the highest peak of Castillon, Penyagolosa – an adventure for another day which we hope is this clear.
A look back at Ares del Maestrat’s strategic position – visibility to the Mediterranean and Alcossebre!
Alcossebre Sea ExperienceBalcony over the Mediterranean on the coast of Spain!Beautiful Coast of Azahar.Modern lighthouse protecting the Irta Mountains.There are the Serra d’Irta in the background.Castillo de Xivert in those mountains overlooking the plains.An Islamic fortification built in 10th century, conquered by Knights Templar in 1234, then a Christian stronghold in the 15th century.Alcala de Xivert in the valley – this is the season for artichokes.Peniscola is a castle surrounded by sea with a long history. Just ask El CidIt looks pretty defensible!Someone covered this house with shells- that is a lot of collecting!Avignon pope Benedict XIII (Pedro de Luna) lived here after the Knights of Templer. The castle was renovated for the film El Cid and also parts of Games of Thrones 5th season was filmed here.We had to hike to the Tower which sent signals to the castles – no cell phones!High Tech Communication!Happy hour back at our balcony – our collection of 2 euro wines!Sunset in the mountains reflected in the infinity pool.
