Month: February 2019

Last night before dinner, we walked around more of the old town of Trujillo. Here are some pics. 

My dinner was a local version of tomato soup, sea bass, and creme caramel. And wine, of course.

Today was another sunny day of birding the steppe area around Trujillo. More good birds. We had coffee and a pleasant picnic lunch in the town of Santa Marta de Magasca.

Tomorrow we check out of our lodge and move toward Donana wetlands and the town of El Rocio, our next stopping point. We also leave the Extremadura region and into the Andalucia region.

Today was a day much like yesterday. First of all, sunny yet again. Breakfast at 7:30 and departure by 8:15. But today we went into the nearby national park, Monfrague. We spent the day there at several different locations, culminating at the Monfrague castle that sits on top of a mountain. It provided an excellent viewpoint looking down onto soaring vultures and storks, but also has history dating back to the 12th century.

Among the birds we saw today were the black vulture, black stork, and the great spotted cuckoo, just arrived from its migration from Africa. Each day we’re seeing quite a few new birds.

Lunch was a picnic in the park and dinner will be at the same restaurant in Trujillo tonight. It was warm again today, maybe more than 70. Another great day!

Sunday morning after breakfast, birding guide Pau Lucio picked me and 5 other Anglos up from our Madrid hotels. We 6 birders are a couple from Scotland, a British man who now lives near Valencia, an American couple from Ohio, and me. We took off in a van toward the region of Extremadura in southwest Spain.

It was another beautiful day, sunny and warm. We ate a picnic lunch that Pau had brought at some tables at a small park near the dam. Then we drove closer to Trujillo, where we would stay overnight, and birded the steppe and fields near Belen.

Around 5:00, we reached our lodgings, Las Canteras, a family-run country lodge (casa rural). Its on a hill overlooking a very large plain. There are about 25 nesting pairs of storks on the property. And it’s very quiet!

We had about 90 minutes to settle into our rooms, look around, and get ready for dinner. Dinner was in the town of Trujillo, about 15 minutes away by car. We parked in town and walked to the town square. There’s a statue of Pizarro in the square, since he came from there. After a few photos, we walked another 10 minutes through the old town to a restaurant, where we were seated toghether in the banquet room about 7:30. We had our choices of tapas plus 3 courses, and of course wine was on the table. I chose migas, a traditional dish, cod fish in a nice sauce, and creme caramel for dessert. It was all delicious. We finished about 10 p.m. and walked back to the car, then returned to our lodge by 10:45 or so.

Here are a few pictures.

We saw more than 50 species of birds yesterday, tallied up at dinnertime.

Today’s (Monday) birding was very good too. Another sunny day. We had breakfast in the lodge at 7:30 a.m. and then left soon after to go to another steppe area about 45 minutes away. Today we saw the hoopoe, an orange and black strange-looking bird. We birded around a dam again, and saw many more species. 

Tonight, and our remaining nights at Trujillo, we’ll eat at the same restaurant in town.

I may not post to the blog tomorrow, since it will likely be very similar to the last two days.

 

 

 

 

It was sunny and cold again this morning. After waking up at 7:30 and showering in my tiny bathroom, I went to the hotel’s breakfast room. My room is in a separate building from the hotel front desk and breakfast room, so I experienced the cold morning firsthand as I walked next door. As usual, it was a buffet style breakfast, so I filled up on my choice of fruit, pastries, yogurt, and juice, with a hard-boiled egg added in for extra mileage. The hotel is in a residential neighborhood that’s next to the expressway. This is what my 1-minute walk to breakfast looked like.

Around 9:15, I set out to the subway station to go into central Madrid again. My plans for part 2 of my Madrid sightseeing included the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, and San Miguel Market. I found the Royal Palace first.

Then I walked through the Plaza Mayor, where a Chinese dragon dance was taking place on the other side of some white tents and barriers.

I also found the San Miguel Market, which is a restored indoor market that specializes in selling beautifully made tapas and desserts.

Then I walked by the Prado Museum. If I were an art lover, I might have waited in the very, very long line to get in, but it wasn’t worth it to me. Instead I went next door to the Royal Botanical Gardens, walked right up to the admission window, paid 4 euros and walked in. It’s a large garden that is mostly dormant since it’s still winter. But they also have many bonsai on display that are really striking.

I saw a couple new birds in the garden too, including a robin (which doesn’t look like ours) and a Eurasian blackbird. After more than an hour enjoying the garden, I emerged to find lunch. It was only 1 p.m., so still early for Spaniards. I went into a family-style restaurant called VIPS, which was nothing fancy. But I was seated right away and enjoyed a beer plus an avocado and chicken burger. When I left about 45 minutes later, there was a waiting line out the door.

My feet were getting tired, so I walked to the nearest subway station to return to the hotel, found the station was closed for renovation and had to walk a few blocks further to find an open one. But I also found an ATM along the way, plus a store that could sell me a big bottle of water, two things I needed. The water in the hotel tastes terrible, but the air is so dry, I need to drink a lot to keep moderately hydrated.

Tonight I pack again and get ready for my birding trip start tomorrow morning.

After yesterday’s great presentations by all the Spaniards and a delicious paella dinner at 9:00, we were treated to a performance by Vaughan emcee Pete after dinner. He concocted a powerful drink for the group from fruit, coffee beans, and Spanish orujo blanco, which is brandy that’s 40% alcohol. Then he set it on fire for a while, creating quite a spectacle. It evidently reduces the alcohol somewhat and blends the flavors. Although I just drank a tiny bit because it was so powerful, it tasted good. Then, many of the group (including me) went to the nearby bar, Massimo’s, for a celebration. I just stayed for one drink and then headed back to my room to get to sleep by 12:30.

This morning after breakfast, we checked out of our rooms and had the final two hours of one-on-ones. At noon was the completion ceremony, with everyone receiving Vaughan certificates. The Anglo volunteers additionally received nice key rings. Then it was time for tapas and goodbyes. It’s a little sad to leave the people you’ve talked to and learned so much about over the past few days. Several of the Spaniards left to drive home around 2:00, while the remainder waited for the bus to arrive at 2:30 to take us back to Madrid.

Arriving in Madrid about 5:00, I collected my bags, said more goodbyes, and walked to the subway. It was amazingly warm – probably 70 degrees – and lots of people were on the street after work, probably going to tapas or home. The subway ride to my next hotel went smoothly. After spending a few minutes walking around getting oriented after coming up from the subway station, I walked 10 minutes to my new hotel.

This hotel, not too far from the Madrid airport and next to an expressway, is new and inexpensive. Also it has tiny rooms, so it’s a jolting change from Belmonte.

 It’s time to plan my second day of sightseeing in Madrid for tomorrow.