little bleary eyed from the overnight flight, my friend Janet,
who can be a bit outspoken, began asking about the other
two people booked on our ride. We had all commented that
we felt sorry that they would be the “odd people out” since
we all knew each other and we were all there to celebrate my
birthday, but we
agreed to try to include them as much
as
possible. And we didn’t have long
to wait until we’d find out ourselves
just who these two folks were.
its own right, as it was originally built by the King of Spain
as his own personal hunting lodge. And almost all of the
original integrity of the building has been maintained,
from the strolling paths that
surround it, to the wooden
floors in every hallway that
creak as you wander to your
room.
The drive to the first hotel is an adventure. Beginning on
highways, once you get off and drive on the outskirts of
Avila, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a cool walled city,
the roads begin climbing, winding through small towns and
lush countryside. And as the road climbs, it also twists and
turns, but reveals vegetation and flora that are truly lovely.
That said, I was beginning to think I might have to throw
Millie out the window as the windy roads when sitting in the
back of the van, were beginning to take their toll, and that
front seat was looking like a gold nugget.
We met at 7PM for a drink and to spend a few minutes
discussing the upcoming ride and the types of horses we
might be getting when we mounted up the next day. I
already knew from last year, that Maria Elena had the horses
already chosen for each person, but this is her chance to
hear from folks in their own words, and to make any last
adjustments if needed.
Speaking of dinner, meals on the Spain ride are no
small affair. Dinner is ordered from the
menu and features wonderful beef and
pork recipes (this area of Spain is famous
for the Iberico ham) as well as vegetarian
options, and breakfast is a full buffet.
All options at these 5***** Paradors
are fine dining and give you
a wonderful introduction
to the
Our band of weary travelers
As we were piling into two vans
assembled not so gracefully
(10 women and luggage – it can
in the lobby where we met
take a bit of room!) Janet and I,
Maria Elena Dendaluce,
along with 2 others ended up in our guide and host for
the van with Millie, one of the
the week. Her beaming
two “interlopers”, as we’d taken to
smile (which never seems
calling them. Millie, as it turns out, was in her
to leave her face) and her
early 70s and proceeded to hop into the front seat, telling us warmth radiated through
in no uncertain terms that she gets car sick, so she has to ride our tired and travel weary
in the front. Janet and I both thought, “this is gonna be a
fog. She sorted us out, got
LONG week”.
us to our rooms and told us
to relax until dinnertime. I
Millie’s friend Teresa, was in the other car, and she, a lovely
just wanted a shower. There
long haired and long legged blonde goddess type, was no
is something about flying all night and being in the same
more collaborative. We’d find out later that she was just jet
clothes (even though I did nothing but sit on a plane) that
lagged – she turned out to be a total RIOT.
make me feel frumpy.
But nevertheless, we arrived at our first Parador – an
incredible stone building set on top of a
knoll in the Gredos, and surrounded
by lush forest in all directions. And
while we were all glad to get out of
the car, this Parador
is something to
discover in
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