Oropesa 105k, 63m***
March 11, 2003
BEAUTIFUL SITES, GREAT RIDING
Things aren’t working out here. Too many fascinating things to see, plus a few mountains and some wind – we’re just not cranking out the miles at all. But we’re having a great time. Here’s the view from my hotel room in Guadalupe this morning, and a shot of the cathedral from in town. (With these small towns it’s hard to get far back enough for good perspective.. sorry.
That’s the cathedral with the ‘black Madonna’ inside. She’s 50 feet above the alter, on a turnstile. Every hour there’s a walking tour group that they let in. You walk up behind the alter, they rotate her, you touch the statue, and you are saved. Cool, huh? Couldn’t get a picture of the Madonna due to lighting conditions, but here’s a shot of a painting of them baptizing some Caribbean natives that Columbus brought back 500 years ago.
That’s the cathedral with the ‘black Madonna’ inside. She’s 50 feet above the alter, on a turnstile. Every hour there’s a walking tour group that they let in. You walk up behind the alter, they rotate her, you touch the statue, and you are saved. Cool, huh? Couldn’t get a picture of the Madonna due to lighting conditions, but here’s a shot of a painting of them baptizing some Caribbean natives that Columbus brought back 500 years ago.
Then it was back on highway E90 for another 40 km to Oroposa. Here’s Charlie checking out yesterday’s update on a break along this stretch.
We’re staying in a 16th century castle tonight. Here’s the view from the road on the way up (picture missing?) , another of a model of the castle, and another of Charlie on top of the castle walls.
There isn’t much history here, just the typical millennia of wars, serfdom, village life, etc. You feel much closer to it staying in the buildings. Last shot – here’s the view from my window here in Oropesa.
Tomorrow it’s a short ride to Toledo (60 miles or so), which will be hard to pass up. We will be two days behind schedule…
