30th April
We had little choice of where to stay as Santa Elena seems to be the only site between Granada and Madrid.
The site is set in pine trees with beautiful views over the valley which is covered with olive trees.
We wake up to this view from the MH each morning.
The next day we drove 80 miles to Ubeda. The drive was an uninterrupted sea of olive groves.
We came back a different way but still we were confronted with olives wherever we looked.
The town itself at first glance seemed very ordinary, we had lunch at a street cafe.
We then wandered through the arrow streets to be confronted by what is claimed to be the most beautiful piazza in Spain.
The church was closed for lunch so we had coffee to pass time.
We then paid 12 Euros to enter,
These places of worship are beautiful, but I'm becoming blasé, too much of a good thing!
From the piazza, which is open ended you look down the valley, which is covered with olive groves as far as you can see.
The following day, Sunday we drove into the local village, we attended a wedding, or should I say, we stood around and gate crashed the atmosphere. The whole town had turned out to celebrate, people were leaving their doorsteps all dressed to kill.
The open doors of the church allowed us to see guests packed in like sardines, somewhere, hidden within the mass was the Bride and Groom.
People came out and others squeezed in whilst music and singing continued from the depth of the church. At last the couple came out and were instantly showered with coloured rice and confetti, fired from fire crackers.
Suddenly a guitar strung out and without further ado the couple danced the flamenco on the porch of the church, It seemed the natural thing to do! We were fascinated.
A brilliant wedding.
Later we drove into the park area that surrounded the camp site, miles of newly laid twisty roads seemingly going nowhere, there were no signs? After a good while I chickened out and turned around to retrace our steps.
The forest floor was covered with Lavateria like flowers. The views are the same wherever you look, these pictures could be taken anywhere.
3rd May and we packed ready for the next stage of our journey.
