San Martín de Valdeiglesias

Town Hall with memorial to Andres de Valderrabano who discovered the Pacific Ocean who was born here.

Plaza de Toros

Coracera Castle (1434) built by Álvaro de Luna 

Views from tower

I wonder if she realised she was being watched ..

Church of San Martín of Valdeiglesias 

Baptism by the Easter Candle in San Martín

Detail from Main Altar - San Martín giving the peasant his cloak.

Almorox to San Martín de Valdeiglesias

An early start for the road sweepers after the late night revellers.

Sunrise

Yellow arrows to guide us on the Camino - zoom in, we must keep our eyes peeled...

Low cloud almost touching the Sierra de Gredos

Livestock warning

We had to zig-zag our way down this steep hill to protect our knees and then negotiate a wide arroyo (culvert) at the bottom without getting our feet wet. 

However a bit further on we came across some serious mud and we didn't get away with it this time.

We exchanged poppies and white button daisies for grey leaved cistus (with pink flowers) and Spanish Lavender today

Another yellow arrow..

San Martín de Valdeiglesias and the Coracera Castle in the distance.

Hacienda La Coracera

Almorox - Extreme Weather Warning

We did not want to act as lightning conductors with our poles so we observed the Meteorological Office Warning and stayed put in Almorox as it was in the eye of the storm

They were telling the truth.....

Painting in La Picota Bar of the great and good of Almorox.

Window in the parish church of St Christopher

We were woken up at midnight by deafening bangers, drums and a marching band accompanied by flashing police cars and crowds of the locals. It was the "Fiestas del 2 de Mayo" (May 2nd celebrations) commemorating the 1808 uprising against French occupation in Madrid. 

They marched to the outskirts of town where we were then treated to a fabulous firework display.

Torrijos to Almorox - the last town in Castilla-La Mancha

We left dressed for the rain and although humid, it did not materialise, so after a couple of km we peeled off the layers.

Mural in school yard in Torrijos

The Red Cross is very active in Spain

These bags, tied high up on tree trunks are evidently to catch the pine processionary caterpillar which has barbs that cause serious reactions in humans and their pets.

We walked 5km to earn our breakfast in Val de Santo Domingo

Snow-capped mountains in the Sierra de Gredos.

Our first medieval castle of the day, Maqueda - it has been held by the Romans, Moors, Christians and various royal houses. It is currently owned by the Ministry of the Interior who have been trying to auction it off since 2013 - it is on the market for €3.3 million 

As a visit to the castle involved steps we went to the Bar Díaz instead.

There are obviously not many pilgrims on the Levante as the Camino is not well-trodden....

Pilgrim wondering what's happened to the Camino.

Walking through this resulted in wet trousers, boots and Trench Foot

But it could have been worse as we then found our first arroyo to cross with only a small slippery tree trunk to help.

Our second medieval castle was in Escalona.

The last thing a pilgrim needs at the end of their day is a climb...

Escalona is on the banks of the Río Alberche - it attracts storks who use every available high point to nest. It was good to see that most nests had more than one chick.

We had a cool welcome then lunch in Bar la Plaza in the Plaza de España

The Bar la Plaza was the former Town Hall

Then onwards to Almorox where we were to stay the night.

Plaza de la Contitución with the 1566 pillory, an 8m high Berroqueña stone (granite) column topped by a spire featuring four lion figures and a small temple of Ionic columns - it marks the independence of Almorox from Escalona.