(Backup) Tuesday 1st May 2018...Day 27!!!

Rabbits rabbits rabbits again I ponder where did the month April go??

So now we start another phase of the journey into the mountains and the white villages of southern Spain....

We had a nice leisurely breakfast did some packing which is getting easier every time we are travelling with just a carry on suit case and a back pack and it is working well admittedly we wear the same clothes often but here we had a washer so we may look the same but we are clean!!!

We left the apartment at 10.30 am walked a 100 yards to the main road and hailed a cab which took us to the bus station 

for the two hour journey to the town of Arcos de la Frontera.

ARCOS DE LA FRONTERA

One of Andalucia's most dramatically positioned pueblos blancos (white villages), Arcos balances atop a rocky limestone ridge, its whitewashed houses and stone castle walls stopping abruptly as a sheer cliff face plunges down to the river Guadalete below.

Declared a national historic-artistic monument in 1962 in recognition of its exceptional architecture and impressive location, the old town is a tangled labyrinth of cobbled streets that lead up to a sandstone castle, the Castillo de los Arcos. As you’d expect from such a spectacular vantage point, there are exhilarating views over the town and the rolling plain below.

Although its time under the Moors was one of its most successful, Arcos has had a long history of occupation, as shown by the discovery of numerous archaeological remains from the Neolithic, Bronze Age, Tartessian, Phoenician and Roman periods. Plentiful water and its superb defensive hilltop location were the main attractions for settlers.

Arcos's population of 28,000 is divided between the newer town on the lower slopes of the ridge and the old town, which you reach by following Cuesta Belén up the hill. In the heart of the old town is the cobbled Plaza del Cabildo, its picturesque situation somewhat marred by its dual function as a car park. Only the brave should drive to it, there are narrow archways to pass, better leave the car in the Paseo Andalucia car park. On the southern side of the square there are some stomach-churning views, where the mirador (viewpoint) ends in a steep 150m-high cliff

Among the most memorable of Arcos's pretty and often strikingly narrow streets are the alley-like Calle Cuna and Calle Maldonaldo, lined with elegant palacios built by the town's 18th-century nobility and overhung by wrought-iron rejas of windows.

...the bus ride was truly fun and exciting and the vistas awesome..there was only five others on the bus and we got the front seat which was the best!!!

These were taken from the bus...

Right on time..

We then took a cab to the hotel for one night....it is in a great location in the centre of the old quarter

With a patio

And a view

and the room looks really comfortable and we get breakfast manana....

After we unpacked a little we took off to explore this incredible white village...

Gracie outside the hotel..

Sadly this church was not open..

Just awesome....

We stopped at this tiny cafe on the narrow street corner and in Spain they have what is called the meal of the day...this one was 8 💶 and Gracie had a nice tomato and anchovy starter followed my grilled chicken and potatoes and for dessert a wonderful flan.  The 8 Euros including a glass of beer.

For me for 5 💶 I had the best burger I think I have ever tasted is was huge and included tomato, bacon, and an egg and fries and a bottle of water..what a meal I am finished for the day!!!

We retuned to the room and did some internet stuff and then we were going to go out for a stroll around the Centro but the rain thought otherwise.....played some cards not going to tell you who won!!

Tomorrow we take another bus ride to the town of Ronda..this town looks to be out of a fairy tale so stay Tuned!!

Yashi Kochi!!!