This is part of the third section of our around the world trip.
Complete Trip Overview & Map

Coming from  Portugal or read our previous visit to Spain
 

25/2/98 We stayed in Alcantara just over the Spanish border.

26/2/98 East to Caceres, another walled city, and onto Trujillo, another walled city, but this one more interesting as it bred the man who conquered the Incan Empire. Just 10 years after Columbus discovered the Americas, 180 men from this area set out on tales of gold and riches, and defeated the Incan Emperor despite his 30,000 strong army. The rolling granite soiled countryside with cold winters and hot summers seems to have hardened the inhabitants dating from before Roman occupation. It seems every town in this area of Spain and Portugal has a walled city with narrow streets in various stages of disrepair. While each is beautiful and different, I feel like a child having eaten too many lollies and not wanting to face more.

27/2/98 Spring is here, officially I am a couple of days early but there is no doubt when you look at the bug splatter on the fairing. These back roads in Spain are magnificent, engineered corners, good hot mix surface, only wore out the side walls on the Dunlops today, not a straight stretch in 350 km. For those who might come here one day, out of Plasencia on the 110 towards Madrid then up over the mountains on the 500 to El Barco and Bejar before settling in at La Alberca, a small village of different architecture. Stone and wood houses, tudor style?, on top of the mountain range. One of the great advantages of driving in Spain is the total ban, country wide, of billboard advertising on main roads. Effective from the late 80's it was designed to avoid distracting motorists, but the added advantage was to clean up the countryside of clutter and to give a true rural feel. There are of course the 100 odd 50 ton steel bulls still standing, almost a national symbol, but now standing without any advertising.

28/2/98 It is amazing where internet cafes pop up, a smallish town, Cuidad Rodrigo, has a new one and really friendly staff. It seems anyone with an interest in computers is starting one to help pay for their addiction.
 

 Move with us to Portugal ,  or go to our next visit to  Spain .
 

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