The Start

Picture the scene, eight o'clock on a dark rainy Wednesday morning waiting for a bus in the car-park at Supersol, Helen's first NADFAS trip in charge, the forecast isn't good ...

The Coffee Break

but, a couple of hours later we have left the rain behind, our orders have been taken for tea , cafe - con leche, -sombra, -manchada, -solo, -americana etc, etc ... and phoned ahead , it's just like the old days !

The Guide

Our guide, Maria, is waiting to meet us in the old town, and in her perfect English, she leads us on a walk which takes in the restored old town wall, a master class in the language of the fan in Spanish romantic life, through the old muslim town, and on to:-

The Palacio Mondragon

This former palace now houses the town's museum and with its courtyards and balconies is an excellent example of the Mudejar style.

The Santa Maria Mayor Church

The church was built over the old mosque and as you enter a mirror has been cleverly placed to reveal the carving on the inner side of an archway from the mosque.

The church is in two distinct halves reflecting how long it took to build, and the modern adornments mainly blend in well, though the feminist painting of the last supper must have raised a few eyebrows at the unveiling.

The Casa de San Juan Bosco

is a more modern building with fabulous views over the gorge and the upper floors function as a retirement home for old monks. The ground floor is open to the public and it was here that Maria was chatting with a lady working at a table and the light-hearted exchange lead to an impromptu, un-accompanied and utterly delightful song about a nightingale from the said lady which stopped the visitors in their tracks.
We made our farewells to Maria, the restaurant was contacted to put back lunch by half an hour and some of us then set off for ...

The Arab Baths

whilst everyone else was free either to meet up for lunch or at the bus station later on.
The baths were very well preserved and the audio-visual presentation was excellent.
Lunch was in a very classy restaurant opposite the magnificent bull-ring and the service, atmosphere and food were superb.

After lunch there was time to visit other sights, such as the famous bull-ring with its museum, the "new" bridge" over the fantastic gorge, admiring the window ironwork, or simply to stroll around the newer part of the town.