Week 1 - 21st to 25th September 2016
We said our goodbyes and left Little Henham with a huge bag of fresh veggies straight from Kate and Vernons garden, on the first leg of our return to the sun, a 130 odd mile trot to Portsmouth where we were to catch the MV BRETAGNE for its evening sailing on the next leg of our journey. We always try to arrive in plenty of time so always have to put up with kicking heels at the port until loading time, in this case three hours, but three hours too early is better than three seconds too late. On this particular ferry caravans and other high vehicles are loaded last - but that of course means they are off-loaded first - result!! Our cabin was not what we wanted but as we only booked last week we had to take what was available, small, very small but at least it had a window on to the sea.
Next morning just minutes after the 08.15 (French time) docking we were on our way. Having been this way just a few months ago we had decided that we would not hang about in France and by close of play that day were 660 km (410 miles) south of St Malo pitched on a site, FLOWER CAMPING LE GALAN **, that we were last at just five months ago. For us a huge distance but given the quality and emptiness of the roads simply a case of setting the cruise control and trundling on. The second day was to have been a much shorter affair until we learned that R & F had moved north quicker than expected and were now just 200 km (120miles) south of our planned stopover at Burgos, we determined to go all the way and late afternoon saw us arrive at CAMPING DON QUIJOTE, near Salamanca having trundled another 560 km (348 miles). After a reunion party with R & F we retired to the van to recover from the trials of the summer and the two long days driving.
Let the winter travels begin.
Unlike in UK Sunday is, for the majority of Spanish people, a family day, only those employed in the hospitality or essential services industries work so it is important that Saturday be spent in preparation, because if you forget to buy something there are VERY few shops open Sunday and you will generally have to go without.
We did lots of shopping Saturday so leaving us free on Sunday to join the Spanish families dressed in their Sunday best promenading around Plaza Mayor in SALAMANCA.
Despite nothing but cafes and museums being open Salamanca was on this Sunday (and I suspect every other) heaving. It took us a considerable time to find a parking space after which we just followed the crowds to the historic centre of town.
Salamanca is first and foremost a university city boasting the third oldest university in Europe having been founded in 1218, the oldest being the University of Bologna, Italy, which was established in 1088 followed by the University of Oxford whose establishment date is rather vague but there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096.
Salamanca is also a popular centre for students wishing to learn Spanish as it is where the purest Spanish (or "Castellano") is spoken
Declared a World Heritage City by the Unesco, and in 2002, Salamanca was chosen as European City of Culture, together with Bruges in Belgium.
Tourism is probably the most important industry of the city, thanks to its historical heritage and to the charm of the old city itself, Salamanca can be considered one of the most beautiful of Spanish cities. Weather conditions are quite extreme, with cold winters, hot summers and little rain.