Paris1972-Versailles2003

Well a thrilling tour of my posts had made me update revise many older posts but ,also, find places not told yet and they should. Well I am as told a road warrior but do indulge going up in the mountains for the scenery and do some walks. This I have done in the Province of Cuenca, in Castilla La Mancha autonomous region! I need to tell you about it!

There are two wonderful rivers here, the Cuervo and the Jùcar with even more beautiful springs ,caves, waterfalls, and just plain air beauty. Let me go into the history a bit,and hope you enjoy the post as I.

I was around the birthplace of the Cueva del Nacimiento (birth cave) in one of my favorite mountain villages, Vega del Codorno. It is located at 1450 meters of altitude, in the Serrania de Cuenca, on the banks of the Cuervo River, making it the highest altitude town in the province. Where our house was base at Las Majadas at 1400 meters!

The Cuervo River was born next to the town of Vega del Codorno,  specifically on the western slope of the Muela (molar) de San Felipe, at an altitude of 1490 meters. In this place, water flows from a travertine spring and drains through huge stalactites of calcareous tufa rock  covered with moss, forming long and beautiful jets that freeze in winter, offering a beautiful picture photographed thousands of times each winter ( we come in Summer!). A very beautiful natural environment to be as close to nature as you can be.

The Cuervo river empties into the Guadiela, a tributary of the Tagus, next to the town of Puente de Vadillos, after traveling through part of the Cuenca mountains and passing through the well-known spa and mineral water bottling plant of Solán de Cabras (very good mineral water).

In this place, the water ,when it has gushes from a travertine spring and runs through huge stalactites of calcareous rock covered with moss, forming long streams that freeze in winter, offering a beautiful picture photographed thousands of times every year . At its birth you can see caves behind the waterfalls and chasms in its surroundings and it is relatively frequent that collapses of its tufa barriers occur naturally.

Again ,the source of the Cuervo River is part of the Serranía de Cuenca Natural Park, owned by the Castilla-La Mancha Autonomous Region. This place is accessed from the town of Tragacete, which is about 12 km away by road.

The beautiful Cuervo river spring from the Castilla La Mancha tourist office: http://en.www.turismocastillalamancha.es/naturaleza/nacimiento-del-rio-cuervo-54875/descripcion/

The rio Jùcar passing thru the city of Cuenca, and the life of promenades in the shade very nice. It goes around the town up to the mountains and where we stayed at Las Majadas.

The Júcar is a river with a length of 498 km, it crosses the provinces of Cuenca, Albacete and Valencia, and empties into the Mediterranean Sea. It was known as Sucro by the Romans. It is born at 1700 meters above sea level, on the southern slope of the San Felipe hill in the Montes Universales, in the place known as the Ojos de Valdeminguete and also near the source of the Cuervo rivers (see above), Guadalaviar- Turia, Cabriel and the Tagus itself, in the Iberian Mountain Range. The middle course of the Júcar could be considered located between Villalba de la Sierra near the Ventano del Diablo (see post) and the Toba reservoir at the beginning of La Ribera, which is already part of the lower course. The most important reservoirs in the Júcar basin are La Toba, upstream from the town of Uña and in the middle of the Serranía de Cuenca; (see post) the Alarcón reservoir also upstream from the town of Alarcón   amongst others.

Webpage on dams or embalses in Spanish on the Jùcar,and others: https://www.embalses.net/cuenca-7-jucar.html

The source of the Júcar river is located in near the town of  Tragacete, north of the Serranía de Cuenca Natural Park. Very close to the source of the  Júcar river you will find the Molino de la Chorrera. It is a fabulous waterfall through which the water escapes from within the rock itself, creating an image very similar to that found at the source of the Cuervo River (see above).

It is born exactly on the southern slope of the Cerro de San Felipe, also near the sources of the Cuervo, Guadalquivir-Turia, Cabriel and Tajo rivers; all of them located in the Iberian Mountain Range. It must be indicated that the area of the Serranía de Cuenca is an area of farst reliefs, which has caused that as it passes the Júcar river it creates forms and natural phenomena such as canyons, caves, streams and more natural phenomena resulting from water erosion. You will find several of these examples reflected in the Ciudad Encantada (see post) or enchanted city, and in the Callejones or alleys, since you can appreciate the different forms that the rocks have adopted over time due to the erosion of water and wind.

Of course, I was very closed staying in Las Majadas up in these mountain ranges but for more clarity from the big town of Cuenca ,the ideal route is to go towards Tragacete on the CM-2105 road. From the town of Tragacete, you will find signs that will take you to the Molino de la Chorrera. The Molino de la Chorrera is usually considered as the source of the Júcar river, since visually it is where you can appreciate the birth of water from within the earth. A few meters from the Molino de la Chorrera ,there is parking where you must leave your car and walk up these wonderful beautiful ways.

The city of Cuenca tourist office on the Jùcar river: https://visitacuenca.es/es/content/descubre-naturaleza/nacimiento-del-rio-jucar

Our little experience in mountain jogging here was limited to short walks along the road never inland but we saw many folks doing it all over the mountain range passing on the road. Even the house owners where we were took out all kinds of brochures and maps on doing walks,jogging, and even swimming in this are in Summers. Should be fun if into this kind of outing; we just love the scenery! Hope you like the post and be more active on these things. The Serrania de Cuenca is prime location for outdoor activities.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!

The black and white revise posts continue in my quest to provide in my blog up to date information on all my travels; a big task but easy does it. Hope you are enjoying them and thank you for reading in my black and white series, no pictures.  This time I bring you to Valencia , Spain in August of 2016.

It has been visited in my early teen when family were still in the area, and now many many years later came back to Valencia. It is a major city of Spain and many many things to see which our time could not possibly allowed for all. Nevertheless, well planned I think we hit the main areas that needed  to be visited and might encourage others to do the same; we will be back. And we did years later…

We came in by car on the A3 expressway  passing the viaduc de Buñol,  and getting by the Torres de Quarts and the Puente de las Artes straight to our underground parking garage as planned, this was the parking empart Colon at Carrer del Comte Salvatierra de Alava, 24 underneath the great Mercado Colon. Wonderful choice walk all over from here. New webpage here: https://www.parking.ai/es/valencia/detail-aparcamiento-mercado-de-colon-empark-m-c46519-ppd/

Therefore, the first thing we saw was the Mercado Colon.  Created as the market of the area of Ensanche and beautifully restored. It is a magical place with plenty of food stalls, and supermarket especialising in meats, seafood, cheeses, wines etc on the below ground floor and restos on the ground floor, way below is the parking. More here: https://mercadocolon.es/en/

And more from the tourist office on Mercado Colon: https://www.visitvalencia.com/en/what-to-do-valencia/valencian-culture/monuments-in-valencia/colon-market

From there, we move on by foot to visit as much as the main sights as possible.  Walking is always better than public transport for us;once we parked our car. They were many and we did pretty well and seeing them, we came back years later to see more, see the pictures in their posts.

Basilica de la Virgen de los Desamparados or Our Lady of the Foresaken; the city patron Saint as well as the Community of Valencia. This is a must  ,gorgeous in and out. More here: https://www.visitvalencia.com/en/what-to-do-valencia/valencian-culture/monuments-in-valencia/basilica-virgen-desamparados-basilica-our-lady-forsaken

We reach the Cathedral or Catedral Santa Maria, very nice but a long line so we skip the interior this year. More here; https://www.visitvalencia.com/en/what-to-do-valencia/valencian-culture/monuments-in-valencia/catedral-valencia-cathedral

We went by the Church San Juan de la Cruz, nice architecture of Baroque style ,indeed. Before it was the parroquial Church of San Andrés…More here from the city of Valencia: http://www.valencia.es/ayuntamiento/infociudad_accesible.nsf/vListadoCategoriasWeb/AC7B33289E52608DC12572C200225556?OpenDocument&bdOrigen=&idapoyo=&nivel=15&lang=1

We went to the Church San Martin, there since the Christian conquest of 1238. More here: http://www.valencia.es/ayuntamiento/Infociudad_accesible.nsf/vDocumentosWebListado/813ACEAB7DA3A602C12572C20023FD5D?OpenDocument&bdOrigen=&idapoyo=&nivel=15&lang=1

We passed by the Church Saint Nicolas y San Pedro, a nice Church with lots of history. More here: https://www.visitvalencia.com/en/what-to-do-valencia/valencian-culture/monuments-in-valencia/iglesia-san-nicolas-bari-san-pedro-martir-valencia

We took a peek at the Church Santa Caterina and tower right around the Plaza de la Reina. The tower is impressive. More info here: https://www.visitvalencia.com/en/what-to-do-valencia/valencian-culture/monuments-in-valencia/santa-catalina-church-and-tower

Again more history and architecture in the Church of San Juan del Hospital, claiming to be the oldest Church in Valencia. More info. https://www.visitvalencia.com/en/what-to-do-valencia/valencian-culture/monuments-in-valencia/san-juan-hospital-church

The Parrish Church San Tomàs Apostol and San Felipe Neri, borrowing the baroque from Rome, nice architecture . More here: http://www.valencia.es/ayuntamiento/Infociudad_accesible.nsf/vDocumentosWebListado/78A24FEADED6C803C12572C20023FD62?OpenDocument&bdOrigen=&idapoyo=&nivel=15&lang=1

Government buildings are dull except the city halls of Europe that can be rich and ornamental sometimes former palaces and manor houses; this is no exception in Valencia where on the Plaza del Ayuntamiento (city hall square) you have a beautiful city hall building before you.  More info: https://www.visitvalencia.com/en/what-to-do-valencia/valencian-culture/monuments-in-valencia/city-hall

There is a great statue here of Francesc de Vinatea a great heroe of the region opposing the feudal ideas of the king and serve as First Juror . One of his famous phrases and slogans of the time is this one “cada uno de nos somos tanto como vos, pero todos juntos mucho más que vos.” It reads something like ,Each of us is as much as you, but all together are more than you. Democracy rings! but this was in around 1300!

This is supposed to be the biggest attraction in Valencia, the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias or the arts and sciences city actually just outside city center ;not really big on huge complex trying to be all in one , we skip it. However, it is here for content, and more information: https://www.cac.es/en/home.html

We, also, took a look at another novelty the train station, we are road warriors so the train is only when must on business trips. The estacion del Norte is very nice architecturally thus and it could be visited. Locals call it Estaçio Nord. More info: https://www.visitvalencia.com/en/what-to-do-valencia/valencian-culture/monuments-in-valencia/norte-railway-station

And we arrive at the Mercado Central, now this is us, love it, vibrant live, great ambiance and great food and drinks… the center of it. The gorgeous hams was a tentation as well as the great wines to take back to the house. This is a must and for us just enough to be back.  The construction is marvelous and it was already pack with locals and visitors alike. More here: https://www.visitvalencia.com/en/what-to-do-valencia/valencian-culture/monuments-in-valencia/central-market

The El Colegio del Patriarca San Juan de Ribera , but just call it the Patriarch. A gorgeous monument showcasing the work of Father Juan de Ribera (Saint).  It is a vast building, we took a peek inside and it is gorgeous. Worth coming back for a detail look. More here: https://patriarcavalencia.es/?lang=en

Another that needed more time was the Museo Nacional de Ceràmica y Artes Suntuarias “Gonzalez Martî” -Palacio Marqués de Dos Aguas. or simply the Ceramics and arts museum. A gorgeous baroque building richly decorated with what it shows. More here: http://www.culturaydeporte.gob.es/mnceramica/en/home.html

There is a Plaza de Toros or  bullfight arena here, and rather dull round brick building. It is next to the Estacio Nord train station. More here: https://www.visitvalencia.com/en/what-to-do-valencia/valencian-culture/monuments-in-valencia/bullring

And we headed for the beaches, passing by the Puerta de la Mar arch. The weather by now was cloudy a bit of fine rain so not much action but the beach is long and wide, rather nice. We moved the car and park at the Paseo Neptuno parking garage, and then walk up and down the beaches of Arenal and Cabanyal, and continues into Malvarossa. The paseo maritimo walkway is rather nice with shops and restos and of course hôtels. Plenty of activities in sandy wide beach, something to think about next time with more time.  There is a nice statue mémorial to Antonio Ferrandis a great Valencian actor.

And we came back one more time to home base in the Serrania de Cuenca. Before moving the car from the parking at Mercado Colon we had lunch at Pantalan 5 in the ground floor of the market, nice cold beers and sandwiches of chorizo and potatoes, croquettes of ham and cheese and other goodies for about 8€ per person. Nice simple and grand style lunch in a beautiful place. The Facebook page works better today! https://www.facebook.com/pantalan5/

The Valencia tourist office: https://www.visitvalencia.com/en

The city of Valencia with monuments link: http://www.valencia.es/ayuntamiento/infociudad_accesible.nsf/vListadoCategoriasWeb/AC7B33289E52608DC12572C200225556?OpenDocument&bdOrigen=&idapoyo=&nivel=15&lang=1

The Community of Valencia region on Valencia: https://www.comunitatvalenciana.com/en/valencia/valencia

There you go you are now all updated and all set to see the best of Valencia me think, and do see the individual posts on these monuments. Hope it helps!

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!