Andalucia Day 30 Arcos de la Frontera

The skyline from the patio outside our room starts to change colour at just past seven but the sun doesn't actually appear until half past eight. In the meantime we have breakfast, it's fresh out, not too cool, just pleasant. Today is fiesta the day of Pilar, another name for holy Mary, so most shops are closed but we manage to find some bread for the evening and next morning. At the Mirador of the main square there are some birds of prey on display and we linger a while to admire them.

Then there's a free guided visit of Arcos for the day of tourism. Arcos is situated on a thin and steep wedge of rock between the meanderings of the river Guadelete. A pueblo blanco where white is mixed with the yellow greyish sandstone. The parish church is a mix of styles and changes as each century left its mark and the tower towards Plaza Cabildo was never finished but no-one quite knows if due to lack of money or because it was threatening to topple over.

For lunch we go to Meson Patio Andaluz where we try the local speciality abajao, a sort of vegetable stew I'll try to make back at home, plus fried aubergines in honey -  something really special, and local meat which is so tender and delicious we choose it over our usual favourite of fried fish. We spend a little more than usual - €20 for two people (!), not each, but both quality and quantity were excellent.

It's a hot day again so we go back to the cool of our own patio to catch up writing and planning.

Kilometres by car: 0

Kilometres on foot: 10