Portugal to Spain to France and home

After reluctantly leaving Portugal we spent two nights in Spain.

The first night was in a campsite south of Salamanca and next day we left very early. I had forgotten to give Angus his 'sleepy' pill 40 minutes before take-off and he was agitated, so we hoped to soon find a place for coffee and a bit of breakfast

                     This shows how early we left. But how beautiful is that?

Unlike France, Spanish restaurants are open early and serve breakfast.

Not too far along we found one a little way off the highway. It was filled with coffee drinkers standing at the counter. Brian ordered a wedge of tortilla. As you can see it is nothing like a Mexican corn tortilla.  It is more of a potato and egg omelet and is served everywhere at any time.

                                    Image from Spanish-food.org

 It was already under glass at the counter and just had to be heated. 

      Croquetas, or croquettes, are a Spanish food staple (Photo: Roger F. Ibanez)

I ordered croquetas off the blackboard.  The order taker asked "Croquetas?"  "Si! Dos croquetas por favor", I replied. He said it would take five minutes to heat them up. Twenty minutes later we were still waiting. However, they finally arrived and were delicious. I love croquettes!

But it wasn't until later that evening, looking at a menu, that we realized croquetas are not a breakfast food, they are served as tapas at lunch or dinner. No wonder he questioned me about eating them so early in the morning!

While we were waiting we observed a middle-aged man with three late-teen females. They were hungry and ate rapidly. At first, I thought it was a father and his daughters but soon realized they were prostitutes. It is not unusual to see young women, mostly east European looking, sitting at the side of roads and at roundabouts. Some of these poor girls are lured here with promises of jobs as nannies, etc. only to be forced into sex slavery. With no knowledge of the language or laws, they are at the mercy of their captors. Not a pretty life.

                         On the road:  Blue sky and virtually no traffic

Our last night was spent the same as our first night at Gran Camping at the top of a winding road that overlooks the ocean and town. It was clear up top but the town was obscured by a light mist, most probably from the sea.

While Brian had a nap I chose to sit in the sun and read. To remain in the sun I had to move our lounger to another pitch. It was heavenly! I was serenaded by a fellow camper, quietly playing his guitar as I relaxed in the warmth. Gracias señor!

When we were here in December we happened upon this colorful, puffy little robin holding on tightly in the blustery wind.

And two months-plus later we were charmed by this little bird perched facing the sun, enjoying the good weather.

That evening we had dinner in the upstairs restaurant with great views.  We chatted with the Dutch couple, who were in the next pitch, who was at the start of their vacation on their way to southern Spain for three weeks.
As we finished our meal a magnificent sunset was just beginning 

                   The sky is in full bloom!  A picture-perfect last night scene.

In the morning we didn't leave too early but arrived home around one o'clock. We emptied the RV of food and toiletries and were thankful to be safely home.

 Thank you for traveling with us.  We will be sure to invite you along on our next outing, but before that, we will be posting on our old blog at http://ourlifeinfrench.blogspot.fr/

ps Reality was in the form of two owls that had taken up residency in our barn and made a huge mess over everything below their perches; white splotches and pellets the size of small rodents. Poor Brian had to pressure wash the floor and so many items will have to be thoroughly washed or thrown out!  
The good part? No mice in the house.  

A bientôt! (see you soon)