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BTW - There is an alternative route from Granada to Pinos Puente - the "Variante Pedro Ruiz." It might be a little less ugly than the main route. From the centre of Granada, head for the river Genil and follow it for most of the way to Pedro Ruiz, where you turn right to reach Pinos Puente. Since this "variante" follows the river, I imagine that it's relatively easy to follow, but I doubt that it is well marked. (Even the signage for the main route through Maracena and Atarfe is subpar in places. The territory of the wonderful Almeria association stops at Granada).The way out of Granada is, in my opinion, the least attractive stage.
Perhaps I was just unlucky to walk on a particularly blowy day. I think you'll find yourself on the same windswept plane above Cordoba whether you go directly from Castro del Rio in one stage or go the longer way via Espejo and Santa Cruz.Let's see if I can walk the 36 kms straight from Castro del Rio if this route is less exposed.
BTW - There is an alternative route from Granada to Pinos Puente - the "Variante Pedro Ruiz." It might be a little less ugly than the main route. From the centre of Granada, head for the river Genil and follow it for most of the way to Pedro Ruiz, where you turn right to reach Pinos Puente. Since this "variante" follows the river, I imagine that it's relatively easy to follow, but I doubt that it is well marked. (Even the signage for the main route through Maracena and Atarfe is subpar in places. The territory of the wonderful Almeria association stops at Granada).
The direct route from Castro del Rio takes you past a Roman archeological site - Yacimiento Arqueológico de Ategua. The other way takes you through the pleasant town of Espejo and the smaller settlement of Santa Cruz. Unfortunately, Santa Cruz is the more logical place to stay from a distance point of view. It has a roadside hotel, a couple of tiny shops, and a disused grain silo that some locals would like to convert into an interpretation centre for the decisive Battle of Pharsalus in 48BC, in which Julius Caesar defeated the massed forces of Pompey The Great.
Espejo has been identified as the true site of Robert Capa's famous Civil War photograph "The Falling Soldier." At the time it was published, the location was erroneously identified as Cerro Muriano, which is a later stop on this Camino.
The site didn't look that special from the road side, since the area is in a mess, but the description on the sign highlighted its importance. I hope you can connect with the people who are working the site. If you visit, please share some photos and description here. Some of my friends in the facebook group "Amis du Camino Mozarabe Via de la Plata," would also be very interested. (You are welcome to join the group. Most members are French speakers but anyone with an interest in the Camino Mozarabe is welcome).I know it's too early to think about it but I meant to check out Medina Elvira, the archaeological site in the hills above the main route to Pinos Puente..
Regrettably, I hadn't done my homework and I didn't detour to explore. If you do go up there, you might look into the possibility of cutting across the hills to Pinos Puente. If it's possible, I think that it would be better than doubling back to the CO-31 highway and railway tracks.Did you have a look around the site or just see it from the path? As I understand it, the foundations of the citadel are in El Caballito del Rey, quite a way off the camino.
BTW - There is an alternative route from Granada to Pinos Puente - the "Variante Pedro Ruiz." It might be a little less ugly than the main route. From the centre of Granada, head for the river Genil and follow it for most of the way to Pedro Ruiz, where you turn right to reach Pinos Puente. Since this "variante" follows the river, I imagine that it's relatively easy to follow, but I doubt that it is well marked.
I look forward to finding out what you decide and what you discover.Decisions, decisions.
La Liga looks like a two horse race to me. I have the impression that in any region without a top flight club, Madrid is everyone's default team to support. This is on my list of similarities between Spain and Japan - It used to be said that all Japanese people loved "The Giants (baseball team), Taiho (sumo wrestler), and Tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled egg dish)." I'd like to introduce a similar fake saying into Spain, that all Spaniards love "Real Madrid, Joselito, and Tortilla." Then I can "discover," it one day as evidence of a connection between distantly related tribes of Iberia and Yamato.everyone in the area seems to root for Real Madrid
I noticed a sign to arab baths in some places around there. (Fiñana? Jerez del Marquesado?)
I think there are more "arab baths" in Jerez del Marquesado, which you'll pass through tomorrow.There are ‘Arab baths’ in Ferreira, I just passed them in the afternoon. But it was after a lazy Sunday lunch at the local asador so I was already pressed for time. Barely made it to Alquife before sundown.
It is quite chilly here, what with the altitude and all. The owner of the albergue says they normally have snow at this time of the year. But this year "is not normal”.
By the way - Some pilgrims a little ahead of you made. detour to visit an archeological site near Baena, which looks amazing:
Parque Arqueológico de Torreparedones
Located in Baena, the Torreparedones Archaeological Park, also known by other names (Torre de las Vírgenes and Castro el Viejo), is one of the most...www.andalucia.org
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