Caseres

 We're driving through some curious landscape. There was a whole section that was like Castle Rock near Arthur's Pass, or Central Otago. Rocky outcrops with scrubby grass, the difference being here it was planted in olives, oaks (for the acorns) and cork. Pretty inhospitable land. Apparently there are lots of pigs though we saw none. We did see lots of pig processing factories though as this is the home of Iberico ham.

We were heading for Badajoz but over lunch decided it would be a mistake to miss Caseres so we backtracked a little to go there. There was a cave with apparently the oldest discovered paintings, vis a hand that had paint dated 60k years old, making it Neanderthal in origin. Of course it was closed. In fact it only opens once a week on Fridays and admittance is a lottery system limited to five guests at a time. None of that on their webpage. Anyway, we got to play with VR headsets walking us through the caves, so that almost made up for it.

We then looked around the old city, and it was worth the backtrack. Well preserved walls and buildings, and a surprising number of Michelin restaurants! (Out of our price range of course.)

The old laundry. We used a machine.

An excellent model of the old city.

J grabs some shade under a fig tree

We're now well into Moorish Spain and the architectural influence is starting to show. Small features like the shape of windows and doors remain.

Plaza Meyor in the new town. Nearly everything is shut until 5 or 6, by which time we're heading out. We wander empty streets most days.

Also around 4 we have been getting thunderstorms. Apparently some parts of the country are getting unseasonable deluges.

Anyway, up and on the Badajoz, near the Portuguese border.  Our stop was on the banks of the Guadiana, next to an enormous Roman bridge. We had a little wander up the riverside then back for bed. It's certainly warming up and Reggie has no aircon.