Spring in Alcala

A collection of random sightings in Alcalá early this spring.

Classic Euro-mullet:

What is left standing of a very large building on the outskirts of Alcalá.

I think that it is cool that you can see the holes left by the floor beams where they stuck into the brick walls.

This window made a nice frame.

The Henares river runs along the southern border of the city and at one place concrete was laid down to make a ford. It is a favorite hang out for ducks on a hot day.

This is the dirt path that parallels the Henares.

Despite the weather warming up significantly, I still found patches of ice near the river.

On one of my walks, I decided to walk along the river away from the main path around a couple of empty fields. It took me quite a ways from buildings and other people. But then I stumbled upon what I think was to become some sort of clandestine meeting of a whole bunch of old Spanish guys. You can see three  of the five in this picture. One would think that they were just our for a walk until you realize that none of them seem to really go anywhere, but shuffle around the same 40 feet or so. The one in the grey is taking a leak.

Apparently Michelle thought it fit to include this one in the post.

Around Alcalá

These are some pictures from October when we first wandered around Alcalá.

There was a bonsai showing of miniature trees of all types from all around the world. These two were our favorites.

If you look closely, you can see the wire holding up the stem. Most of the trees had to have some form of support, either on the stem, or holding up the branches.

Alcalá is known for its storks, or ciguenas. I had never actually seen storks before, but they have nests all over historic downtown because, not only have they been there for years, their nests are protected by law. Once they go up, they can't be taken down. There is one perched on the top of the weather vane on top of this tower.

Semana Cervantina

Alcalá de Henares, the wonderful town we live in, is the town where Cervantes was born. Cervantes, you know, the author of Don Quixote? He's sort of a big deal. So much so that around his birthday the entire town has a huge medieval festival. It's called Semana Cervantina. The town gets decked out in banners, more than 100 people set up market booths and dress in period costume, and they have open pit roasing fires!

We bought some delicious cheese. Hollis LOVES it and I also enjoy it. It was expensive but SO GOOD! 12€ for a 1/4 wheel. I think the cheese was named after an Island, and I thought it was a Baleric island, but I can't remember which one.

Hollis loved the roasting pits. I mean, look at all that meat.

And the pigs that were roasting were amazing. This one looked like superman.

There were also parades of people. This is the only one we managed to catch - a musicians parade. We really liked the guy in front spinning the glass ball - it looked like magic.