Just awoke from siesta to this stunning view from our windows... I still can't quite believe it!
(The siesta still lingers for my boys and its all due to more suckling pig, fab local food and vino/dessert sherry for lunch .... oh la la - the hardship! ;-)
It was a celebration - we arrived in Cuenca today!
From Madrid - an hour on the fast train, a short taxi ride and then this!!! Pure magnificence from our Parador! (We are staying in a 16thC converted Convent perched on a cliff top, overlooking a breathtaking gorge to the old city... *sigh*)
Early arrival meant we had to check out the city before checking out our room, but a wait well worth it.
A walk across a relatively vertigo-inducing foot bridge we got to the old town. The weather a little colder and windier than we have experienced so far in Madrid, but didn't really notice!
Decided to check out the city before 1.30 when the best restaurant in the region opened for lunch (just getting our priorities in order ;-).
Such a beautiful old town, and weirdly enough...it has contemporary art in its soul! (2 galleries on our list to see) but on the off-chance we decided to visit the Fundacion Antonio Perez - and little did we know what a maze of amusement it would be. Nestled into (and slightly over) a cliffside, this gallery is a building consisting of rooms, hallways, multiple levels and several open air sculpture gardens, and is filled with the collection of Antonio Perez (a quite brilliant collector and artist) and probably quite mad! (We all fell in love with him!!) a surprise at every turn ... a brilliant waste of time!
A short stumble up a hillside gave us the best view over Cuenca, then it was time to find 'Meson' our restaurant for the day. it just happens to be located inside one of the famous 'hanging houses' of Cuenca. A little posh for our well traveled attire... But who cares! and what a divine culinary experience. Opting for the specialties of the Casa - 'roast suckling pig' as a main... (YUM!) but must mention that Jarvis had a spectacularly simple but insanely delicious dish of chopped fried egg, jamon and patatas... Sounds pretty ordinary but we've never experienced a taste quite like it. We all decided to 'share' lunch! ;-)
A fab day... And we are still hoping to check out our parador for tapas and drinkipoos later - when, or should I say 'if' Jarvis ever wakes up! He's having a well deserved sleep after two successive day trips and late nights. We promised him a leisurely day today, he's still not 100% but traveling really well considering. He is easy to motivate when he knows there are fast trains involved ;-)
So... after one more contemporary art gallery tomorrow... We are off to San Sebastián.
Check in again soon. Chao!
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