Monday September 8, 2014

A good nights sleep and an early start.  We left Hector’s house at 8:15 and after a small climb out of Valladolid we were on the plateau heading towards Torsadillas.   As we climbed up towards the plateau, I could see what looked like apartment buildings.  As we crested the hill there were hundreds of solar panels.

It was a great ride. Although if we had started later,  riding on the plateau would have been unbearably hot.

As we cycled through Torsadillas a small band came down the street.  We stopped to watch them and I noticed that this was part of the fiesta in this Town.  We decided to have a second breakfast here, while we listened to a mad bell ringer ringing the church bells.  There didn’t appear to be any rhyme or rhythm to the bells just a lot of clanging.

After our second breakfast we headed out on N620 towards Salamanca.  Again, this is a parallel road to the motorway.  Today is a stat holiday, there are no cars on this road, and with the wide shoulder it is a great route to Salamanca.  A couple of little hills and we arrived in Aleajos at 12:30.  Another Town enjoying fiesta.  We arrived in the Central Square where all the bars were open and full of people drinking and eating tapas.

We spotted two touring cyclists who were cycling the Camino de Santiago Compostela and asked them if they were stopping here.  They said no and advised us not too as there were already a lot of drunk people around.  We found the hotel Hector had told us about, I checked out the room which was very clean and big.  Ralf and I discussed whether we should carry on towards Salamanca another 54 kms.  A total for the day would be a record of over 125 kms, although it wasn’t hot we decided we would “risk” the drunken fiesta guys and stay the night.

We settled in to our room, and then headed out into the small town.  We noticed strange gates and barriers throughout the downtown streets.  Ralf asked a younger woman what they were for.  It turns out that this morning  the bulls were released through the Town and there was going to be a bull fight this evening.  Several people joined in our conversation about when the bull fight would happen and how much it would cost.

After a short siesta for us we went to the bull fight at 6:00.  I personally do not agree with bull-fights, but to experience one in a small town during fiesta time was definitely an interesting experience.  We were the only foreigners in the crowd.  A small town enjoying their traditions.

There were four bulls that were killed that night. They really do not stand a chance, but I was hoping that a bull would get a good shot in.

One of them did catch the matador off guard and caught him on the hip, but didn\’t do any serious damage.

The horse rider was very skilled.  I really didn\’t like this part, as I didn\’t think the horse should be part of it.  If a man wants to play with a bull, then go for it, but don\’t involve other animals.

We ate dinner late at 9:00pm.  At 9:30 a transport truck arrived in the square and a stage was erected. We thought they were getting it ready for the next night\’s entertainment.  No such luck at 10:30 the music started.   Although our room was at the back of the hotel nothing stopped the noise of the music and the revelers. We went to bed with ear plugs firmly in place.