"Travelling to relive the past? [...] Do you travel to find the future? "Because the trip usually pacing of inner transformation, so that while" there are countries where one is always the same "others" we shake the soul and not face our secrets inconfensables "and in doing so changed.
Italo Calvin
Sunrise on the Sierra de San Pedro .
"In Extremadura the clock marks the hours, dropped little by little, slowing them down ... ... cradled in the arms of slumber to, quietly, slowly spread them from dawn to dusk . Slowly, unhurried . "
The space occupied by the Sierra de San Pedro is one of the few havens where they coexist natural forests, meadows and scrub. A flora of the Sierra is joined by the rich river of lakes, streams and the reservoir of the rock of the Eagle, as well as the variety of birds, amphibians, and vertebrates.
forests and cork oak mixed in upland areas with gorse and heather. The meadows and pastures complete the dry landscape of the mountains adorned with the flourishing of the jara.
In contrast with the vegetation of the mountains on the banks of rivers and streams in the region where the temperature and weather conditions are softer, can be found forests of oaks, alders, willows and ash.
remember ...
The walk at dawn among the oaks, the bright light that hurt the eyes, the silence in which only listened to the birds, the eyes of the horses, the smell of rock rose, fresh bread with tomato , the smell of freshly brewed coffee, and the desire to stay there, wrapped in that landscape forever.
FIRST STOP: ELVAS
Elvas is a Portuguese city located in the district of Portalegre in Alentejo region with 28,279 inhabitants.
Located 195 km from Lisbon, and only 8 km (straight line) from the English city of Badajoz. Elvas is the 3 rd largest city in the Alentejo region and one of the more developed south-central Portugal. Like an ancient galleon with its white sails to the wind, the city seems to monitor the other side of the Guadiana. Not surprisingly, Elvas was always the key to better put the freedom and independence of Portugal throughout its history.
remember ...
The thrill of sharing the old familiar streets, the antiques market in Plaza de la Iglesia, shops decorated for the carnival, coffee and Pasteis de Belem, shopping as usual, this time shared with other people, violet soap and cream rose petals, steep slopes and paved nearly impossible.
SECOND STOP: ESTREMOZ
Estremoz is a Portuguese city of Évora District, Alentejo region and subregion Central Alentejo, with 7,682 inhabitants. P Osee an agricultural market, marble quarries and a renowned ceramic and olive oil and wine industries. The old city is walled, among its monuments include the castle of the thirteenth century and many houses in the Gothic style and Manueline.
remember ...
The climb to the Pousada Rainha Isabel , the square, the halls of the pousada , dining and huge chandeliers, windows to the horizon, the vinho branco cold, taste of robalinho and desserts, coffee on the terrace under the castle tower, sun, rain, hail on the road, the color of the sky as he fell the storm, the rainbow of Elvas, the whiteness of Help the Hermitage under a dark gray sky, the old bridge demolished on Help the Guadiana, stop at the shrine in the rain to say goodbye to Portugal before crossing again Raya. The mixture of nostalgia and longing, which began just leave Raia.
THIRD STOP: OLIVENZA / Olivenca
Olivenza ( Olivença in Portuguese) is a municipality of Spain in the province Badajoz. Part of the region of Llanos de Olivenza and is head and judicial Party headquarters Olivenza.
Portugal, which the town belonged between 1297 and 1801, does not recognize English sovereignty over this territory, although not actively raise their claim.
Olivenza is now a fully English city by the feel of its inhabitants, but without sacrificing the tradition Lusa. With respect and affection, all the monuments of the past Portuguese had inherited artistic treasure by Olivenza, have been recovered and restored thus becoming a symbol of coexistence and dialogue of cultures, a city facing the future does not negate a past that distinguishes it.
remember ...
Olivenza in the rain with the sun setting in Portugal, the lollipop of the square, warning we began the priest in the Church of Mary Magdalene, the Técula-Mécula tempting from the window of the bakery, the sweet language of its inhabitants and the caravan out, stuck to each other, the city portuñol.
STOP AND FONDA: BADAJOZ
The ; Carnaval de Badajoz is considered one of the three best carnivals in Spain, is Regional Tourist Interest by the Junta de Extremadura and is pursuing his statement as a national tourist attraction, its main characteristic is the wide participation popular, making the streets of the city of Extremadura in a massive costume party, still strange to see from 22:00 hours to a person in the entire city without wearing a disguise or mask.
The chronicles relate Carnival celebrations in the city since ancient times although the XIX and XX century when more information available, and explains them in Badajoz that this was always a popular party that was masked balls in different societies of the time as the Casino de Badajoz, the Lyceum of Artisans, the workers' circles, and in public places such as the López de Ayala and Paseo de San Francisco. Also popular were the "estudiantinas, youth groups were spicy and ironic songs and were singing around the city.
With the advent of war and the prohibition carnival holiday by General Franco took away from the public stage costume and criticism in the city Badajoz.
A dictator's death, Carnival and in many parts of Spain Badajoz becomes an instrument of struggle for freedom and against the strict religious morality imposed by the regime fraquista, but not until 1980 when the city began to organize the competitions and parades. This is the date that the carnival Badajoz, taken as the recovery of the most important holiday of Badajoz.
remember ...
Badajoz Arrival in Lourdes with the sign as an emblem and flag, the car park and the nervousness of all, the dinner that the dishes seemed to rise endlessly, laughter and brindi, haiku Rosa, costumes and meet all dressed up, in the corridors of the hotel, Benito Menina dress with Luisa and Concepcion, the Sor-Presa de Paco, Mary and Paqui of Chinese with umbrellas, Manuel of Hawaii with rouge, Mariluz prepared to sell fish and long curly brown hair, Vicenta Sovereign flamenco, Encarna women's "current", Shell India in India and Maruchi of American India , Elizabeth H. Moroccan woman, pregnant Virgin Jóse, Isa flowers pirate blond Carmen Japanese in Japan and Japanese brown Rose and Isabella of "Charleston."
