Adventures in Castilla-la-Mancha

It's only on the way back that Zab mentioned that the area we travelled all day was the setting of Don Quixote's adventures. Though I saw no windmills, we visited the Palacio Real in Aranjuez, which was used to be the spring residentce of all sorts of King Felipe and one Carloss III, and now on the World Heritage list of UNESCO.

We briefly visited the interiors, mainly the Queen's quarters, and also a part were they showcased various cribs, uniforms and even velvet covered weight machines (photos courtesy of Zab to come eventually). I was delighted by the curtains, assorted with the different colours of each room.


There was also a room full of porcelain figurines as wallpaer, and even the hanging light was of porcelain...the overall effect was most crowded and creepy.

Outside, the sun was burning on a canals, gardens and our poor heads. I forgot my hats at home, and I still haven't bought a spanish fan.



After all that, we wanted to go to an aquapark to get some fresh water, but after much turning around all over the place for almost half an hour, we discovered upon asking for the 2nd time in a 4 star hotel that the place has been closed for the past 3 years...and on our way back in Aranjuez to sample local food, the car broke down and started to emit black smoke on the right front!
Luckily, the really nice policeman that Zab hailed was very helpful, as well as my nice mini dictionary helped us thourgh getting in touch with the insurance, and get us a cab back home without paying a penny...now the only concern is to send the car to the garage and get it repaired...