The Griffon Vultures of Casares, Spain

Yesterday morning we waked into the town of Casares. It's about a kilometer and a half from where we were parked with Louis the motorhome. I recorded our tracking to see just how much we would walk around town.

Including the walk there and back, we did 8.4 kms (5.2 miles) in three hours!

Casares' streets keep a multitude of stories and legends, in which the fictional and the facts intermingle. As you walk along it's cobbled streets and its immaculate whitewashed walls full of flowerpots, morning silence shrouds us, and it mixes with the sounds of the town's everyday life. It is necessary to walk among these streets calmly in order to enjoy the essence of life, its incredible views, and the perfumes of its delicate flowers. - From the tourist signboard in town.

One thing we were trying to get done was a recharge of our cellular internet. It ran out just after posting yesterday's blog. As in Mexico, you can recharge your SIM card at just about any corner store, grocery store, or gas bar, but because it was a Sunday in Casares, almost everything was closed. So we never did get it done until this morning,

We first headed towards the castle, figuring there wouldn't be anybody there yet...and we were correct.

The central plaza in Casares, Spain.

Typical narrow streets.

Check out this guy's parking spot. Yikes!

Kevin at the main entrance gate dating back 800 years.

From the castle, looking back at the town. 

There's not much left of the castle. Just a few old walls.

One of the things that Casares is known for is it's population of griffon vultures. These huge birds nest on the cliffs surrounding the town and are often seen floating in the wind currents above.

But if you get to the castle, there is an overlook above the cliffs and the vultures float down below, and often very close to you. In fact, when they float by only meters above your head, it's quite the experience. They have a wingspan of 2.5 meters (8 feet) and it's only when they get close that you realize just how big they are!

Can you see Ruth standing at the overlook?

Not often you can see them from above, looking down. Beautiful colors.

From there, we wandered the streets and alleyways.

Casares, Spain.

Not many people about.

Scenery along the way.

Enjoying the views.

Yet another viewpoint.

Casares, Spain.

Back at the motorhome, we relaxed for the rest of the afternoon. I even had an afternoon nap! Then in the evening we watched a movie. "The Town", with Ben Affleck. Not bad...typical bank robber fare.

Very pleased with Louis' new battery. Two nights of dry camping without using the portable solar panel at all. Lights in the evening, laptop use during the day, and watched a movie last night. Woke up this morning, and the voltage is still at 12.5!

Today, we're heading for Gibraltar!

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