We had a choice of whether to stop at La Estrella or push on
to Guadalupe last night but were very satisfied with our decision. La Estrella
was a lovely aire and it meant that we could go over the next mountain pass in
the morning sun.
It was only a short journey but we both agreed that it was
the most beautiful drive of the holiday so far. The weather was excellent with
low sun and no low cloud, despite the distant view of fog from the La Estrella
aire. As we approached the quilt-folded slopes of the Sierra de Guadalupe the
scenery became much greener.
Thankfully, there was a place to pull in at the pass of
Puerto de San Vicente (807m) and we sat there transfixed by the large number of
vultures and / or eagles wheeling over the peaks. Jane spotted a vulture stood
on a rock in the distance. We confirmed this with binoculars but found it
impossible to identify the large number of airborne birds.
The descent from San Vicente was lovely with wonderful views
at every turn, and there were lots of turns!
We arrived at Guadalupe and found somewhere to park
relatively close to the World Heritage Site of Guadalupe Monastery. The village
itself is pretty with traditional architecture but the monastery is
spectacular. We joined a guided tour and enjoyed looking at the exhibits, the
wonderfully decorated rooms and church but no photography was allowed as it is
still a working monastery. The last part of the tour, a visit to the shrine of
the Virgin of Guadalupe, was given by one of the monks who blessed the visitors
who kissed the holy icon. The monastery was established after a shepherd in the
late 14th century was led by a vision of the Virgin Mary to find a hidden
statue of the Virgin. Subsequently, great royal patronage lead to flourishing
of the monastery. Surprisingly for such a major site, no guidebooks are
available in any foreign languages.
Next to the monastery is the original hotel for their
visitors and this is now a hotel, the Hospederia del Real Monasterio. The hotel
is open to non-residents and has a restaurant, café and bar. We took a look
inside and found that they had a fixed ‘menu of the day’ for €15 (£12). It is a
beautiful building and restaurant in the central courtyard is a beautiful
setting. The meal was excellent quality and value and we would highly recommend
it. If we hadn’t been in the motorhome, we would have been very tempted to stay
at the hotel.
After wandering around the village dodging light showers, we
drove down just below the village to the Las Villuercas campsite, which is a
little basic and was deserted but the shower block was very clean and it was a convenient
stop for the night.
Photos: Early morning view from the La Estrella aire looking
towards the Sierra de Guadalupe; At the top of Puerto de San Vicente; And a
view down; The cloister of the Guadalupe Monastery; The Hospederia del Real
Monasterio; What a place to have lunch!; The Pudding.
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