New boots were fabulous! Remember what I said about feeling fickle? Well, I've confirmed it. I've almost forgotten the old boots, except that these are as comfortable and trustworthy as the others.
What a generous wife you are-hiking all that way for PIG! I hope the pig was as delicious as they proclaim. Glad they at least had some vegetables and wine for you to satiate yourself. Hooray for non-blister-producing new footwear! Thanks for another enjoyable tale from the trail!
Well, I did have a stake in the matter (no pun intended). I also need to get in better shape to face the long days and uphill climbs of our hiking trip. If I don't get ready, I'm in trouble. Also, this is what a wife does for a husband, right?
Great tale! Nicely illustrated!! It sounds like a great hike. I am astounded that anyone in central Spain hikes anywhere at this time of year.... it is too hot! I thought all of Madrid came my way to the North Coast of Spain. Here we see all the shutters roll up on the apartments filled by those from Madrid, who come here for only a few weeks each year. 😅
Thank you for the comment and enthusiasm. It was really hot, especially once we got out of the woods. One of the nice things about being in Madrid right now in August is that everyone else has gone north, east, or anywhere else but here. It's deadsville. I don't mind at all.
An interesting read on your new hiking boots experiencing an an old, well traveled pathway. The roadworks and aqueduct built by the Romans always amaze me. Do you know why the springs only have a trickle of water these days?
We happened upon a similar pig farm in Tuscany years ago. We do not eat pig but marveled at how many stages it takes to make this "speciality" food. Glad you were able to find a vegetarian option!
Thanks for commenting, David, and sharing your pig experience.
I don't know why the springs aren't overflowing these days but I highly suspect it's due to climate change, the same reason why it's so much hotter in the summer than it used to be and why fires are raging through the forests. Alas.
Gorgeous photos and I love the last paragraph about the different histories you walked through and the people's footsteps you followed in. I bet it was stunning. I've been to La Granja and I remember it as being like a fairytale weekend. Not going to mention the other thing!
Another fun read…I was in Ronda in 2003 with family and friends, barely Spanish speakers and someone in the group ordered the baby pig, having no idea it would come to the table whole and splayed out like the photo you shared. I remember sudden shock on the faces of people at the table!
Ha ha! I can only imagine the expressions on the faces of your family and friends. We Americans are not quite used to that display.
Your Facebook posts of tomatoes, figs, peaches, apricots, and other summer delights are much more style than cochinillo but when in Segovia do as the Segovians do, as they say.
I haven't been to Ronda yet and would love to go. It's beautiful and fascinating, I hear.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting. Much appreciated.
Bueno al parecer tus botas nuevas, van a seguir trayéndonos historias nuevas muy interesantes!! Yo creo q yo haría el esfuerzo de pegarme una “caminadita” como esta solo por dos cosas: el increíble sabor del cochinillo Segoviano, acompañado no solo de una copa sino toda una botella de Verdejo. 😜😜
Te acompañaré para compartir, si estas de acuerdo, toda la botella de verdejo. Pero no es necesario hacer una “caminadita” a Segovia a probar cochinillo. El tren nos sirve muy bien.
I hope I can help you relive some of your experience in Spain, though maybe not through this particular post, but at least you can get some of the Spanish vibe, food, drink, heat, and daily life.
So happy your boots are a good fit and doing yeoman’s duty right out of the gate! Loved the history and the imagery brought up by your descriptions….95 degrees is too hot for me though! And great news that you both arrived safe and sound and ready to be refreshed.
Yes, I'm thankful for my new boots and their soles that kept me upright. I did wear them around the apartment for a week to make sure they were comfortable and when they passed the test, they got right into action.
Frankly, it was too hot for me too. The heat wore us out more than the walk.
Thanks, Amy. I'm happy to hear that I'm a keeper. Surely, Fabio is. He puts up with a lot of stuff from me too, though nothing like cochinillo.
Every time I walk the Roman road, which is nearly every weekend these days, I'm amazed by the stones that remain. The fact that the road still transports hikers giving them a straight and steady route fills me with awe and gratitude. Also, I think about the tremendous amount of work, probably some kind of slave labor, that it took to haul, carve, and fit the stone to make a road.
Yes, I think he got it out of his system. That cochinillo was probably enough for a lifetime for him though many people crave it. It was a little hard to see those splayed cooked baby pigs.
Well hooray for those vegetables at the end of your trek! I never thought I would see the day that you wrote about roasted pig, but it just goes to show what a great writer you are that you can write so beautifully about your epic hike and it's piggy rewards at the end without being personally motivated by the squealer!
haha! Very funny. You know, we authors have to write about the good, the bad, and the ugly. This pig event falls in the last category. The whole subject goes down a lot more easily given that Fabio didn't really stomach it all that well either. He found the taste acceptable but he's not about to hike another eighteen miles for cochinillo or even look for a restaurant in Madrid that offers it. Phew! A load off my mind!
Fabulous!! Well done.😍 How did the new boots hold up? 🦶
New boots were fabulous! Remember what I said about feeling fickle? Well, I've confirmed it. I've almost forgotten the old boots, except that these are as comfortable and trustworthy as the others.
Thanks for the comment!
What a generous wife you are-hiking all that way for PIG! I hope the pig was as delicious as they proclaim. Glad they at least had some vegetables and wine for you to satiate yourself. Hooray for non-blister-producing new footwear! Thanks for another enjoyable tale from the trail!
Well, I did have a stake in the matter (no pun intended). I also need to get in better shape to face the long days and uphill climbs of our hiking trip. If I don't get ready, I'm in trouble. Also, this is what a wife does for a husband, right?
Of course, I know you both do plenty of generous things for each other! Nice pun too!
Great tale! Nicely illustrated!! It sounds like a great hike. I am astounded that anyone in central Spain hikes anywhere at this time of year.... it is too hot! I thought all of Madrid came my way to the North Coast of Spain. Here we see all the shutters roll up on the apartments filled by those from Madrid, who come here for only a few weeks each year. 😅
Thank you for the comment and enthusiasm. It was really hot, especially once we got out of the woods. One of the nice things about being in Madrid right now in August is that everyone else has gone north, east, or anywhere else but here. It's deadsville. I don't mind at all.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Nice!
Thanks for taking us on your hike. Nice photos and history. Love the aquecduct photo - what an engineering feat in those days.
Yes, that aqueduct is truly stunning. It's so amazing that it's still standing after centuries. Roman ruins are always thrilling.
An interesting read on your new hiking boots experiencing an an old, well traveled pathway. The roadworks and aqueduct built by the Romans always amaze me. Do you know why the springs only have a trickle of water these days?
We happened upon a similar pig farm in Tuscany years ago. We do not eat pig but marveled at how many stages it takes to make this "speciality" food. Glad you were able to find a vegetarian option!
Thanks for commenting, David, and sharing your pig experience.
I don't know why the springs aren't overflowing these days but I highly suspect it's due to climate change, the same reason why it's so much hotter in the summer than it used to be and why fires are raging through the forests. Alas.
Gorgeous photos and I love the last paragraph about the different histories you walked through and the people's footsteps you followed in. I bet it was stunning. I've been to La Granja and I remember it as being like a fairytale weekend. Not going to mention the other thing!
Yeah, don't mention the other thing. That was the first and last time I'll mention it too.
I haven't been to La Granja but everyone says it's stunning. Hope to go soon but probably not on foot.
Another fun read…I was in Ronda in 2003 with family and friends, barely Spanish speakers and someone in the group ordered the baby pig, having no idea it would come to the table whole and splayed out like the photo you shared. I remember sudden shock on the faces of people at the table!
Ha ha! I can only imagine the expressions on the faces of your family and friends. We Americans are not quite used to that display.
Your Facebook posts of tomatoes, figs, peaches, apricots, and other summer delights are much more style than cochinillo but when in Segovia do as the Segovians do, as they say.
I haven't been to Ronda yet and would love to go. It's beautiful and fascinating, I hear.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting. Much appreciated.
Bueno al parecer tus botas nuevas, van a seguir trayéndonos historias nuevas muy interesantes!! Yo creo q yo haría el esfuerzo de pegarme una “caminadita” como esta solo por dos cosas: el increíble sabor del cochinillo Segoviano, acompañado no solo de una copa sino toda una botella de Verdejo. 😜😜
Te acompañaré para compartir, si estas de acuerdo, toda la botella de verdejo. Pero no es necesario hacer una “caminadita” a Segovia a probar cochinillo. El tren nos sirve muy bien.
Un abrazo para ti, compañera virtual.
Wonderful account of your journey. Thank you for sharing it! I miss Spain. 🇪🇸
I hope I can help you relive some of your experience in Spain, though maybe not through this particular post, but at least you can get some of the Spanish vibe, food, drink, heat, and daily life.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting.
So happy your boots are a good fit and doing yeoman’s duty right out of the gate! Loved the history and the imagery brought up by your descriptions….95 degrees is too hot for me though! And great news that you both arrived safe and sound and ready to be refreshed.
Yes, I'm thankful for my new boots and their soles that kept me upright. I did wear them around the apartment for a week to make sure they were comfortable and when they passed the test, they got right into action.
Frankly, it was too hot for me too. The heat wore us out more than the walk.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting.
New boots 🥾 🥾 !!
I am impressed by your "hang-in-there" with your husband! Gosh, you are a keeper, as he must be too!
Do you get a special feeling/energy when you are on such an ancient path? I feel like you would.
Thanks, Amy. I'm happy to hear that I'm a keeper. Surely, Fabio is. He puts up with a lot of stuff from me too, though nothing like cochinillo.
Every time I walk the Roman road, which is nearly every weekend these days, I'm amazed by the stones that remain. The fact that the road still transports hikers giving them a straight and steady route fills me with awe and gratitude. Also, I think about the tremendous amount of work, probably some kind of slave labor, that it took to haul, carve, and fit the stone to make a road.
Thanks so much for commenting.
What a great adventure! How long did it take you do all the miles. :)
It was a great adventure, especially when it was over. It took us about seven hours, not including a short stop for lunch. Long.
Love the interwoven threads of history. Well-written and interesting—as always!
PS. I loved the irony of Fabio's personal pilgrimage (and the unexpectedly macabre expression of that dish.)
Yes, I think he got it out of his system. That cochinillo was probably enough for a lifetime for him though many people crave it. It was a little hard to see those splayed cooked baby pigs.
¡Increíbles aventuras! Muchos saludos
Hola! Gracias! Espero que estés muy bien. Gracias por leer el post.
Well hooray for those vegetables at the end of your trek! I never thought I would see the day that you wrote about roasted pig, but it just goes to show what a great writer you are that you can write so beautifully about your epic hike and it's piggy rewards at the end without being personally motivated by the squealer!
haha! Very funny. You know, we authors have to write about the good, the bad, and the ugly. This pig event falls in the last category. The whole subject goes down a lot more easily given that Fabio didn't really stomach it all that well either. He found the taste acceptable but he's not about to hike another eighteen miles for cochinillo or even look for a restaurant in Madrid that offers it. Phew! A load off my mind!