Its a very early start today. We have planned a day trip to the twin towns of beda and Baeza, but they are 150 km from Granada. We dont want to drive in rush hour, but neither do we want to be too late as the Spanish have a horrible habit of shutting up shop to siesta for hours on end in the afternoons so we have to get cracking early!
Its still dark as we leave the hotel at 7am. There is no daylight saving here! Our rental car, way up the hill from our hotel is still in one piece, thats a relief. We reluctantly vacate our position on the road fearing that it will be gone when we return. Seriously the ‘public parking in the street may be possible should be reported to trade descriptionsit is missing the phrase, ‘but not probable! Fortunately I think this is the last place that we will be visiting in the car that does not have proper parking. But I could be wrong!
We climb the steep narrow road (having already ensured we are not doing so at the same time that the bus will down the hill.
Now its back down the steep main road to river level. It feels like a roller coaster ride - and not that much fun.
Down at the bottom and we are on the Spanish equivalent of the motorway. Its pretty busy around the Granada outskirts, much as we had expected, but not too bad at all. My new Spanish friend who said the traffic would be bad at this time has obviously never been in the M25!
I am on map duty and we make the three major road changes required fairly seamlessly. Thats because we are in the right hand side. Something tells me the return journey may not be as easy!
We have arrived in beda. Its 9am so two hours was not bad. I have managed to find a nice big car park just outside of the narrow streets of the historic old town but not too far for us to walk in. Its labelled as a car park for motor caravans, but there is provision for car parking too. Its an easy ten minute walk
This place is high in the mountains and, for the first time this trip, Im feeling a tad chilly! Not that I as Ive struggled with the heat here.
Our first point of interest is a hospital! Yes, really. Though its no longer taking in the sick, but is used as a conference centre. The Hospital De Santiago dates back to 1562 and was ordered to be built by the Bishop of Jan. It has a majestic facade, a blue topped tower and a cool inner courtyard with fountain.
We are invited inside by a security guard who points to a stairway which is decorated with frescos. We wander upstairs. I try to open a window to take a photograph but there is some serious clanking and it feels like the glass might fall out. Ian is hissing at me to leave it alone!
Now to wander around the pretty narrow streets of the old quarter. There are a number of impressive churches built in the baroque style and some leafy squares to rest a while. In one of the squares, Plaza de 1 de Mayo, we see the
old town hall with its open balcony. From here, local dignatories used to stand to watch victims of the inquisition burn - gruesome!
The Palacio del Dean Ortega, now a hotel, has a long line of classic limousines outside. Unfortunately the main Palacio, usually open to visitors, was covered in scaffolding and sheeting - clearly closed for major refurbishment. Im sure it will be very nice when its finished.
We walk up to the old city walls to admire the vista of miles of neatly planted olive groves. our circuit of the old town so now we return to collect our car and drive on to Baeza, just 10km back down the road and said to be twinned as it also has an old town of baroque style buildings.
Once more, I congratulate myself on locating a car park on the outskirts of town so no frightening rides down the narrow old town streets! There are a number of empty spaces so Ian takes his pick.
Another pretty town and an enjoyable walk. We decide to enjoy a drink in one of the central plazas in our way to the cathedral.
