- IMG_2486
- IMG_2488
sort of a representative mountain shot' - IMG_2492
trees, mountains, sky - IMG_2494
and again - IMG_2496
Sun is setting in earnest. - IMG_0064
After getting only minorly-lost, we make it to our phenomenal hotel, a renovated ironworks from the 17th century. - IMG_2499
The closest town is tiny and a few miles away, so we made happy use of the hotel "restaurant," which was basically getting an excellent home-cooked meal from the friendly proprietors. - IMG_2501
Did we mention there was a puppy? Arti: tiny and perfect. I still miss her. - IMG_2502
There she is again. - IMG_2504
Bryan enjoys his meal and the fact that, when you order red wine to drink, they just give you the bottle. - IMG_2506
The main room made for excellent lounging. - IMG_2507
The walls and chimney are original to the 17th-century blacksmith's. The guest rooms have been built around the edges of the large store room used to pile coal. Lots of stone and dark metal and wood. - IMG_2509
staircase - IMG_2510
Next door is the tower built by the same family in, oh, like the 1400s. - IMG_2512
We started our day with a little walk on a trail that passed the hotel. - IMG_2513
Leslie and cows. Leslie is, at this point, quite sick with a cold. - IMG_2514
a little shrine built into a hill that reminds Leslie of guerilla Buddha shrines in Thailand - IMG_2515
Bryan on the trail - IMG_2517
typical farmhouse - IMG_2518
Sick Leslie and Arti, balm for the spirit - IMG_2519
Bryan on the road again - IMG_2520
We found the roads in Spain to be relentlessly marked with signposts, a boon to the foreign driver. - IMG_2521
mountains - IMG_2524
in the car - IMG_2525
The mountains were covered in a lot of intentional, grid-like reforestation, presumably lumber industry investments. - IMG_2526
random cool bridge - IMG_2527
We rolled through quite a few long, long tunnels. - IMG_2533
craggy - IMG_2535
approaching another tunnel - IMG_2537
At some point, we popped out of a tunnel and found ourselves in La Rioja--wine country!