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Published: April 12th 2015
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Woolly says - I had started to feel like the Andrex puppy but way cuter of course as we spent our last week saying our goodbyes, I learnt that handing Jo a tissue seemed the best solution to her constant flooding and the only way of keeping my fur dry from the avalanche of tears. I wasn’t quite that bad but he does have a point! Woolly says – with everything packed I waved a regretful goodbye to my home and shovelled Jo onto the transfer before handing her yet more paper to mop her up as she quietly snivelled her way out of Alanya and onto the start of our new life. Having checked us in I felt rather pleased that my arrangements had gone according to plan and that we had arrived at the airport on the correct day at the right time, no mean feat given some of our previous trips recently and we had managed to lock the door without leaving the key inside! An easy flight and friend Graham waiting at arrivals left us with a day to spare in the UK and the opportunity to claim a hug from daughter Zoe and catch up with our friend Dave.
Woolly says – Cue the tissues, how can these women have so many tears is beyond me but while I tucked into a rather nice pie it was rather pleasant to listen to them rattling away to each other. Our farewell obviously required more soggy pieces of paper before I was finally able to set the sat nav for Portsmouth and regale friend Graham about my many adventures on board ferries from my previous trips, he seemed impressed, either that or he was having a problem with wind! Although wonderful to catch up with daughter Zoe and Dave it was better still to be leaving the cold British weather and watch my small friend’s excitement as he took off round the ship to check out his habitat for the next twenty four hours. Woolly says – I was most impressed and having tried out the cafeteria for a quick snack, checked out the cinema showcase, jogged round duty free and pushed a few buttons in the arcade I was happy to settle down for an evening of entertainment. Winning the quiz (mainly my doing of course) was a great start to the night and I thought my luck was in with the Bingo until Jo pointed out that I had to match the numbers to the ones being called out not just cross them all off as I pleased, but I was able to finish my evening listening to a singer who wasn’t bad at all, I then found a problem, I didn’t appear to have a bed for the night only a chair! How am I supposed to sleep in a chair? Where’s my pillow and duvet? Surely this must be considered cruelty to mammoths?
Although he had a good moan it didn’t seem to affect his sleep and within minutes his mammoth snores were disturbing everyone else. Woolly says – I’m sure I don’t snore, I mean I’ve never heard myself snoring so it couldn’t have been me. As the sun rose over the ocean I chivvied the humans into breakfast and sat looking at the day’s entertainment. First up was a talk on the whales and dolphin population in the Bay of Biscay, done by a very knowledgeable young lady, apparently I’m the first mammoth she has spotted since being on the ship which comes as no surprise to me as I am rather unique. The music quiz didn’t go quite so well and if Jo and Graham had listened to me I’m sure we would have scored more.
As he only provided the same answer for each track played this seemed unlikely! The day passed pleasantly enough and as land hove into view the furry fiend became impatient to be motoring on. Woolly says – it seemed to take forever to disembark and having wandered off to see what the delay was, I found the need to scuttle back rather quickly as the car engines started and we were finally back onto terra firma and the roads of Spain. As I navigated our way through the busy streets of Santander I found that Graham was very good at following my instructions so reaching the motorway proved simple and as night descended we fly along the clear roads listening to music and speculating on what we were looking for in our new business adventure, my suggestion of a clothes shops for mammoths went unheeded and I hope they don’t regret ignoring me on that idea!
We had planned to break the journey up and to avoid driving all night by stopping in Salamanca for the night and although the ferry had been late docking we still made good time, booking into the hostel proved slightly more difficult. Woolly says – we tried the usual knocking on the door policy which produced nothing, phoning resulted in no action either and once I had plodded up and down the two flights several times looking for inspiration I finally spotted a bell which produced a young man and a set of keys, result. A restful night and a rather nice croissant to start my day and I set off to discover the delights of the city. Salamanca was founded in the pre-Ancient Rome period by the Vacceos, a Celtic tribe, as one of a pair of forts to defend their territory near the Duero River. In the 3rd century BC, it began to take more importance as a commercial hub in the Roman Hispania due to its favourable location. In 1218 Alfonso IX of León granted a royal charter to the University of Salamanca, although formal teaching had existed there since 1130, it became one of the most significant and prestigious academic centres in Europe. During the devastating Spanish Civil War (1936–39) the city went over to the Nationalist side and was used as the de facto capital. Franco was named Generalissimo on 21 September 1937 while at the city, and in the same year was formed, by a decree signed in the city, the official fascist party that ruled Spain until the end of the Francoist regime, officially suppressing any other political party. In 1988 the old city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Each avenue and alleyway produced a vista of beauty and elegance in architecture, the buildings a soft sand colour felt warm and enriching. Woolly says – As I hurried down the small roads I gazed around me in wonder, every building seemed to contain intricate carvings, the churches were a splendour to behold as I went through an archway I was stopped in my tracks as the most beautiful plaza presented itself. Construction of the plaza began in 1729 and was completed in 1755, Felipe the V ordered the construction of the plaza to be used for bullfighting and was designed by the Churriguera family in sandstone. It was used for bullfighting up until the mid-19th century,
The construction began in two phases: the first was between 1729 and 1735 and the second was between 1750 and 1755. The first phase was built under the direction of Alberto Churriguera while the second phase was built under the direction of Manuel de Larra Churriguera, his nephew. Finally, Andrés Garcia de Quiñones built the City Hall. Wandering deeper into the tiny streets every corner showered us with more delights, a building with the cutest gargoyles I have seen, a shop with the most wonderful façade, my delight knew no bounds as I galloped into a small courtyard and what could have been the inside of a church with its splendid struts and gothic decorations, stunning. As I craned my neck higher and higher I couldn’t get enough of this wonderful place. We were all astounded and as we regretfully headed back to the car vowed to return to the wonderful city to fully investigate it in the future. Woolly says – I settled in for the journey and as we cruised through the Spanish plains and on into the mountains I kept a keen eye out for the sea.
Bless him he had a long wait but the seven hours passed easily and other than a few stops to keep my little companion’s appetite sated we made good time. Woolly says – As we pulled into the small seaside town of Torrox Costa I was delighted to greet my temporary home and smell the saltiness of the sea, I wonder if they know that a super star has arrived!
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Home and Away
Bob Carlsen
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