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Published: October 22nd 2017
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Geo: 40.2697, 0.307674
We thought this morning that after a lazy few days we ought to explore the surrounding area, so we decided on Peniscola, some 20 miles up the coast which had been recommended by our Dutch neighbours. Perhaps the name, related to a male body part, was an omen - read on!
We decided not to take the motorway on which we arrived last Wednesday, but to take the alternative N340. It was a good, fast road, much used by commercial as well as other traffic, but through up a few unexpected surprises. First of all we spotted a guy having a pee in the field alongside the road but he was far from discreet, with everything on show to all who passed by. We had encountered the French at the side of the road relieving themselves, but not full-frontal like this!
A little further on at two separate lay-bys we saw young women, scantily clad, in full make-up, sat in deck chairs right at the side of the road rummaging in their handbags! We can only assume that they were after business from passing motorists. They were still there later in the day on our return journey so David tooted but
did not stop. (I've led a sheltered life!)
Anyway, Peniscola, despite its historical background, is now a bustling holiday resort with all sorts of accommodation, promenade, beaches, restaurants and shops, with the old part set on a headland topped by its famous castle. Much of the development came about following the use of the castle as a location for the 1960 film 'El Cid' starring Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren when it was meant to represent Valencia, which is further down the coast, with tourism today still using this connection.
First stop was the tourist office where they provided a useful map with which to plan our sightseeing, complete with background information to the attractions. We then started the uphill climb of the old part of the town, stopping off at the Artillery Store which now houses a bird of prey refuge. The handlers flew some of the birds to demonstrate their different traits, and some visitors, including David, donned the protective gauntlet to attract and catch the birds in flight.
After a disappointing lunch (the TA one I had noted earlier was closed), we continued our ascent to reach the castle, passing the statue of Papa Luna, a 13th century nobleman who
was considered by the Catholic Church to be an antipope, and another story from the past to fuel the tourism trade. We wandered around the castle rooms and battlements, the latter providing views over Peniscola, the coastline and beyond, then left to explore the narrow, winding streets on our way back to the car park. Whilst the old town proved of interest to us, the more modern, high-rise development is not for us so we were glad to return to the relative peace and tranquility of the campsite, where we later spent an hour down on the beach as the sun went down.
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