I always feel better after a bike ride, no siesta today.

What a wonderFULL day … the operative ‘full’ . Started with a google search ‘breakfast near me’ it is one of the first searches that come up on my google history. ‘John, 80m and there is breakfast’ we were going on a city bike ride for 10.30am and we slept in … had to do my Wordle at least, quaordle, octordle and sedecordle can wait.

We are just out of the hotel and next door is the Cafe … perfect! 20 steps! We are both like locals today, freshly squeezed OJ, coffee, tostada. John ham and cheese, me smashed tomato (this is soooo Spanish comes with everything in a jar just use as much as you like, same as olive oil. And avocado … the bread rolls are toasted and very yummy.

Now our bike tour a quick ride to the markets … we are early … surprisingly very quiet … at 10am it is early here for the markets, a few fish mongers open filleting, slicing. Bakers prepping their wares.

10.30am and off we go … lovely group and the guide also nice young Spaniard uni student. We get a bit of history, culture while we ride for 3hrs and always happy with the company.

On our guide’s recommendation we go to a tapas bar not far away for lunch … it’s hot so we go inside, what a menagerie of beasts displayed on the walls. This is a real treat for the eyes great little place and good tapas … beer is welcome.

Now off to the Bullfighting Ring … there was a fight last night! We visit the museum and sit in the stands of the ring … we reflect on when John got bailed up in hospital in France near Bastille Day and we had to stay in a very little town Maussane-les-Alpilles and saw their local festivities in the street and arena … such fun we had.

Back to today … the Real Alcazar aka the palace … no queue it’s too hot, shiny faces everywhere and hand fans. It’s the best place to be on a 42°C day … the exhibitions in the old buildings are cool … a lot of information about ceramic tiles dating back forever. There was no audio apart from phone if you had mobile coverage but all signage was in English (tick, tick). We could relate again to the Alhambra in Granada, the gardens were lovely again good for a hot day.

We get back from our day out at 6.30pm it’s 39°C … time for admin and drink before venturing into the heat for an evening meal.