Having spent the night at Parador La Granja where we enjoyed an excellent meal of local fare, we breakfasted and drove to El Escorial.   A former royal palace and monastery, it wowed us.   With Pauline's disability we were only able to see the ground floor but it was splendid in every way.   Her disability gained Pauline free admission as well as myself as carer.   The staff showed us where to go and chatted about the place.   It was a place I had wanted to visit for some time, having remembered once seeing it on TV.   The route there was itself spectacular.   We climbed a mountain and descended the other side.   This mountain was covered in trees and there was a ski centre too.

Suddenly realising that our next Parador was several hours drive away we set off with haste.   The journey involved a section of the M50, Madrid's equivalent of the M25.   We arrived at Almagro, which is in the middle of one of the famous plains in Spain, shortly after six.   Our room was smaller and more Spartan than the previous night but it was, after all, a former convent.   The food was again based on local fare and was excellent.   Then yesterday we did the final leg of our journey to our farmhouse in Axarquia, Andalucia.   Unpacking was hard going after the long drive but we swam in the pool to cool off.   We visited Eroski City in Colmenar which is very much like Tesco Express.   We got food to last till tomorrow when we shall do a weekly shop at the Eroski hypermarket near Velez-Malaga.   Today was relaxing with a pleasant lunch, swimming and G & Ts before dinner.

We really feel well and happy!   Watch for the next instalment.