Kevnjan's new adventure.

Fri. 1st. Mar. February gone for another year. Good riddance. Can't complain though, it's been the most enjoyable February we've ever had with some wonderful weather. Yesterday we decided that we couldn't face another crush on the bus to get to the centre of Seville and drove to Santiponce on the way to El Rocio. Santiponce is part of Italica, an ancient Roman town, birthplace of the Roman emperor Trajan. We saw his baths in Rome. The ruins were OK and there was an old ampitheatre in reasonable condition. We had a pleasant surprise, the admission was free, I think that is every Thursday, the place was full of guided tours for parties of Spanish and although we were invited to join in our Spanish really isn't up to the job. Sad to say, after spending 8 months in Italy last year, we are a bit blase when it comes to Roman ruins and after about an hour we headed for the tall trees!! We'd been told to visit El Rocio, if we were in the area, by our friends Rob and Sheila, there's an ACSI site there and it's more or less on our way to Portugal. So it was that at around 3pm we found ourselves in one of the most unusual places we've visited. The only metalled road in the town is the one which takes you in and out of it. The rest is sand. The town is on the edge of a lake which forms part of the Donana national park, miles of wetland, the habitat of countless birds, deer, wild horses and Lynx. The thing about El Rocio is that it is the part time home of the shrine of the Virgen of Rocio, every 7 years she is moved to the nearby town of Almonte. This is a place of pilgrimage and once a year the members of the 111 brotherhoods, religious societies from various towns and cities have to make their way by horse or on foot to pay their respects. It seems an excuse for endless parties and wherever you look there are knots of people, many of whom are on horseback, drinking beer and wine and seemingly having a great time. Today is Andalucia day and is an even bigger party than usual. It really is like the wild west, the scenes are reminiscent of old western films in Mexico. It's difficult to describe the scene, there are men and women on horseback, and wagons, being pulled by horses and mules. This afternoon we took a bus tour around the national park. You can't take cars, vans or motorized vehicles in the park. I believe you can cycle or ride a horse around, they really do protect the environment. There is a sand road through the middle of the park which is one of the routes that the pilgrims use to come to the shrine. We saw numerous groups making their way in wagons and on horses, all carrying drinks and looking distinctly merry. In addition we saw much wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the four hour jaunt. Sadly we didn't spot any lynx but did see marsh harriers, black kites, buzzards, numerous water foul, deer and all manner of flora and fauna. If you are ever in this part of Spain don't miss it. It is the most Spanish part of Spain I have seen. Unique. Fabulous. One complaint, however, no Mercadonna!! The only supermarket in the town caters only for people who want to party, no fresh meat, veg or anything remotely like normal groceries, just another quirky example of an extraordinary place. Tomorrow we have to find victuals, I'm almost out of whisky too. May have to move on, although I'm curious to see what happens in this town on a Saturday night. Watch out for our next report. Amazing.