Argentina and Belgium in Spain

It's a straightforward train line to our next stop. Avila is another wonderful city surrounded by intact city walls. Our first and second port of call is the Buenos Aires; curiously, the beers are more in the earlier evening than later on. Could this be unhappy hour? Walking the back streets, we find an authentic Belgian bar; the strengths of the beers mean they must be treated with respect! And lastly, Easter has dawned and the banners in the old market square are being taken down.

In a straight line, we head for Madrid. It's not known for medieval sights but some of the later monuments are hugely impressive. The statues rest in a pantheon of 19th century historic heroes, and we see an Italianate university tower and an Arabic-style house of culture. Pride of place in history goes to the Plaza Mayor, even grander than its counterpart in Salamanca. Escaping the bustle, we spend our final afternoon in the Parque Retiro, almost on our doorstep and furnished with grandiose monuments of its own.

Time to leave after an excellent 10-day stay but not before sampling one of the many self-styled Irish bars in the country!Read more