San Mateo

"The San Mateo Festival, also known as the Rioja Wine Harvest Festival, is one of the most significant and popular festivals in the region of Rioja, Spain. It is celebrated in the capital city of La Rioja, Logroño" and "has been designated a National Festival of Tourist Interest."

Once we worked out today is the first day of this festival, the wine soaked HORDES made more sense. The done thing seems to be a white tshirt, with either I ❤️ Logrono or lots of permanent marker additions, splattered with so much red wine it looks tie-dyed, and ideally artfully ripped. You've got a burgundy little bandana around your neck, a crossbody imitation calfskin wine flask, and you're wet from dancing in a fountain and throwing the wine about.

Having been to university and my fair share of parties revolving around flirtily drawing on each other's t-shirts, I can tell you this is the most exciting day ever if you're a young person, and my god they all seem to be. 16 year old girls are moving at pace in gangs of ten.

As a result perhaps, everywhere's full and what's left is exxy. We missed out on the only 80 unbookable albergue beds in town by about 15 people if the backpack line was anything to go by. Luckily we are in the position to just throw money at the problem, and I firmly believe that you should do that when you can sometimes.

We'd taken a taxi from the bus station to the albergue as it was on the periphery of the pedestrian only historical centre, but needed to walk the 700m to the private room. Don't let Branna fool you, she's cooked, it took us nearly 30 minutes. She's on bed rest now which means I am the hunter gatherer - via the world's most frustrating self checkout I dragged back lunch and frozen peas and we both set about making the most of the rest opportunity. It makes for drab updates, LO SIENTO, we will try very hard to recover our various ails and get back on track.

- LexRead more