We stopped for the night at Aranda de Duero, where we stayed at Hotel Tudanca, part of northern Spain’s wine-producing industry. Surrounded by fields of tempranillo grapes, we were impressed by the simplicity of this small, economical hotel.
The family wine-growing business was started over 100 years ago and headed up a matriarchal lady, Vicenta de Las Heras. The best Ribera grapes are hand picked and selected before the main crop is collected mechanically.
At the Hotel Tudanca
As well as the wine made from the hand-picked grapes, there are two others: a young one and a slightly more mature version. And all from one grape variety grown in the same vineyard.
Jesus, one of Vicenta’s sons, runs the sales side of the wine business. It was 9.00am when he invited us to taste this nectar and nibble on the local cheese!
Bebe, Pepe and Seabert arrive in Madrid
On leaving Aranda we headed for central Madrid to deliver Laura’s rabbit, Bebe, to her grandmama Maria. The traffic was pretty hairy, but Maria calmly saw Bebe into her home.
Bebe moving in
Bebe looking very settled
Bebe doesn’t have far to go to watch the footie!
Sara and Carlos delighted to be reunited with Pepe and Seabert
Pepe having a good look round
A ray of sunshine catches the ginger in Seabert’s tortie markings
Sookie, Yowie, Ruel and Aggie reach Arboleas
We drove towards Arboleas to deliver this family of four to Susan and Chris. Fortunately they came part of the way to meet us, otherwise we’d have been driving around those pretty hills forever! There was such a welcome for the pets — Susan said: “Now our family have arrived, we’ll never leave Spain.”
Yowie hears familiar voices
Sookie so excited to be reunited
Ruel, or perhaps Aggie, ready to bounce out of the carry basket
Love the photos and I am glad everyone made it safely.
All passengers and owners very pleased.
Ruel (or perhaps Aggie) about to escape reminds me of the ground squirrels I trap and then transfer way out in the woods so the temptation of our garden is far away from them. It’s that “Am I really free?” look. I am sure the joy of freedom is soon replaced with “Where in the heck did I misplace that garden?” 🙂 –Curt
Have you tagged any to see how long it takes them to return? 😉
Another nice lot of critters. I have a big beam like that one in the Hotel Tudanca. I saved when we demolished the house I grew up in. The beam was originally from a church that had burned in the late 1950’s.
How wonderful you were able to reuse the beam – they’re so beautiful and rich with history.
That hotel is gorgeous…………..the wooden beam is massive and adds so much to that room – I’m sure there’s some history there!! Lots of happy reunions too………..
Pam
That beam certainly is full of history and it’s great they’re able to give it such a prime position.
Hotels with their own vineyards have a lot to recommend them.
Funnily enough we seem to be finding more and more of them.
it’s never too late nor too early for a good wine :O)
Glad you think so Easy!
wow that hotel is beautiful
We are lucky to find so many wonderful places to stay on our travels.
I could do with a friend like Jesus
A great friend in need.
So good to see them all reunited again. We love the pictures, Annie. The first one is amazing! Pawkisses 🙂 <3
The hotel looks a fascinating place!
The cats all look quite happy.