Level 42, Trans World Sport and the Riazza Bull Ring

A lovely drive today. It had it all with many 'WOW' moments.

I feel we are beginning to enjoy Spain. So iPod plugged in, and Clare made a super choice. Level 42 was the band of choice and I was a very happy chap. Great tunes, an open highway, fantastic views, superb mountains etc (I'll stop there otherwise I will become in danger of repeating things previously mentioned!).

When I was a teenager, every Saturday morning on Channel 4 at 8am, there was a programme called Trans World Sport, some of you may remember it. It was an eclectic mix of regular world sports put together in an hour summary programme, along with many odd ball worldly sports. And so we had our own Trans World Sport moment today. We had just passed Soria and were on the look out for a place to stop for lunch. We found this little town, which I fail to recollect the name of. We pulled off the bypass and went through the town. It was a forlorn task looking for a stopping place, a bit like Radiator Springs in the film 'Cars' until we began to leave the village. We stumbled upon a massive sports court. (Look carefully to find Jasper and Maya to help with the scale!)

I completely forget the name of the game, but it's the one where the ball travels upwards of 120mph and the players have wicker gloves that help hurl the ball. We found this court, and it was huge, and like in France with the velodrome looked completely underused. Tennis ball in hand, we made our own game of lob the ball as far as you can. The size of the court was amazing, I was struggling to throw the ball from one end to the other. A good find, but more information needed about the sport.....I need Trans World Sport!

We arrived in Riaza, found our home for the night, then cycled into to the town for a look about. As we cycled down the cobbled avenues and superb overhanging buildings, we turned towards the main town plaza. As we did so, an obscure moment hit us. We found ourselves cycling towards a bull ring. 

It was quite an amazing sight. All ready for next week's festival and bull fights. I'm not sure where we stand on that issue, but the way the ring perfectly fitted the Plaza Mayor was quite something. House balconies overlooked the tops of theis temporary stadium by mere feet. So Jasper and I did a cycling bull fight. He got me! 

Apologies though for the photography overload though, it's just that we have had 2 successive special days of 'stumble upons' which has been a real treat. Thank you Spain!

Ed