The Parador de Salamanca is wonderful, classy, graceful and with the most spectacular views looking over to the old city and the Cathedral, most especially at night when it is all illuminated. We spent the morning and early afternoon visiting the city across the river, seeing the Cathedral and the Plaza Major, and climbing the two hundred steps up the tower to see the city from a height.  All lovely, and so monumental and historical. This was a city that in its day had influence, power, prestige, as well as an ancient and revered university.  If you have the opportunity, do visit.  And, if you can, the Parador is the place to stay.  Tonight we stayed in at the Parador and had dinner on the terrace with the wonderful view of the illuminated old city and Cathedral.  Such a privilege.

​Tomorrow, 11th September, will be onwards and southwards to Plasencia where we will stay in another Parador.  I am hoping that going straight south the wind will not be as directly in my face as it has been for the last few days when I was going southwest, so perhaps an easier passage for me.  Although, I can see in the distance some small range of minor mountains !

​All seems well with the baggage train and they seem happy. I managed to get a bit of time to do some cleaning and maintenance on my bike, which so far has performed well.  It's not too keen on the dirt roads, so I will continue to avoid them.  For some reason my Google mapping likes to take me on to these rough, dirt, tracks, so I am having to check carefully and find tarmac routes for an easier ride.  I've some quite detailed paper maps from here on, so I shall make sure to avoid these dusty and rough byways.  The baggage train will no doubt take the Autovia, for an easy life and early arrival at another Parador delight.

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