Day 18 * Cañon del Rio Mesa

Monday, October 10, 2022

Morning: Jaraba (Cañon del Rio Mesa) * Evening: Zaragoza - Aragón

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After a leisurely breakfast and lots of lingering, we drive from Jaraba to the hiking parking lot at Santuario Nuestra Señora de La Virgen de Jaraba. The hermitage is carved into the rocks above the parking lot.

This is the starting point for the hiking trail to the Pinturas rupestres de Rocaa Benedí, the 7000-year-old cave paintings. It goes through a beautiful canyon, framed by orange-red steep cliffs. They are streaked with black and gray-blue stripes. It starts raining and thundering. The moisture makes the colors of the rocks shine even brighter.

After an hour, we reach the Pinturas. The few figures and animals are not spectacular, but the place is mystical in its own way. Maybe because of the rumbling thunder in the background, maybe also because we don't encounter a single person...

In Jaraba, we have lunch. We sit comfortably in the camper while the rain patters on our roof.

In the afternoon, we continue driving. Our destination is Zaragoza, the capital of Aragón. We already know the parking lot at Parque de Aqua and the former EXPO site from the previous year. It's crowded here today.

Las Fiestas del Pilar, the festival week of Zaragoza, is currently taking place. We enjoy the lively atmosphere after the solitude at Cañon del Rio Mesa. We ride our bikes along the Rio Ebro, into the city center of Zaragoza. Life is buzzing around the Basílica del Pilar. In a tiny alley, we eat very tasty Hamburguesas and have a nice chat with the waiter.

Full and satisfied, we ride back to our accommodation on the Ebro. We like Zaragoza much better than our last visit...