Don Quixote Wind Mills and a Castle in Spain

I know you were hoping to be seeing Cuenca, Spain today.  We were too but it is still raining and we didn't want to be captive to our room two days in a row.  Chuck will share about our adventure escaping from the rain. 

Since it was continuing to rain in Cuenca, I decided to take my photographer, Nancy, to the south of Cuenca province to see the heart of Don Quixote country.   After 90 or so kilometers of wheat fields, vineyards, and pine trees, we saw a sign announcing our arrival.

Our first stop was Mota del Cuervo, with it's famous seven windmills.

The one in the foreground is called "El Gigangte".  But there was not a vantage point to photograph all seven. You will just have to take my word for it, there are seven.

It is a bit bigger than I am.

Here I am explaining how they pointed the windmill into the wind.

We said good bye to the windmills and moved on to Belmonte, site of a well preserved Renaissance castle and fortress, built in the late 1400's.

Inside, there are two floors of living space. The first floor is furnished in the style of 1500 or so.

The second floor is furnished in French Louis XIV style which was popular in the 1850's.

The lady who owned the castle (and half of the province) was Eugenia de Montijo. Not only was she rich, she was an Empress of France because she married Napoleon III. That is a picture of her son Napoleon IV on the left.

After the living quarters, we toured the roof.

As we returned to Cuenca, the rain started again. I hope it clears up tomorrow.

Love,
Chuck