Thursday, 14 April 2016

Avila - around the walls

I had fully intended to walk around the top of the walls again today, but my legs had other ideas. I did the short section and that was plenty. Instead, I walked around the outside. Probably further in distance and still lots of up and down, but NO STEPS!

I started on the south-east corner, which I hadn't yet visited.

Me and my shadow. The eastern walls and gate in the early morning sun
south-east corner
It's spring!

Then around past the cathedral.....


.....to the long walk down along the northern side of the walls.


doesn't matter which direction you look....
...they stretch on and on
this gate is halfway down on the northern side


in places, the walls are built straight on top of rock

the north-west corner

the north-west corner looking along the western walls
north-west corner

lovely old lampposts


the south-west corner


a goodly number of skinks were sunning themselves on the rocks
the southern walls looking east

About a third to halfway up the southern section, I went in the gate to look at the walls from the inside. There are no houses in this corner, just grass, so one can stand right alongside the wall and get a decent view over the lower inner city.

looking westwards
looking to the south-west corner
looking eastwards
About 1.5 km from the western gate, there's a small monument called Los Cuatro Postes which provides an amazing view of the walls from the west, looking uphill. I walked here on Tuesday evening after walking the 1.2 km section, but I'm including the photos here.

Los Cuatro Postes - The Four Posts





I decided tonight I would have to go for a wander after dark to see Avila and the walls lit up. I had planned to do this in Segovia as well, but it rained all day and night and I was already cold, wet and exhausted yeah - excuses!)  No excuses in Avila!

southern walls not long after dusk
San Vicente looks great at night
north-east corner
northern walls
northern walls
northern walls again

southern wall
this is near the gate on the southern side
 After wandering past all of the eastern wall and part of the north and south walls, I wondered what the town would look like from Los Cuatro Postes.  Luckily, there's a taxi rank just near the eastern gate, so I took a quick trip.

Los Cuatro Postes at night
...with the walls...






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