Alcántara
Last Week on the Road
My Epic Journey So Far
Today’s Weather Report
Day 12: Alcántara’s weather today is quite the spectacle. It’s 13.13°C, feels like 11.93°C, but who’s counting? Not me! I’m a gnome, not a thermometer. Overcast clouds are brooding above like an angry mother-in-law, making the sky look like a giant grey blanket. Humidity is 55%, just enough to make my beard frizz. And the wind, blowing at 3.43 m/s, is just strong enough to give me a good comb-over. Just another day in the life of a traveling gnome, battling the elements, one gust at a time.
Bridge Over Gnome-d Waters!
Day 12: Another day, another 45.9 kilometers under my belt (if I had one). From the quaint charm of Valencia de Alcántara, Spain, I have made it to the historic city of Alcántara. This was a journey of beauty and wonder, filled with the tantalizing scents of wild flowers and the enchanting melodies of native birds.
One fascinating observation that I must share is the magnificent Alcántara Bridge. This Roman bridge is a testament to the grandeur of an era long gone. As I strolled along, I remembered a local saying – “Puentes verás y más cruzarás”, meaning ‘You will see bridges and you will cross more’. It felt like a metaphor for life and travel.
To date, I’ve covered a whopping 268.7 kilometers in 12 days. My journey has taken me from Ponte de Sor, to Castelo de Vide, through Valencia de Alcántara, and now, here to Alcántara. Each place with its own story, each story with its own rhythm.
A local song that I can’t get out of my head goes like this: “Por el puente de Alcántara pasa el agua y pasa el viento, y pasarán más cosas, pero no pasa el tiempo”. Translated, it means ‘Through the bridge of Alcántara, the water and the wind pass, and more things will pass, but time does not’.
This journey, my friends, is more than just about the distance traveled. It’s about the footprints left behind and the memories made. As they say in Spain, “El viaje se mide en amigos, no en millas” – ‘The journey is measured in friends, not in miles’.
Hasta la próxima, amigos – ‘Until next time, friends’!
[Note: Although I haven’t crossed any borders recently, my journey has been a linguistic adventure as well. From the Portuguese of Ponte de Sor to the Spanish of Alcántara, language is indeed a bridge itself.]
Wandering Alcántara’s Streets
Gnome’s Petite Palette Parade
Painted en plein air while taking in the sights of Alcántara.
— Oliver the Gnome, aspiring artist
Alcántara: Bridge to Yesteryears!
Another wonder of Alcántara is the Convento de San Benito, a hauntingly beautiful, yet half-finished testament to Spain’s Golden Age. Let me quote the words of Spain’s great poet, Antonio Machado: “Todo pasa y todo queda, Pero lo nuestro es pasar, Pasar haciendo caminos, Caminos sobre la mar“. In English, “Everything passes and everything stays, But our thing is to pass, Pass making paths, Paths over the sea”.
Alcántara, my friends, is a city that embodies these words, a place where history passes, but also stays.
Crumbs, Culture, and Cherry Cocktails
Alcántara, a city brimming with history and culture, has a unique food scene. It boasts the traditional Extremaduran cuisine that is earthy, robust, and deeply satisfying. One cannot miss the “Migas Alentejanas”, a delightful bread crumb dish cooked with garlic, peppers, and often garnished with local sausage. In Spanish, they say, “Para conocer bien una cultura, hay que probar su comida.” – “To know a culture well, you must taste its food.” The city’s olive oils and cheeses, especially the “Torta del Casar” cheese, are renowned. The city is also known for its cherry liqueur, a sweet delight best enjoyed after a hearty meal. The food in Alcántara is a gastronomic representation of its rich history and vibrant culture.
Gnome’s Guide: Alcántara Amazements
See you tomorrow!
Around the World on Foot, in Many, Many Days 