¡Hola, amigos queridos! ‘Hello, dear friends!’ That’s in Spanish, the beautiful language of the land I am strolling through. I’ve just completed a 46.0km journey from Trillo to Beteta, both captivating towns in the heart of Spain.

As this little gnome ambled through the undulating hills and rich greenery, a peculiar sight caught my eye. Nudging at the edge of the trail was a cluster of vibrant, scarlet poppies, their delicate petals fluttering like the wings of a thousand tiny butterflies. Now, you might wonder, what’s so special about a bunch of flowers? Well, these weren’t just any poppies. They were Papaver rhoeas, a symbol of sleep and peace, a poignant reminder of the fallen heroes of war. These flowers, they say, grew in the fields after the battles of WWI. ‘Amapolas’, they are called here in Spain.

‘En los campos de trigo, no hay nada que cortar. Si quieres encontrar algo, las amapolas debes buscar.’ That’s a local verse I picked up: ‘In the wheat fields, there is nothing to cut. If you want to find something, you should look for the poppies.’

Now, coming to the stats of my journey. With this little trek, I have now covered a total of 735.9 kilometers! Phew! That’s quite a distance for a gnome, ain’t it? I’ve been on the road for 29 days and my recent stops have included not one, not two, but three visits to the charming town of Trillo, then a stop at Beteta, and now I am in Santa Eulalia.

‘El camino se hace al andar.’ ‘The path is made by walking.’ That’s a line from a famous poem by Antonio Machado, a Spanish poet. It’s a reminder that the journey is just as important as the destination. So, let’s keep walking, let’s keep exploring.

Hasta la próxima vez. ‘Until next time.’ Keep strolling, folks!

In the heart of Spain, lies an enchanting city, Beteta, a place that whispers stories of its rich culture and history. One of the city’s gems is the Castle of Rochafrida, a historic monument that has stood for centuries. The castle whispers tales of past conquests and loves lost, a silent testament to Beteta’s vibrant past. As the Spanish saying goes, “El pasado es un prólogo” (The past is a prologue).

The city is also home to the famed Beteta Spring, a natural wonder said to be blessed by the muse of poetry, Clarin de Beteta. It’s a place where many Spanish poets, like Federico García Lorca, have found inspiration. They say, “El agua de Beteta es la tinta de la poesía” (The water of Beteta is the ink of poetry).

These two facets of Beteta are just the tip of the iceberg. A visit here is like stepping into a living poem, a symphony composed by the likes of Manuel de Falla, played by the entire city.