MOT, (ITV) failure!

In Spain there is the ITV, (MOT), test for 4 year old cars. Our Evoque is 4 years old next month so we went for the test today. 

It failed! And the reason:- They have to be able to read the chassis number which is stamped into the panel behind and under the rear seats. Go into the boot, you should be able to see it from there. 

However, Land Rover, in their wisdom, had fitted a polystyrene multi-container in the boot where the spare wheel should be and this obliterates any access to the panel underneath at the back of the rear seats. 

I have to take the car back once the chassis number car be seen. Armed with a carving knife I cut the polystyrene away and it can now be seen. 

Land Rover should have thought ahead for cars meant for the export market even if this particular feature of being able to read the chassis number is not applicable to their cars in some parts of the world.

Double birthday parties!

Today was a double birthday party for Ariadna...

...5 years old a couple of weeks ago...

...and her mother, Carmen, whose birthday was today.

Ariadna really liked her presents...

...and so did Carmen.

Perfume...

an ebook...

...a necklace...

...and chocolates because AmazonVIP haven't delivered her actual birthday present from us yet.

The food for the meal was wonderful as usual.

How about that for starters...

...followed by delicious chicken...

...and a superb birthday cake!

A very good time was had by all!

Up the tower at Torre

The church in our village of Torre del Compte is still undergoing restoration work. However, the work on the tower has been completed.

With our friend Lola, who is now the mayor of the village, we paid a visit to the top of the tower.

The views are amazing in every direction.

Looking east, in the far distance are the Ports de Beceite, the range of mountains which separate us from the Mediterranean.

To the south our house on the right with the ermita to the left look as though they're in the middle of the countryside - well, ours is the last, or maybe the first, house in the village.

To the north you can see the viaduct which was the old railway line crossing the Rio Matarraña and is now the Via Verde.

To the west, you can see along the Matarraña valley and make out the road bridge which leads into the village.

The inside of the church still needs a lot of work...

...but the tower will be standing for a few hundred years more.

To see all of the photos on Facebook, click HERE.

Torre on the rebound - little by little!

It is now 2 months since the devastating hailstorm made it's mark on our village of Torre del Compte.

Since then the entire village has been turned into a building site...

...with the sound and sight of men at work everywhere.

Narrow streets have been blocked with machinery...

...and scaffolding has become a major feature.

The church building which was being renovated at the same time is now complete.

Progress is being made but there is still plenty to do.

With tomorrow being the 1st November, we just hope that the fine weather is going to stay a while longer.

To see all of the photos on Facebook, click HERE.

Siena and Volterra

 The third and final part of our Tuscan experience was 2 nights in Siena...

...and we arrived at the hotel in time for lunch.

In the afternoon we walked into the city. It is very hilly! Unlike most cities which have developed around a river crossing, Siena grew from being a settlement on a hill which could give the best protection against invaders from 900 BC onwards.

However, one positive feature of being spread over a hilly area is that you can get good views from the top of a neighbouring hill.

From the 9th September until 31st October Siena is home to 200 colourful plastic creatures as the “Regeneration – Cracking Art at Siena” exhibition.

Our stay in Siena was wet, gentle but persistent rain, the temperature was not cold but certainly not hot! My umbrella was courtesy of the hotel.

A must visit area is the Piazzo del Campo, the town square, and we could appreciate how the area had been designed to enable all the water to flow into a large drainage hole in front of the centre of the Palazza Pubblico in the photo above.

The Palazza Pubblico houses an art museum and some sculptures were on display in the courtyard.

Fortunately the sculptures were weatherproof as the area was open to the elements.

The Torre del Mangia can be seen from all of the surrounding hills.

Just outside the Cathedral is another sculpture where Margaret just had to join in the merriment despite the rain.

Siena Cathedral, Duomo di Siena, was built in the 12th and 13th centuries and is a masterpiece of Romanesque-Gothic architecture even on a slightly wet day.

According to legend the city of Siena was formed by 2 sons of Remus, Senius and Aschius, nephews of Romulus who founded Rome. Hence the symbol of the town is the wolf who suckled the twins, their father and uncle.

The eastern end of the cathedral is as impressive as the main entrance. It is constructed in stripes of white and (greenish) black marble, the colours of the city celebrating the fact that it's founders rode black and white horses.

This is a public footpath - did I mention that Siena was hilly?

The Basilica di San Domenico was also built in the 13th century but then enlarged in the 14th century and, yes, you've guessed, it's on a hill.

This charming nymph was lurking in the garden of our hotel but we spotted it!

And so the following morning we leave Senia. That's me in the Fiat 500. It was a 500C. The C means it was a convertible but due to the weather we were never able to explore that option.

On our way back to Pisa airport we dropped in to the town of Volterra - at least it wasn't raining but it was still very grey and quite cold. They have a very fine clock tower in the main square.

This town had been another neolithic hill settlement and is very picturesque on a fine day.

The Romans settled here and their theatre can still be seen.

Although not as grand as the Cathedral in Siena the decor bears some resemblance, not bad for a rear entrance,

Our final lunch was yet another plate of pasta - we're becoming Italian!

Then in the afternoon we drove up the coast to Pisa and as you can see, it was cold, grey and windy but dry.

The area where we live in Spain, the Matarraña region, is often likened to Tuscany. We noticed some differences however. Tuscany has a greater variety of deciduous trees and it is wetter. Although we certainly enjoyed Tuscany we think we shall stay where we are.

To see my video of Siena and Volterra, click HERE.

To see some of the photos on Facebook, click HERE.

To see some more of the photos, click HERE.

To see the remaining photos, click HERE.