Madrid Province, (not City)

The 'face profile' on the right is Cancho Largo, the highest point in the sierra and a good challenge for rock climbers (there were none that day, I have in the past posted shots of climbers tackling the overhang).

Phillip II's monolithic monastery / palace

Madrid Province. Originally on Panoramio 2016.

La Sierra de La Cabrera, Madrid Province

Sierra de La Cabrera, mountain stream. Better on full screen.

Granite country - La Sierra de La Cabrera.

From the northern slopes of La Sierra de La Cabrera. First shown on Panoramio in 2011 but not on ipernity to my belief.

Griffon vultures on Cancho de La Bola, Sierra de la Cabrera. First posted in 2012 on Panoramio but never on ipertinity for some reason / oversight. Still, better late than never!

Clear, fast-flowing spring water over granite. I can look at these streams for hours, often have! First shown four years ago. Please enlarge.

For over a week, we have had 40º + temps but no sun thanks to this calima which has occurred far too often this year over Spain and which is horrible and leaves everyone's tempers frayed to say the least!

A storm overnight and the almost dry stream-bed comes to life. Rosemary bush in flower in the foreground. The tower was a mystery to me when I first saw it in 2010 and is still a mystery. I can't get any info (certainly not much sense!) out of the older guys in the local bars, no matter how much Mahou I bribe them with!! I will have to try whisky next time! I later learnt it was an air shaft for the railway line that ran below the mountains here. The line closed in 2012. I recall seeing the trains run here for a year beforehand. Now it is a popular, if spooky, walk through the tunnell (5 km). First posted n 2017.

Griffon vulture on El Cancho de La Bola. A clear day - Uceda, a village in Guadalajara province can be clearly seen here in mid-distance. Normally the heat haze or Madrid smog doesn't allow me to see that far. It has been suggested that full-screen works well here.

View from the kitchen, through the dining room to the terrace and the view beyond. A misty sort of morning so not so clear outside.

Holm oaks and granite. La Sierra de La Cabrera.

The eastern end, including El Pico de La Miel (Honey Peak) which isn't the highest point on the ridge but is the most famous as it rises directly above the Madrid Burgos motorway. It's possible to scramble and rock-hop more or less along the entire ridge.

Algete Church on yet another very dull day. Iglesia Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion. One day I might even go in and have a look round.

I think this could be rosa Pullman Orient Express 2007, but there are lots that are similar. A very stormy day again with low light levels.

Viewed from the back of the house. My sister's shot. I was still in the Land of Nod!