Shenanigans Crossing Borders

Today JP got up and out before sunrise, and got the dogs to walk around an old fortress lookout thingie (i’m sure there’s a technical term for it).

Back at the apartment, we ate and packed up, hitting the road relatively early as we had a long drive back, and though the girls don’t have school, JP did have to work that afternoon.

The drive was mostly uneventful, but going through the mountains is absolutely gorgeous.

Stunning really!

JP also mapped a slightly different route that took us through a lot of back country.

The region we are driving through is Manchego country!

That may not be the technical name, but JP doesn’t care.

We all love Manchego cheese. If you don’t, skip reading this part…

A quick note about Manchego:

1. It must be made in the La Mancha region.
2. It can be made only with the whole milk of sheep of the Manchega breed raised on registered farms within that area.
3. It must be aged for a minimum of 60 days (30 days for cheeses weighing up to 1.5 kg or 3.3 lb) and a maximum of two years.
4. It must be produced by pressing in a cylindrical mould that has a maximum height of 12 cm (4.7 in) and a maximum diameter of 22 cm (8.7 in).

This is JPs favorite cheese in the world! Even the AAs like it. A lot. And if you need some, check out the koshercheeseguys, they import the good (albeit expensive) stuff. (side story – during the pandemic, JP might’ve even bought a full wheel from them).

We stopped in the city of Cárdenas, and found a market in the basement of the municipal building.

Definitely not sketchy!

Here they have fresh seafood, olives, meat, produce, and most importantly: Manchego!

1 Wheel later…

We got back in the car and headed back home to Recas.

Traffic was smooth, we came up on Toledo from the south side (it’s a completely different view when coming this way).

Back home, the dogs ran around, the AAs jumped on the trampoline, and JP got back to work!

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“It’s 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it’s dark… and we’re wearing sunglasses” (Elwood Blues, 1980)

Okay, maybe not, and it’s only 45 miles to home, but who is keeping track?

Three of us headed back into the city. We honestly didn’t do a whole lot, if you don’t count grocery shopping, it was nice to take our time. Watch some movies and just be the 4 of us, once Ezra got back from work and rowing.