Again and again I'm looking from the balcony of Valeria and Bernard, our hosts, down to nocturnal Madrid. A new city - a new continent - a new beginning in Europe. We have visited our sick mothers in Germany and have been happy to see, that they got better. Now finally the real ride home begins. A strange feeling! I'm a little confused, a part of me is still in Chile. (mi)

Madrid is huge, strong, rich, catholic, powerful, and full of tremendous culture. From here came bull-fight, colonial architecture, and flamenco dances to Central and South America. But also from here came boundless destruction and suppression. Admiration and depression are fighting in me. The depression wins. Still the impressions from Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Bolivia, and Chile are quiet strong. Everywhere in the world it's the same: conquerers and conquereds. Even here in Madrid: Once the Moors conquered Spain and left their marks, like one can see at the achitecture of this bull-fight arena. (ma, mi)

Spring! How wonderful! Since two years we havn't had spring. Due to clever scheduling we always traveled in summer-weather (even if it has been Autumn or winter for the respective country). The view days we had to cycle in rain one can count on one hand. That was very pleasant, but somehow we more and more missed the rhythm and the changes of the seasons. (mi)

It was, like the time was up of our equipment. With a hole in my Therm-a-rest our first day in Spain started. Here Markus prepares the "operating table". But immediately he stuck in the manual. It was sunny, it was warm, and it was spring, so we took it in good humour. Some weeks, repairs, and patches later we were tired of it. Can't stand this expensive stuff just some months more?! (mi)

Valeria and Bernard, two expereinced cyclists and authors of cycling guides, helped us to plan our route through Spain (see also at "Who we met"). We are very thankful for that, although we had to change all our former plans. Clever they guided us through beautiful landscape and along interesting sights like e.g. here the impressive architecture ot the city Guadalajara. (mi)

Silent we are gliding out of town on our bikes and left noise, crampedness, and hectic pace behind. The nature recievs us. Everytime it is a strong feeling of inner peace and satisfaction, like "On the road we are at home". At beautiful, wild camping places like this we are missing nothing. (mi)

In Spain camping wild is still really fun. Everywhere one can get fresh drinking- and spring-water for refreshing, washing and filling up the bottles. And even in the most secluded areas, at the latest every 100 km one can find a little village to fill up the food stock. Good for our purse, in spite of the Euro. (ma)

Moorish window

Good luck, that we still carry our winter cloths! After some beautiful, sunny days it got again really cold with night tempritures of about 0 degrees Celsius. Here Markus and I are climbing up to a huge castle of the Mauren. We are amazed how fare they came to the North of Spain. If the conquerers felt well here up in the lonely castle? (mi)

"Good morning!" Markus is jumping around the tent full of ernergy while I peeled myself out of the sleeping bag toilsome. If I ever will get used again to the getting up early in the morning? Actually I really doubt about it. (ma)

When we reached the Rioja, the famous wine region, I am aware of the hardness of cycling in the last days: It went slowly and steady uphill. Therefore we were rewarded with beautiful views and excyting discoveries. But that will be described in the next report. (mi)