An English Settlement in Spain.

MINAS DE RIOTINTO.

The sun is shining brightly as we cover the remaining 7 miles of Portugal. The bridge over the river border is undergoing repairs, the with is restricted to 3 metres. We're just inside but a number of wider vans have to turn around.

Rosie has read about the Rio Tinto and wants to see the geographic phenomenon. We head to Palos de la Frontera where the river runs into the sea. It's not the place in the brochures but is fascinating in it's own right. It is the port from which Columbus sailed to America in 1492. He was joined by two local brothers, the Pinzons, who are celebrated with statues and museums. They couldn't have sailed from here today. The port no longer exists, the result of a tsunami we're informed by Tourist Information.

Rosie finds a bar just off the square. It is a little gem, the courtyard at the back is delightful.

Helpful Tourist Information staff tell us that we are about 45 minutes from the mines. In truth, it takes over an hour. There is a museum to mining and a train that runs daily at 13:30. We arrived at 15:00! After some discussion as to whether we can drive the route, we decide to stay at the next town and catch the train tomorrow. The assistant tells us to stay in this town, nobody will bother us.

The mining rights to the area were sold by the Spanish Crown to an English company at the end of the 19th Century, hence Rio Tinto Company, later to be known as RTZ.

There is an area in the town called BellaVista. It was built by the English for the management. The General Manager's house has been restored and acts as a museum. There is an activity area with tennis courts, badminton, billiards and a swimming pool, truly a home from home.

We park next to the sports hall. Padel is played, a mixture of tennis and squash. We're joined by a Spanish van so feel much better. We attend mass at 7pm and move on to a restaurant. I learn that the kitchen is closed. Rosie learns that it is closed until 8:30. However, a bottle wine later and the time at almost 9pm, we leave to return to the van for sandwiches.