That’s in between culture, desert, hiking and sightseeing .
April 12th – The Day after and the Day of – being a Cathedral Tour Guide , feeling like a Murcia Local , Museums, Hiking ……..
It’s a cool view from this new place as it’s across the river from the Plaza Mayor
I’m kitted out to cover whatever stage of this small Camino we may fancy be that Hike , Culture or anything in between. After such a celebration it’s looking like a good balance of all the above .
Todays route :-
Alguazas – Mula: castles and the “badlands” 26 km Walking time: 6 hours 30 minutes : Revised Route 15 km: 2 hours 30mins
Each stage of the Camino de Levante has its own character, and this one is marked by the un-irrigated cropland, which will test your mental strength and help you to realize that happiness can be found in the small things in life. ( They’re it reeealy selling it to me )
Between Alguazas and Mula you cross the “badlands”, a harsh and hostile landscape formed by water erosion. ( Ditto ) However, travelers are well advised to carry plenty of water in their backpack, tackling a 26-kilometre section to the next port of call.
I think we’re going to be selective about the route today …….
Across the bridge – It’s early still and they’re setting up for todays Fisherman’s Fiesta
With quiet practiced efficiency- all signs of Farming , Growers and Salad Produce are replaced by the Sea .
After a few days spent in around Murcia In different locations, I have my bearings, and It’s starting to feel familiar . An early morning proper tour of the cathedral and Museum. 
It’s called for as it’s all fully open now that the Easter services are over. 
It’s quiet and there’s that feeling of settlement as you walk in. Almost as if the cathedral and the town are taking a breath after Easter and fiesta day one.
Of course I light candles – always do – this time keeping my promise from 2 days ago. Brigitta too always takes a moment for contemplation.
And head into the attached Museum – it’s says there’s a charge – but no one’s on the desk – too early maybe . I take the Donativo attitude and leave €10 in a donation box later.
There’s a imposing modern entrance floor that promises well for a curator who understands history needs a showbiz sparkle to get the message across.
How else to illustrate the multiple foundational beliefs and pre-Roman start to your story than have your visitors walk all over it to reveal the story. Slight Vertigo
A highly modern display Centre – quite unexpected and worth the admission
In an Effort to be as equally interactive as a visitor. I liberally use Google lens to understand what’s happening here.
Do you want to find inspiration for your next sword and sorcery novel? – Stuck For what comes after the Dementors – want something even scarier than Philip Pullmans Spectres , looking for your Dæmons ? They’re all here – On the one piece of heritage that I would take home and stare at every day.
21 Storys on 1 Panel
Dementor
And what’s this ? Righteous religious retribution, delivered by Lance? 
And how do you deliver audiovisual in 1750 ? – by giving each character in your painting their own speech bubble. Or in this case of course ! – a speech scroll . Fascinating.
by “Pentor Anomimo” Siglo XV11 – so he’s not owning up then .Gotta move on …… let’s head for Caravaca – Or as my spellcheck frequently, alters it to Caravan Kathy – annoying. Based on the description of the section At the start of today’s post between here and there that I have not yet covered. Starting at the usual point make a selective set of hikes & visits along the way today.
To give you an idea of just how Barren this section is ? ….. here it is. There is a precious little of note and even that high point in the central photo is a a ton of reinforced concrete base and POSSIBLY what would have been a Cross made from the same fundamental building material. Now crumbled into a single rusting post . 
As they say — good for the soul. In 2017 I absolutely treasured my time on the Meseta – The dry High Plains of Castile. Several days of much higher temperatures than today, and great, long, unremitting roads of shadeless heat. And maybe if you’re in the right frame of mind, this place could be a pocket version of that. 
However, arrival in Caravaca was absolutely blog worthy – and worth the effort .
Camino Ramblers – the Original OG’sThis being the first café you come across for several hours is aptly named and very welcome. The steps today I’ve got to say are more than expected, but probably half of which are touring the Sights and culture of Murcia city.
Caravaca – however, out of sequence you get here. It’s worth it. It’s getting late now As we passed through small, orange groves
The marble inlay paths and strong sculpture becomes more ornate, celebrating several different religions and cultures. It’s sort of starts to give a clue as to how important this place is. It will be interesting to see if where there’s promising art – a promising experience follows .
We follow the welcoming flechas amarillas to our stop for the night. Ideally situated to experience the city, the phenomenal religious Citadelle good catch up on old times over a good dinner.
The apartment – it’s big, originaly booked for more. Great views of the hill to the Citadel – 5 beds – 2 baths – views down along the vibrant Main Street with a ton of shopping available which I excites someone more than the initial reason we came here. –
The owner says to us that it’s the very first time he has put this on Airbnb and he hopes slightly nervously we will enjoy it and look after it. Well, he’s got the ideal considerate first clients with us.
Brigs goes shopping – I sort my hiking life out as I’ve noticed there is a new washing machine and I will never let that opportunity pass by when I’m on the Camino way. #OldHabits
We meet Later for dinner before crashing for another well-deserved sleep.
THIS Believe it or not is menu del Dia a cheap €13 homemade dinner delight. I even think one glass of wine came with it. [:-) But the rest of the bottle didn’t :).]
I’m intrigued tomorrow to look into the legend of this small independent mostly unheard of city.
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