As you can see from these photos, life is very hectic here at Finca Manolo. After the long drives of yesterday we decided that tranquility and the occasional swim was the order of today. Pauline was very disappointed at the way yesterday turned out. Firstly, she was unable to go up the Rock at Gibraltar and secondly, when we arrived in Ronda, the hotel where she had enjoyed some excellent food last year was closed and then her painful back prevented her from walking any further. She was in real pain as we crossed the bridge in Ronda. Once we finished our meal there I walk across town to the car park and then brought the car to her.
This morning saw us doing a little essential shopping in Colmenar and the we stayed at Manolo for the day. The sun was hot, set in a clear blue sky once the early clouds had gone. We did quite a lot of reading. Having finished the book I had been reading I started on another which has turned out to be fascinating. It is a history of the Knights Templar.
For a number of years I have read the books by Michael Jecks which are set in the 12/13th century and involve a knight, Sir Baldwin de Furnshill, who solves crimes committed in dartmoor and surrounding areas. Sir Baldwin, in the first novel, is described as a former Knight Templar, and part of the book is about revenge taken on one who was cruel towards the order. The order began when 9 devout knights in Jerusalem made a vow to protect the pilgrims who were being attacked and robbed on their journey by a group of Muslims known as the Musselmen.
Eventually they became a large order who were bequeathed great wealth by the ultra rich of Europe in their wills. Their downfall was at the hands of a King of France who complained to the Pope that they pursued many activities which were depraved. The Pope then declared that they should be hunted down and tried for crimes they never committed. The King was happy to do this because they had refused to advance him some money at a time when his coffers were extremely low. In other words, he had denounced them because they refused to grant him the money. He thought he would soon have his hands on it. In the United Kingdom there is still a belief that the treasure of the Knights Templar of England Scotland and Wales is buried in a secret location.
Having aquired some more historical knowledge it is now time for a 20 minutes spa in the hot tub. After that I shall be on BBQ duties. Today is the 13th birthday of our granddaughter, Isabel, so we wish her a very Happy Birthday! It is also the anniversary of our moving to live in Anglesey. This is something we have never regretted.
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