Day 183
4 hrs, 12 .9 kms

Alcala de Henares is supposed to be just a quick stoppover on my way back to Madrid. But when I arrive and realize that this is the hometown of Cervantes, the writer of Don Quijote, I start to really like the town and think maybe I should add it to my Superhike.

First I come across a beautiful Moorish mansion--with the arches, patterns and turrets... but it looks too new to be from the Islamic era. I ask a passerby.

"It's not very old--the designer was a Spaniard who was just really fascinated by Moorish architecture" Nice to hear...

On to downtown, I start noticing Alcala's distinct style. Mostly red brick, with simple but classy style, all the buildings well preserved. I wander up and down the various streets and alleys, trying to travel back in time and get a feel for what this grand town was once like.

One scene that does quickly bring me back to the present is a scene of a group of protesters in front of city hall with a sign "if there's no solution, there'll be a revolution" ... but they're mostly middle age ladies--so I kind of doubt they'll be the ones carrying out this threat.

And then I come across the highlight of the town: Cervantes' house--which lucky for me is open free of charge. Inside are various rooms with displays about his life--and about the tales of his iconic book, Don Quixote.

Honestly, I've never gotten into the book itself, but the more I look, the more intrigued I feel. Somehow I feel a connection with this fictional character. Like Don Quixote, in my younger years I launched out on a journey to "save the world" based on outdated ideas and outlook on the world. It would take years and painful experiences for me to come to realize that, no, the world doesn't need for me to save it... I'm not really all that important in the big picture...

But from time to time I do feel a nostolgia for that period of my life, and imagine myself once again a bold knight of on a vital mission of sorts...

Well, in honor of that, today I am going to set out on a mission, in honor of my courageous fellow adventurer: I'm going to walk to Madrid and connect Alcala to my Superhike.