We rented a car from Logroņo to Madrid and really enjoyed the hilly and curvy route over the mountains, through the La Rioja area. We saw some spectacular scenery and passed a number of idyllic small towns. I wish we'll get a chance to go bicycling there someday!

We took a couple of hour hike to the ruins of the Monasterio de San Prudencio in Laturce Mountains. We chose the rugged path up, which exposed us to a number of irritating bugs and local thorny plants. And it was getting pretty hot, too.

When continuing our voyage to Madrid we briefly stopped at Zona de aves, a roadside viewing area with a spectacular view and a lot of vultures flying above. We also visited Soto en Cameros, the town of 150 inhabitants. It was Siesta time there, but it did not keep people out from the bar. I guess that the whole town was there, kids included. We had a beer and reluctantly started the climb to Sierra Cebollera, the mountain range that separates La Rioja Area from Soria.