Hanging houses of Cuenca

By the time we got back from Lisbon, we really didn’t want to spend another full day in Madrid before the big game in the evening and were unsure what we were going to do until we stumbled upon this ancient book. The book had no title but merely an image. It was so intriguing that we took a closer look. The information there was vague yet enticing. From what we can gather, Cuenca comes from Arabic texts dated back to 784 AD, about 70 years after the Moors and the Berbers first settled into the Iberian Peninsula. Kings and came and went leaving little of legend and legacy until the end of the 11th century when King of Castile, Alfonso VI married Princess Zayda and he gave Cuenca to her as part of her dowry. Imagine that a King so in love that he would give an entire town to his new wife. It was not just any town it was a town of riches and intellect. Being granted full autonomy from the crown, Cuenca flourished and splendour due to the strength of its textile industry, trade in wool, its craft industry and cattle. There was also an important glass industry, paper industry and coins were minted there. More importantly, it was rumoured that the famous Casa Colgadas (Hanging Houses) is located there in the upper town, hanging precariously on the edges of cliffs in a vast territory, located between the gorges of the Jucar and the Huecar rivers.

So we sneaked a photograph from the book and set forth on a day’s adventure to find the city of Cuenca – Hanging Houses and all its splendor.

The map of Cuenca – Upper town

The day started with a mad dash to the train station. We awoke startled to the beeping sounds of the alarm clock only to find that we had about 40 minutes to be on the platform at the Atocha train station. It was the first time during the 9 month trip that we had over slept. It was a little daunting as we maneuvered through the crisscrossing streets of central Madrid as time was winding down. Quickening our pace with each dwindling second, we found ourselves behind a locked glass door at Platform 2. The train clearly in sight, only 50 meters in front of us and with it’s engine roaring to go. Our heart rates seemed to multiply tenfold as we were unsure if we were going to make it. It was the fear of spending another day in Madrid that made us move like we never moved before. Rav ascertained the assistance of an attendant from another platform to pry open the door so we can get to the train. With seconds to spare, we squeezed through the door that had not even opened entirely yet. Running as fast as we could, we rushed down the ramp and jumped into the last car as the train started to pull away. We had made it!

A couple of seconds later the conductor came by, not to check our tickets, but to scold us in Spanish for getting through the locked doors and running after the train as it was leaving. That was the gist of what we could understand any ways, some times not knowing the language can be advantageous. The two and a half hour train ride to Cuenca was full of enthusiasm, as we were looking forward to some hiking and to see some of the splendid things that Cuenca had to offer. Unlike most of the cities we had been to, Cuenca’s tourist office is not located at the train station, but rather, it is located in the lower part of town. We quickly oriented ourselves and found the tourism office at the bottom of the gorge. With a little more information and the map we decided to settle our stomachs before heading for the hills. We got our usual, Café con leche and a chocolate pastry of some sort before tackling the mountainous ranges on our search of the hanging houses of Cuenca.

Raveena Croft – backpack full of climbing gear?…. No… don’t be silly that is lunch!

Wandering through the streets of Cuenca – on our way to the Hanging houses

Looking back at a church on the hill

Indiana Chunger at the top of the gorge looking back at the city

Raveena Croft – Still looking for the hanging houses of Cuenca

Are you sure it is here? What does the map say?

I think I see it!

Oh yeah baby! I told you it was here

The Hanging Houses of Cuenca from a distance

Up close and personal – the Hanging houses of Cuenca

Yup that is definitely it!!!

That is quite impressive

Our work here is done, let’s call it a day

Chunger the unemployed bum