Chinchon
Entering the village
After travelleing a seemingly endless meandering road through fields and meadows, the village of Chinchon is suddenly revealed through a gap in the foliage on a hilltop.
The All-Seeing Eye
Towering over the town square, the church seems to be casting a watchful eye on nobles, buyers and vendors alike. It was rebuilt in a mixture of styles after Napoleon had it burned down and destroyed the castle of Chinchon. They probably had it coming, anyway.
Fountain in town square
The beautiful fountain gives a much-needed respite to man and animal alike from the scorching heat that rises from the dusty marketplace nearby.
Tracks in the stone
There is virtually no town in Spain that does not provide for bull-fighting. In smaller towns, the town square doubles as marketplace and bull-fighting ring. By inserting wooden planks, a confined space is created.
Dogs in heat
The only thing a sane dog can do at 40° heat and a blistering sandy ground is find a shadowy spot and fall asleep. Careful, though, the shadowline is moving!
Grampa Garlic
Late morning he arrives with his handcart, opens his parasol, and offers only one thing: Garlic. Is this what he's doing with his retirement? Is he a farmer's dad? Does he finance his drinking habits through garlic? We will never know but I bought half a kilo off of him after the shot. Gotta reward the natives for posing.
The Portal
The Spanish do not have shacks, they do not have basements, what they DO have are mysterious spaces sealed by beautiful, mysterious doors. I can envision freemasons whispering a secret codeword to the guardian behind the portal late at night. I can also envision a musty resting place for rotten furniture, full of cat shit.
All around the Clock Tower
From the church, a path lined with trees leads to the clock tower. If you don't wear a cap in summer for the ascent from below, the trees will provide shadow for your brain which by now is simmering in its own juices.
The Clock Tower
Thunder! Lightning! A mad scientist creating life from dead matter! All of these things you cannot see in this photo.
Square - Parador - Castle
Glistening antennae are stretching towards 3 of the most emblematic landmarks of Chinchon: The town square, the Parador hotel and the castle ruins.
Chimneys on a hot shingle roof
Red stone, red clay; red is the all-defining colour in this part of Spain. We're looking at Parador & Castle again, with enhanced postcard perfect blue sky. The Parador hotels in Spain are a franchise of luxury hotels, all situated in historic buildings, mostly of religious origin.
Noble tourist shop
A close-up view of one of the old noble houses that surround the town square, giving them a privileged view of all important events. Greedy, but sociable as spanish people are, they would give townsfolk access to their balconies for a "small" fee when such public events were celebrated in the town square. Today, the buildings host restaurants, shops, restaurants, a few appartments and restaurants. You still have to pay your way, you see.
Parading the Parador
The quiet and serene hallways inside the Parador hotel transmit an athmosphere of peace and clarity, but without the need to kneel down and pray. A perfect place to play chess or try out new positions behind the thick doors. Pay the coffee with a pokerface, your Mercedes is parked in front, right?
The Orchard
I am somewhat proud of this shot which captures the Parador's orchard through a glass door, while maintaining the lettering etched into the glass in the picture. The trick here was using a flash and it only worked because the light conditions were favourable and the door was squeaky clean and didn't reflect any light.
