We wake around 5.00am, all the roof windows of the camper open and now we are cold! After the 40° heat of yesterday, to be cold seems so ridiculous! We put the duvet on the bed and sleep for another two hours. It is light when we wake and the sun rises at 07.25, an hour and a quarter earlier than in the mountains, the sun not having to lift itself over the mountain tops before we can see it.

We use the showers which are clean and plentiful with warm water, much appreciated after such a hot night. After breakfast outside, we sit in the shade of the trees, a light warm breeze making it perfect. There are birds flitting around in the pine trees: azure winged magpies (smaller and more delicate than the black and white English variety), blue tits, sparrows and what we think is a wryneck… a new bird for me.

Late morning, we service the camper, emptying the toilet cassette and grey water and just top up with cold water. We drive south west on the E-4 to Córdoba, it is only about 20km, and look for the Repsol filling station that has autogas. We miss the turning and this results in having to drive around the city centre, taking about 40 minutes to find our campsite on the edge of Parque Cruz Conde. Essentially this is a large parking area for about 100 motor homes, about half of them under trees. We find a spot under the trees and park up. The trees are essential as it is about 40°C outside and even in the shade the heat is intense! This Area Autocaravanas is in a great location, about 10 minutes from the river in one direction and about 10 minutes from the old town and Mesquita in another.

We have a quiet afternoon, it is over 40°C and far too hot to venture out into the old town or Mesquite. At about 4.30pm, when we think the worst of the heat might have passed we venture down into the old town to meet Julian and Geneva at their apartment. Julian & Geneva have made their way to Cordoba by train and are staying in a rented apartment that is on the top floor of a renovated building. We talk and drink wine until about 7.30pm and walk through the Juderia area of the old town to La Fragua restaurant on Calle Tomas Conde. It has been recommended by the landlord of Julian and Geneva’s apartment who is a friend of the restaurant owner.

The warning bells should have been ringing immediately but they weren’t. It was at the far end of a small side street, a little pretentious although not over-priced. Their range of food was good but limited and only two starters and one dessert for gluten-free diets. I order smoked sardine without the bread for starters, I received half a sardine (about 3in by 1in at its widest) and nothing else on the plate. We were all shocked but the others shared their salad etc with me. The main course of tuna was good but portions were small. La Fragua restaurant did not cater for gluten-free diets properly, their attitude was wrong and when they got it wrong they did not know how to handle the situation. It was not a good experience.