Our next door neighbor, Johnny Valderas, took care of our dogs and animals while we were in Spain and we took a trip to the town from which his family derives their name.  The family came to Mexico from Portugal and eventually moved across the River into South Texas.  He only knew that their name came from a place in Spain, so we had to look for it.  Turns out it was only about 90 miles north of Salamanca, so we rented a car and drove up to find out what the place looked like.

Here we are at the outskirts and I set the camera on the roof of the car and put the shutter on auto.  Unfortunately, I didn't get all of the sign in, but it's obviously Valderas.

There, I took one while holding the camer and the name came out well.

 

The town is very old, with a history that goes back to before 1000 AD.  It's located in a grain growing area.  That's what the "Val de heras" means,  Valley of the threshing fields.  This is the old church that they 're in the process of remodeling to make a civic center.

 

A fine city government.  This sign gives the phone numbers of all of the various city offices and facilities.

 

Another of the old churchs.  There's a plaza on the other side.

 

There's a sign up offering this fine building for sale.  It suggested that it would make good shops or apartments.  I don't think I'm going to bid on the classic "fixer-upper."

 

A view of the more modern part of the town taken from high on the hill above town.  The high school was located just behind me where I took this picture.

 

This gate leads you through what remains of the city wall.  The sign says it goes back to the 12th century.

 

The High School, which was built in the 1980s.

 

The gate from back up the street.

 

The city seal from one of the old buildings.

The Veteran's monument.

Another of the perpetual storks.  You'd think they would have more kids around here, wouldn't ya?

Sallie in front of a poster for the election of various political officers.  The guy behind her says a vote for him will guarantee the future of Valderas.

Wines of Valderas are shown in the Moderno Cafeteria.  The prices are in Euros, per glass.

 

In front of one of the city government offices.  We had to rush around to get these pictures and head back to Salamanca so I could teach a class that evening.  It was fun and we got to see a different part of Spain.