Remembering a Castle in Spain

Once upon an a long time ago I took my family on a long road trip to Spain one winter. Along the way we stayed in a vast semi-ruined castle.

Like the man in Alain Fournier’s book Les Grand Meaulnes, I have now forgotten exactly where that castle was. Somewhere south-west of Zaragoza I think. It belonged - or partly belonged - to a nice young Englishman called Nick who was a pal of my old friend Neil Hopkins, who was with us on the road trip.

Neil will remember more - because he has one hell of a memory.

Anyway, my wife and little son Harry (my daughter was not yet born) and Neil and I explored the castle and the area and enjoyed our stay immensely. I remember that much.

And now I have just stumbled across some old Hi8 footage which you can see in the video. I have hardly touched it in the editing - just let it roll on - and have added a track from the amazing Sophie Hutchings which I think suits the strange dream-like mood of the place. I think it has the kind of air of one of those art-house movie shorts we used to go to places like the Arnolfini to see in the 1980s.