Spain The Travel Show

Now it's time for The Travel Show.

On this week's Travel Show, we are exploring a secret corner

of Spain full of places that time forgot.

Really beautiful round here.

It's really quiet.

We are tackling the Great Wall of China, one step at a time.

And we're tracking down a wild and secretive creature that's

learned to steer well clear of humans.

We're looking out at the bottom of the valley here.

And that's where the wolves are most likely to get a good breakfast.

Hello and welcome to the Travel Show with me, Christa Larwood,

coming this week from Palencia in Spain.

Now, this country is one of the world's biggest tourism

destinations.

Each year over 60 million people arrive on these shores.

But they often head for the Mediterranean coast

and cities like Barcelona or Madrid.

But here in rural Spain, many struggling communities

are pinning their hopes on becoming the next big holiday hotspot.

I've travelled fairly widely in Spain, but on this trip I'm

heading to a region in the north of the country that I've never

heard of before.

Its name is Palencia.

Only a handful of tourists come here, which is hard to believe,

given the breathtaking scenery.

And in the middle of this wild countryside, there are amazing,

virtually untouched, medieval churches scattered everywhere.

Nowhere else in Europe has so many of these churches,

and they give you a real sense that you've stepped back in time.

This area may be beautiful, but for centuries it's also been

poor, and traditionally many people had no choice but to leave in search

of work, in the hope of a better life.

Now some of the current generation are hoping that tourism will help

bring new life to this region.

My journey begins in the southern part of Palencia.

One of the medieval pilgrimage routes that led to Santiago de

Compostela goes through this area.

In other parts of Spain Camino de Santiago trails are

packed with pilgrims.

But here, I only see a few.

This region of Palencia is not very well known.

Have you found that there are lots of tourists here,

or has it been a break from the tourists?

I didn't see any tourists.

It's a little bit crazy, because I'm from Germany

and there are not places like this where it's nothing.

I continue my journey along the trail of the Camino do Santiago.

It's really beautiful around here.

It's really quiet.

Music.

I think I've found all the people.

Gracias.

Just in case?

I think I've just ordered a medieval roast.

Who knows what might come out?

This restaurant has been feeding hungry pilgrims for decades.

Now offering medieval feasts, they are hoping to put the Palencia

section of the Camino de Santiago trail in the spotlight.

There are no pilgrims here today but a local family

is celebrating a birthday.

And they are clearly getting into the medieval spirit.

Thank you.

Where's...

What do I do for knife and fork?

No?

I just pick this up.

It does taste really good though.

Heading north, I reached the mountains of northern Palencia.

These villages are even further off the beaten track.

Every village here seems to have a medieval church.

There are over 250 in just a small area.

The architectural style is called Romanesque and dates back

to the 11th century, and it's rare to see so many of them

so close together.

Elsewhere in Europe, these types of churches were often

altered and modernised over the centuries.

Here, they remain untouched.

Wow, that is a key.

That's a key and a half, that.

This place really properly is just hewn out of rock.

In the 12th century this area was very important

because the centre of power of this area is very close here.

And this is one of the most important place of the kingdom of

Castilla.

After this 12th century, the centre of the power go away

of this area.

And not so rich in the fields, this area became to be a poor area.

So when they had more money, in later centuries they would come

in and tear down the old churches to rebuild them.

Whereas because this is poor it's been kept perfectly for us.

Yeah, yeah.

Many people around here have remained poor right up to this day.

Over the centuries, most of the villages in northern Palencia

emptied as people migrated into the cities looking for work.

I wanted to see one of these abandoned villages.

It's in a precarious condition but I'm safe enough because I'm

with an expert on historical buildings who knows this 17th

century house very well.

This is like a bedroom of a teenager or something.

That's Michael Jackson.

Don Johnson.

Wow!

I will tell you what, this is like a time capsule

of what was cool when this house was abandoned.

Don Johnson!

Because of the recent economic downturn in Spain,

youth unemployment in some areas runs at close to 40%.

And as people struggle to find jobs in the big cities,

here in the countryside the situation is even bleaker.

I've seen all around the world how tourism can

help to preserve cultures.

But there's also something special that's lost the moment the first

tourist buses arrive.

Hopefully the people of Palencia get the tourist numbers

they richly deserve.

But also fight hard to protect the authenticity of their medieval

culture, of which, as I've discovered, they are justly proud.

Still to come on the Travel Show, we are snapping up guilty pleasures

in New Orleans.

And I'm falling a little bit in love with a big dog that thinks

it's a wolf.

The Travel Show, your essential guide, wherever you are headed.

Hello, I'm Michelle Jana Chan, your global guide, with top tips

on the world's best events in the coming months.

We're starting in the US at the New Orleans Jazz

and Heritage Festival, or Jazz Fest, begins April 28,

which, in spite of its name will be a hub of blues,

R, gospel, folk, Latin, rock, rap, country and bluegrass.

This year there'll be a Cuban theme with a conga los hoyos dance parade.

Food on offer will include Creole, Cajun and this year also Cuban

cooking, so you won't be going hungry for crawfish pie

or fillet gumbo.

Meanwhile, in Samoa, the Five Island swim held May 10-13

is a series of open water swims over four days covering a total

of 27 kilometres.

It's a challenge, no doubt, but even in the heat of competition,

don't forget to spot tropical fish among the coral reefs in this

Polynesian paradise.

Between April 28th and May 7th, South Korea will be celebrating

the birth of the Bhudda with an extravagant festival of

light, the Lotus Lantern Festival.

They'll be colourful handmade lantern exhibitions,

folk music performances, and parades of dancers,

floats and dragons.

In Italy, the northern city of Ravenna hosts a summer music

festival in venues including gilded Byzantine basilicas, to cloisters,

piazzas, to pine forests.

It's a celebration of art, classical music and opera but also

dance, drama and jazz.

The festival runs from May 25 to July 11.

In China, the hard as nails Great Wall Marathon

takes place on May 20.

It's one of the most challenging long-distance runs,

drawing thousands of competitors who choose between the full length

course, a half marathon, or an 8.5 kilometre fun run.

Starting a few hours from Beijing in the heart of the mountains,

the route involves steep climbs and descents, smooth

flagstones to rough surfaces, and over 5000 steps.

Last year, the fastest speed was three hours,

30 minutes, the time to beat.

Back in the US, it will be man against machine from May 26-28,

when the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic takes place in the Colorado

town of Durango.

The event dates back to the late 1880s when two brothers

raced against each other.

The elder was a brakeman on a steam powered locomotive

who challenged his younger brother to race the train from

Durango to Silverton.

These days, the train takes a shorter route.

Thousands take part, trying to beat the train before it

pulls into its final destination.

There are other events around the classic,

including mountain biking, BMX races, dual slaloms

and team trail rides.

At the end of April, yachts from all over the world

will be arriving in the Caribbean for Antigua sailing week.

From April 29th there will be five days of competitive racing off

the south coast of the island.

If you're not on a boat, the next best place to be

is Shirley Heights Lookout, with its sweeping ocean views.

And try to get here early.

Some events have already started, including the Antigua

Classic Yacht Regatta, when the Caribbean Sea is dotted

with elegant vintage yachts and tall ships.

Finally, in Morocco, the Mawazine Festival,

Rhythms of the World, runs from May 12-20

in the capital, Rabat.

The beats include ragada, musique gnawa and hassani songs,

and there'll be more than 100 shows from local Moroccan,

African and international artists.

That's my global guide this month.

Let me know what's happening in the place where you live,

or where you love.

We are on e-mail and across social media.

Until next time, happy travelling.

I've come to the mountains in Palencia here in northern Spain

to search for an elusive animal, the Iberian wolf.

For centuries, these animals have bred both fear

and fascination in humans, and here in Palencia

they are now flourishing like nowhere else in Europe.

So I've tracked down the man who is leading wolf safaris,

much to the amazement of many of the locals,

who have always been taught to fear these legendary predators.

But in an ironic twist, the wolves could now help lead

the way to the economic salvation that's much needed in this very

poor region of Spain.

Tino Garcia is the pioneer of wolf tours in Palencia.

Along with his wife, Rosa, he's restored a once derelict home

and now welcomes visitors who want to catch a glimpse

of the local wolves.

Even though many of his neighbours were sceptical his

business would succeed.

If you're not a fan of very early starts, then wolf watching

is definitely not for you.

If you're not a fan of very early starts, then wolf watching

is definitely not for you.

Good morning, Christa. Que tal?

Good morning.

I'm tired, that's what I am.

Living in such close proximity to humans,

these wolves have learned to survive by keeping a low profile.

So don't expect to hear any Hollywood-style howling coming

from up in the hills.

Is this safe?

All right, my life's in your hands, Tino.

It's kind of amazing, driving in the dark.

You look out and it's all just shades of grey.

It's amazing how quickly your eyes become accustomed

to not having headlights.

We have to be really, really quiet from now on,

because these wolves are very used to living with humans

who shoot them.

So the minute they hear the sound of a human,

a car door or a voice, they run for the hills.

The Iberian wolf was almost hunted to extinction in the 1970s.

But as the failing economy forced people to move

away from the villages, the wolf population

started to climb.

But wolves are still hunted today.

The culling season only finished two weeks ago,

so the wolves are more cautious than ever.

But that only increases the sense of adventure when you set out

on a trip like this.

Knowing your guide will have to use all of his skills and training

to spot what you've come to see.

It's like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Tino was just telling me that we're looking out

in the bottom of the valley here, because that's where the deer tend

to come, and that's where the wolves are most likely to get

a good breakfast.

For Tino, it's important to stay at a distance,

so the wolves aren't disturbed.

That's it. Sorry.

That's quite all right.

Now that we don't have to be quiet, time to take

a break and have some fun.

OK.

It's quite magical to have the whole mountainside to ourselves.

Wolf watchers are helping to bring money and jobs to the area.

But for the few remaining shepherds, living alongside a rising

wolf population is more challenging than ever.

To help them, they have something that's a real match

for the Iberian wolf, the Spanish mastiff.

Oh, my goodness!

Can I take him home, please?

So what are these dogs used for and why are they so special?

So 30 sheep in one night?

Did that make you really hate wolves?

So 30 sheep in one night?

Did that make you really hate wolves?

Shepherds can be compensated when any of their livestock

is killed by wolves.

But it's a slow and bureaucratic process that doesn't always pay out.

Tino has got to know wolves individually,

after watching the same packs for many years.

But there is one wolf who is very special to him.

Sadly, this isn't the best time of year to see wolves.

Spring heralds the start of the mating season,

and they like to keep their courtship rituals

pretty private.

Tino likes to bring people later in the year

when the cubs have grown up.

They cry, they faint.

As the day wears on, I'm beginning to lose hope.

If I'm going to see a wolf, I'm going to have to get creative.

This is a local breed called the wolf dog.

Genetically, it's partly domesticated dog, but it's

mostly Iberian wolf.

You are quite wolfie, aren't you?

Hello.

Tino says he wouldn't be able to tell the difference between this

dog and a wild wolf.

That's why the dog is wearing a bright yellow collar,

so that locals don't mistake him for a wolf and shoot him.

These dogs were bred to protect cattle from wild wolves.

They look like and think like the enemy.

And the puppies beg for food from adults,

just like wild wolf cubs do.

Meeting a wolf dog has given me a little glimpse

of a wolf's character, and who knows, maybe I will be back

someday and be lucky enough to see the real thing,

in the hills here in Palencia.

I think this is definitely the closest I'm ever

going to come to a wolf.

Well, that's all we've got time for in this week's travel show

but coming up next week:

Ade heads to Ghana as the country prepares

to mark the 60th anniversary of becoming an independent nation.

Well, as the country's in party mode, I'm going to have a poke

around and see what you can expect from Ghana if you travel here.

So do join us then if you can.

In the meantime, don't forget you can catch up with us

while we are out having adventures on the road in real time

by following us online and on social media.

Details are on the screen.

But for now, from me, Christa Larwood, and the rest

of the travel team here in Palencia, it's goodbye.