As we continued our drive through the Rioja countryside, one detail kept catching my eye. Scattered among the vineyards and grain fields were lonely rectangular stone buildings, many with their roofs partially collapsed and wild grasses growing through the doorways. At first I wondered if they had once been homes, but they were actually small agricultural field houses.

Years ago, when farming was done almost entirely by hand, these simple structures were an essential part of daily life. Farmers stored tools, sheltered from the scorching summer sun or an unexpected storm, shared a midday meal, and sometimes kept a donkey or other working animals inside. Before trucks and modern machinery, it made sense to have a small building waiting out in the fields where the work was.

Today, many stand empty, their wooden roofs long since giving way while the thick stone walls continue to endure. Rather than eyesores, they feel like quiet monuments to generations of families who worked this land before tractors, irrigation systems, and modern wineries transformed agriculture. There was something beautiful about seeing them scattered across the landscape—silent reminders that every vineyard has a history, and that the Rioja of today was built on centuries of hard work by the people who came before.

When we arrived at the house in Peñautol, the kids wasted no time—they spotted the swimming pool and were in the water almost immediately. After a long day of traveling, it was the perfect way to burn off some energy and cool down.

Their second favorite discovery, however, was something completely unexpected: the bidet. None of them had ever seen one before, and once they figured out what it did, they were absolutely fascinated. The gentle spray of cool water had them dissolving into fits of laughter, convinced it was the funniest invention they’d ever encountered. It’s funny how the little everyday things we take for granted can become the most memorable moments when you’re traveling with kids.

Tomorrow we’ll explore Peñíscola and spend more time at a slow pace.

~Steph