Yesterday I was talking with someone about how busy life has been lately when I realized just how busy it's actually been: I've been to 5 countries in the last 6 months, and some time in between that, work and life in general, I may have bought a house. I'll know for sure in a couple of hours. lol
Spain...I'm not sure where to begin. I took almost 400 photos in the few days I wasn't on a train and pulled a few dozen out to post here. My Flickr account is expired for the time being so I'll post the whole mess of them up there once I renew it. Spain was an amazing place, full of color, style, brilliant food and art-laden culture that you could practically trip over (and one or two people did). Wine was cheaper than soft drinks and sangria was consumed more often than water.
I may come back and write up the whole experience when I have more time, but for now a few pictures will really have to be worth a few thousand words. :) I'll try to keep them in some kind of order.
Barcelona from the top of one of the Gaudi Museums.
Atop the Museum.
My first trip to the Mediterranean Sea. The beaches were amazing and the water so blue-green.
Monument to Columbus. Maybe to help him actually find his way back.
Barcelona is actually Catalunya. A typical street.
My first night in Nerja. I had to take a bus from Malaga each day, 50km.
Nerja from my hotel room, overlooking the Med. I could hear the waves crashing at night.
The beach in Nerja, looking toward Torrox. Most beaches were only accesible by boat or swimming.
My first look at the Dark Continent. The mist in the middle is over the Sea.
Crossing the Strait of Gibralter!
First look at Tangier. Amazingly stark against the sea.
The ferries that cross the strait.
Looking down on one of the districts from the hills above the city.
Walking in the Casbah. The Casbah was originally a fortress, and the word actually means fortress. Now it's all residential and shops.
Typical street scene.
Narrow streets and white walls with splashes of blue and green.
If you've seen the Bourne Supremacy, this may look familiar to you. It was filmed here.
Back in Malaga, under the canopy.
The Sunday I was in Malaga there was a Catholic Festival all over Spain. Flowers were everywhere and these were set up all over the streets.
Cathedral in Malaga. I got caught up in a wedding here. It was beyond beautiful.
Of all the places I visited, Sevilla was my favorite. The guide booke said "Sevilla did not have ambiance; it was ambiance." Believe it.
Cathedral at night.
In the park. This was the most peaceful place, full of flowers and orange groves.
A secret opera in the palace. I caught some video of it on my phone I'll try to post.
Caught in a demonstration for Real Betis! Thousands of people took to the streets to protest the team being dropped to Division 2. They take sports VERY sriously there. There is nothing comprable in the US. At all.
In Seville, (and in most cities) you could rent a bike anywhere and drop it off wherever you found a terminal. Pretty cool.
On the streets, back in Barcelona.
A few of the 300+ stone steps up to the Barcelona Castle. An Olympic village was up there for the games.
Atop the mountain headed to the castle.
The view in the other direction.
The view of part of the city below. It took 4 shots to get the whole thing, excluding the sea.
Me on top of the castle with the archery grounds below.
Barcelona Castle lower levels. The place was built into the entire mountain.
View of the Sea from the castle.
From Parc Guell, 30 acres of Gaudi's work. It was nothing short of phenomenal.
Chillin' on a bench at Parc Guell.
Dragon. The detail in everything is beyond compare.
Last night, waiting for a Flamenco show. It was not what I expected but it did not disappoint.
Flamenco dancer. I longed for something other than the point and shoot about now.
The end of the Flamenco. His pose is kind of fitting.
Overall, I have to say I loved Spain, almost as much as Paris but in a different way. I'm sure I have a lot more to write about it all but right now I'm just wiped and trying to get ready for the house. So much to do lately, but I wouldn't have it any other way. :)
