1. Vacation Travel • Поездки

Spain (09.2011)

Two weeks in Spain - certainly not enough to take in or absorb all there is to see in the four cities we visited - Madrid, Alicante, Valencia & Barcelona with a day trip to Toledo. As always, we did too much, though our beach break in Alicante helped. It's easy to understand why Europeans love to vacation in Spain - fabulous weather, varied landscapes, history, culture & style.

Such striking architecture from the Medieval to the contemporary. Oh those Spanish masters - artists & architects - with their indelible contributions to civilization. Oh that sweeping history from the Romans to the great empire; and, yes, its tainted past filled with dictators & despots leading to the Inquisition, colonial cruelty, & the Civil War.

Spaniards certainly haven't lost their lust for life despite teetering on the edge of default. Their cities seem to never sleep with hordes of Spaniards & tourists wining & dining, and walking & talking until the wee hours of the morning. Glad we weren't there in high season as the crowds were a bit overwhelming even into early October. Each of the cities we visited could use another go-round, but of course, there are so many other Spanish cities to explore...

I have seen dawn and sunset on moors and windy hills, Coming in solemn beauty like slow old tunes of Spain... "Beauty" ~ John Edward Masefield
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Lobby of the B Hotel in Barcelona.
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Lobby of the B Hotel in Barcelona.

ИспанияSpainEspañarusurusu photographyБарселонаBarcelonaB hotel

  • This brother & sister were helping at their father's stall. Of course, we had to buy our paella from them.
  • Dishing out the paella. It was delicious.
  • Candied oranges.
  • The Hemisfèric at night.
  • Valencia metro station near our hotel & the bullring.
  • Matador statue outside the Valencia bullring.
  • Calles Xativa, one of the two Valencia train stations, built in 1917.
  • Ashtray souvenirs in the Valencia train station.
  • Colored trashcans - they take recycling seriously here.
  • The most amazing whiskers!
  • Valencia train station lighting.
  • Entrance to the B Hotel in Barcelona.
  • B Hotel facade. It looks somewhat ugly, but functions perfectly, filtering the sun while allowing inhabitants to view the outdoors.
  • Greenery at the entrance to the B Hotel.
  • Lobby of the B Hotel in Barcelona.
  • Lobby of the B Hotel in Barcelona.
  • Susan self portrait.
  • Our room at the B Hotel in Barcelona. The very cool lighting system took some time to figure out.
  • We'd read online that some people weren't comfortable with the glass walled bathroom.
  • Outside Barcelona's Palau de la Música Catalana.
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