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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Casa de la Panaderia in Plaza Mayor - former home of the old Baker's Guild. Built in 1790, Plaza Mayor was originally a marketplace.It has also been used for bullfights, executions, and burning of heretics during the time of the Spanish Inquisition. The square can accommodate 100,000 people.
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Casa de la Panaderia in Plaza Mayor - former home of the old Baker's Guild. Built in 1790, Plaza Mayor was originally a marketplace.It has also been used for bullfights, executions, and burning of heretics during the time of the Spanish Inquisition. The square can accommodate 100,000 people.

ИспанияSpainEspañaMadridМадридCasa de la PanaderiaPlaza MayorPlaza Mayor muralsrusurusu photography

  • Late arrival at our Madrid hotel, Paseo del Arte.
  • Arrive late & you get a room overlooking an alley  & quite a noisy one at that as young people emptied out of the night club around the corner. The Museo del Jamon turns out to be a restaurant chain specializing in Spain's delicacy, jamon (dry-cured ham). We changed rooms the next morning.
  • Our [changed] room at Madrid's Paseo del Arte.
  • Susan at the Tourist Info booth trying to figure how to get where we're supposed to meet our walking group tour.
  • Rustem dilly-dallied & then we got lost, ending up in this square with its interesting installation. Missed the free 3 hours walking tour I'd scheduled - just as well as I'd never have finished it.
  • Madrid police patrolling the streets.
  • Madrid apartment buildings.
  • Flower pots & parasols.
  • Street lamps & flowers.
  • Monument of King Felipe III dating from 1616 in the center of Plaza Mayor.
  • King Felipe III astride his horse.
  • Casa de la Panaderia in Plaza Mayor - former home of the old Baker's Guild. Built in 1790, Plaza Mayor was originally a marketplace.It has also been used for bullfights, executions, and burning of heretics during the time of the Spanish Inquisition. The square can accommodate 100,000 people.
  • The buildings are original, the murals were done in 1992.
  • Casa de la Panaderia's arches.
  • Casa de la Panaderia light.
  • Atop Casa de la Panaderia.
  • The Crown atop Casa de la Panaderia, Plaza Mayor.
  • Want your photo taken?
  • Old doors in Plaza Mayor.
  • Cross near the old Arab wall.
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