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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This small garden park is attached to an old Madrid family's home. Although it's still the property of the family, they can no longer afford to maintain it & have opened it to the public in exchange for city maintenance. The family still lives in the residence as they have for tens of generations.
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This small garden park is attached to an old Madrid family's home. Although it's still the property of the family, they can no longer afford to maintain it & have opened it to the public in exchange for city maintenance. The family still lives in the residence as they have for tens of generations.

ИспанияSpainEspañarusurusu photography

  • Madrid composition.
  • Hemingway never ate here.
  • But he did eat here - the world's oldest restaurant, Botin, established in 1725. Botin was one of Hemingway's favorites restaurants & is mentioned in, "The Sun Also Rises".
  • We picked up a walking tour with this guide through the official tourist office.
  • Madrid bus navigating the old city streets.
  • Beautiful balconies & ornamentation.
  • Madrileños enjoying drinks & conversation.
  • Plaza de la Villa built in 1644. Site of the former town hall.
  • The old town hall in Plaza de la Villa with a statue of Alvaro de Bazan, the Spanish Admiral who planned the Armada.
  • Rustem in Madrid garden.
  • This small garden park is attached to an old Madrid family's home. Although it's still the property of the family, they can no longer afford to maintain it & have opened it to the public in exchange for city maintenance. The family still lives in the residence as they have for tens of generations.
  • Young lovers in the garden park.
  • Young love.
  • Rustem on the streets of Madrid.
  • Madrid steps.
  • Rustem listening? Thinking?
  • Store window.
  • Motorcycles & mopeds are the transport of choice & they're everywhere.
  • We ate lunch at a restaurant at the corner of this building across from the Cathedral.
  • Madrid's main Cathedral, Santa María la Real de La Almudena. Construction began in 1879 & was completed in 1993.
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