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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A huge dish of paella on a fast food counter. (Valencia, Spain)
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A huge dish of paella on a fast food counter. (Valencia, Spain)

ИспанияSpainEspañarusurusu photographyValenciaВаленсияpaella

  • Lawyer's office.
  • The streets of Valencia - wow!
  • Old Valencia fountain.
  • Cherubs.
  • A huge dish of paella on a fast food counter. (Valencia, Spain)
  • Rustem in the square in front of the Valencia Cathedral.
  • And a pigeon on the grass in the square.
  • The Valencia Cathedral. It's believed that the Holy Grail is in this 13th Century cathedral.
  • Valencia Cathedral detail.
  • Inside the Valencia Cathedral.
  • Interior of the Gothic Cathedral of Valencia.
  • A particularly powerful Jesus on the cross.
  • Renaissance angel on the ceiling of the main chapel in Valencia's Cathedral. The original contract from 1472 required that the angels be, "painted in exquisite colors" - they certainly are.
  • Rustem atop the Valencia Cathedral.
  • City seen through the Cathedral's roof decor.
  • Valencia blue domes & rooftops.
  • Valencia rooftops.
  • View of the square in front of the Cathedral of Valencia from its rooftop tower.
  • While Rustem climbed the tower, Susan investigated the local architecture.
  • And had some ice cream here.
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