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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Contemporary art at the MNAC.
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Contemporary art at the MNAC.

ИспанияSpainEspañarusurusu photographyБарселонаBarcelonaNational Museum of Art of CatalunyaMNAC

  • Fossar de les Moreres. This eternal flame commemorates those that died in the 1713-14 war of succession.
  • Restaurant balconies & lighting.
  • Plaza de España, just minutes from our hotel.
  • The dome of Barcelona's National Museum of Art of Catalunya
  • Barcelona's National Museum of Art of Catalunya (MNAC). The world's most important collection of Catalan art.
  • Maillol sculpture outside the MNAC.
  • View from the hilltop where Barcelona's National Museum of Art of Catalunya is located.
  • Students at the MNAC.
  • The museum's awe-inspiring  Romanesque Collection is the only one of its kind in the world containing frescoes, murals & paintings from 11th - 13th century Romanesque churches of the Pyrenees. This fresco, The Master of Taull, dates from 1123.
  • Organ pipes in the MNAC.
  • Mary & Jesus. The museum has a marvelous collection of wooden sculptures of Mary & Jesus.
  • Contemporary art at the MNAC.
  • Lighting inside the museum.
  • Café in front of Barcelona's National Museum of Art of Catalunya viewed from inside.
  • People enjoying the view from Barcelona's National Museum of Art of Catalunya atop Monjuic hill.
  • Chair detail at the café in front of Barcelona's View from Barcelona's National Museum of Art of Catalunya.
  • Susan taking a break outside Barcelona's View from Barcelona's National Museum of Art of Catalunya.
  • The sun setting on the National Museum of Art of Catalunya.
  • Plaza de España at night while we wait for the Airport Express bus.
  • The Barcelona Airport - wow!
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