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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Rustem near a lookout tower.
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Rustem near a lookout tower.

ИспанияSpainEspañarusurusu photographyAlicanteCastillo de Santa BárbaraSanta Barbara CastleАликанте

  • Rustem near a lookout tower.
  • Rustem sitting on a cannon.
  • View of Alicante from a dirty window atop Guard tower at the Castillo de Santa Bárbara.
  • Shadows.
  • An ancient coat of arms.
  • A long & winding road.
  • Down below, a train.
  • Bust of poet, Ruben Dario.
  • Renovation a building in Alicante.
  • Diners at the Hospes Amérigo hotel in Alicante. We'd considered it, but chose to stay on the sea.
  • Lobby of our Valencia hotel, the Vincci Lys.
  • Our room at the Vincci Lys.
  • Desk in our room at the Vincci Lys.
  • View across from our room at the Vincci Lys;
  • Valencia's Telegraph building. (1920)
  • Tiled dome.
  • Deco grill work.
  • Building patterns.
  • Along this street we tasted, Chufa, a drink native to Valencia. It's a milk derived from tigernuts gron in the region - delicious stuff.
  • Blue tiles.
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