TOP TOUR SIGHTS
SAGRADA FAMILIA
BARCELONA
It was tough to get a full exterior shot from the street here. The photo at left is from Parc de Montjuic; the one below from Casa Mila.
Gaudi and green: incorporation of nature even on the facade. Ladybugs and ants - all of us sagrada familia
The Lord's Prayer in Catalan and 49 other languages - the bronze doors of the Glory facade by Josep M. Subirachs.
The Lord's Prayer in Welsh - the language of my ancestry
Ein Tad, yr hwn wyt yn y nefoedd,
sancteiddier dy enw.
Deled dy deyrnas.
Gwneler dy ewyllys,
megis yn y nef, felly ar y ddaear hefyd.
Dyro i ni heddiw ein bara beunyddiol.
A madder i ni ein dyledion,fel y maddeuwn ninnau i'n
dyledwyr.
Ac nac arwain ni i brofedigaeth;
eithr glared ni rhag drwg.
Canys eiddot ti yw'r deyrnas, a'r nerth, a'r gogoniant, yn oes oesoedd.
Amen.
Impressions: streaming color, oceans and sunsets, Jesus hanging under a canopy of grapes and patio lights - like an outdoor picnic - holy ground.
While the group traveled to the Royal Palace in Madrid, I joined a parade (Street Scenes). We met up at Artesanos 1902 where chocolate is not only a taste sensation, but a visual - taste and see! A top sight for sure!
SEGOVIA - two world heritage sites
This 1st century Roman aqueduct, built of granite and without mortar, delivered water up until the 19th century.
This 21st century addition was embedded in a granite slab not far from the aqueduct. I wonder how long it will last?
The Alcazar (Castle) of Segovia - a great day for views of the gardens and countryside.
CATEDRAL PRIMADA SANTA MARIA DE TOLEDO
TOLEDO CATHEDRAL
CATHEDRAL BY DAY
CATHEDRAL BY NIGHT
+ Cathedral reflected in water on street
Resolved: On my next trip I will get the name and spelling of wonderful day trip guides. Our guide for the Toledo Cathedral had something you don't see or hear every day - love - real passion - for this cathedral. I've been to many religious sites in the world but experiencing the cathedral through the eyes of this Toledo-born gentleman was a once-in-a-lifetime. (I think his name was John Sword - in Español).
​PLAINS OF LA MANCHA - CONSUEGRA
Throughout this trip, "I remember when..." prefaces many of my thoughts. I guess it's natural to look back, to want to touch base with the familiar before exploring new territory. The old windmills, solid and squat, casting latticed shadows on the ground, look quaintly beautiful against the blue sky. But the new windmills are so elegantly sleek, and they look majestic and star-like against the same sky. I hope my life can be like the windmills - that the remembering puts me on solid ground and gives me the courage and freedom to reach for - anything - everything - possibilities - the sky!
THE ALHAMBRA- GRANADA
FROM SUNSET - TO NIGHTFALL
The photos above were taken on our first evening in Granada while having an elegant dinner in a house restaurant across the hillside. Wow! The next day we toured the Alhambra - May was a great month for seeing the gardens in bloom and a blue sky to boot!
FISH
Can't stop taking pictures of those reflections! (Can you see the goldfish in the pond at far left?)
RONDA
OK - so Ronda is primarily known for two major sights - the gorge (El Tajo) and bull-fighting (Plaza de Toros). Sometimes being on a tour involves making choices - because you absolutely HAVE TO SEE a non-major sight. I live about 10 miles from a major sight in California called "Hearst Castle." In fact, for a while I volunteered there. Some sources say that William Randolph Hearst and his architect, Julia Morgan, were influenced by Washington Irving's 'Tales of the Alhambra' and based their design of the bell tower at Hearst Castle on the bell tower of the church of Santa Maria La Mayor in Ronda.The church was at the opposite end of town from the gorge and the arena, which meant sprinting (OK - maybe not sprinting but walking very fast!) in order to have lunch, see the church and be back in time to meet the bus. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
The bell tower of the church of Santa Maria la Mayor - extremely hard to get a full view of the church because of the park and tall trees around it - a beautiful setting though. (I would have included a photo of the bell tower of Hearst Castle so you could see the similarity - but HC folks are very particular about non-licensed people publishing photos of the Castle).
No bull! This is a doorknocker!
SEVILLE
Macarena Church and Museum
Macarena Gate - a still-standing gate to the city - part of the Almohad city wall.
Our Lady of Hope of Macarena
Would love to see this with candles lit. The Good Friday and Holy Week procession in Seville is one of the largest and most renowned in Spain.
This figurine is carved from a single pearl - a detail from the crown below.
(Detail from the processional)
ROYAL ALCÁZARS OF SEVILLE
The inside patios and floors of the palace were beautiful with colorful tilework and magnificent ceilings.
but stepping
into the gardens
was pure
magic ....
Our tour finished under a dazzlingly blue sky. The gardens of the Alcazars (palace) were beautiful and green - filled with palm trees, bougainvillea and this very fun water feature!
FLAMENCO
An intense evening of flamenco in Seville.
I called these the "Top Tour Sights" - but there were other terrific sights and experiences on this "best trip yet." See more of Madrid and Arcos de la Frontera in "Street Scenes,""Free Time," and "Eating and Sleeping." If you love horses, "Day Trips" has a visit to an Adalusian horse ranch plus an olive oil farm, a bullfighter's ranch, and a visit with a warm, welcoming woman in her home in Salinas.