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Posts Tagged ‘Spain’
My fondest memories of Spain are from the time spent in the Andalucia region, and it all started in its capital – Sevilla. We took a cheap flight down from Barcelona [YAY - Vueling!], hopped on the bus to the Santa Justa Station, then took another bus to the city center. For our short stint in Sevilla [3 days, 2 nights], we stayed with Marga [Hospitality Club] and Norbert. Such nice folks, and a very cute apartment.
We arrived in the evening, so it was really two days of actual time spent seeing the sights. The first night, Marga and Norbert took us out for a walk/drink. While the heat during the day was pretty unbearable, the evenings were perfect for a stroll. Not too hot, definitely not cold.
Some of the spots we visited during the first actual day: the Cathedral, Alcazar, Jewish Quarter, and also Plaza de España! Donna and I went to the Cathedral and Alcazar on our own, but Marga met up with us after that and made visiting the other sites a LOT easier. No map necessary!
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The Cathedral of Sevilla is the final resting place of Christopher Columbus. It occupies the former site of a mosque, which seems to be pretty common in this part of Spain. Moorish/Arab influence in the past that ends up being taken over… at least it wasn’t completely destroyed, just taken over and incorporated. [1] and [2] Outside of the Cathedral.
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La Giralda is a minaret tower, originally intended for the chief mosque, but now the bell tower of the Cathedral and symbol of Seville. We climbed up the 34 ramps for a view of the city. [3] View from on top of the tower. [4] This is the view from INSIDE the tower.
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[5] and [6] Inside the Real Alcazar – the palace.
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[7] and [8] Plaza de Espana – this is the site of the Spanish pavilion from the 1929 exhibition. Very neat tile art that represents each region of Spain. It was used as Naboo in Star Wars Episode II. How’s that for a random fact? Standing next to the columns, we look TINY.
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Here are some shots taken with Marga. [9] was taken in the Jewish Quarter – small alleys that we can stretch out our arms and reach both buildings. It’s known as Barrio Santa Cruz and wasn’t too far from the Cathedral, so after we were done with both the Cathedral and Palace, Marga came to meet us to take us around. [10] Marga in a fountain, filling up her water bottle. Apparently you can drink from the fountains. Personally thought it tasted a little funky, but it’s an idea. She asked us to watch for cops!
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[11] and [12] At the flamenco show! Afterwards, Donna and I walked across the river to Triana for late night eats. Of course, we were forewarned not to go to any place with no prices listed as it’s often the site of tourist traps. So we wandered for quite some time before we found a place! Ordering food was always such a chore because we had to yell over people in Spanish. So yeah, took awhile to get the food even once we found the place. It was great though, and in the end, the guy behind the counter wanted to give us some of the dishes free, but I was lame and didn’t realize it. I just kept telling him that his math sucked.
And the trip would not be complete without a jumping photo. This was taken on the roof of Marga’s apartment building. I had to take the photo, so I’m not in it.
More photos: Sevilla – June 2007
Montserrat was another day trip out of Barcelona. It was a bit more climbing than we had anticipated, so the sister was not a happy camper at the end of the day. Parts of the climbing involved these steep sides of mountains – oops. My legs AND arms were so sore after this day. At least we got some good pictures out of it.
More pictures from Montserrat: here.
Some time in early June, I went on a date with Dali.
Okay, I lie. It wasn’t a date, and it wasn’t just the two of us. Sister and I visited the towns of Figueres and Cadaques, where Dali spent some of his life and where museums in his honor now remain.
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[1] When we first arrived in Figueres, it wasn’t so easy finding a map of the city. We’d follow signs leading in one direction, only to have lost them somewhere along the way. So this funny little reflection is located in the center of the city, just down the hill from the Teatre-Museu Dalà (Dalà Theater and Museum).
[2] He had an odd obsession with eggs. This is part of the front of the Dali Theater and Museum, which he actually had a hand in designing and placing his work. It is supposedly a symbol of hope and love.
[3] Dali is actually buried within the Theater and Museum! I had no idea when I visited, but I just read some info on his Wiki page. Nifty!
[4] and [5] These two are inside the museum. So strange. You had to get in line to go up these stairs to look through a magnifying glass to see the first image. It’s supposed to be Mae West. Don’t you see her? In the second, I’m flying out of the mouth at the top of the stairs!
[6] This was taken at the top of the stairs in the Jewels of Dali exhibit next to the Theater and Museum. The highlight of this exhibit is a jeweled heart that keeps on beating! A little creepy, and I was able to take a video of it.
[7] and [8] More eggs! These were taken in Cadaques at Dali’s home. This trip was a little out of the way due to the time constraint of the bus schedule. Basically, we got off the bus, ran up the hill to see the house, and then hurried back down to the bus stop. What a rush!
It was mostly a day of bus and train rides. Worth it, in my opinion, seeing as how he’s one of my favorite artists. He was such a strange man with a famous mustache and crazy eyes. One day, I wish to find a man as devoted as he was to his wife, Gala. Perhaps slightly less crazy.
The rest of the photos with Dali are: here!