Thursday, October 19, 2017

Spain

We've visited Spain many times through the years, with our first visit being in 1968.  It has changed so much since then.  It was a rather backward country then, very rural outside of the big cities, and we frequently saw people traveling by horseback and donkey drawn wagons.  It was ruled by Franco---saw him at a bullfight in Barcelona one time-- and the Guardia Civil were everywhere.
Our first trip to Spain was to the tiny Costa Brava town of Tossa Del Mar.  There were few big tourist hotels back then and it was far less crowded.  We stayed in a small hotel La Anchora and paid $9.00 a day full pension for both of us.
It was our first time to see Barcelona, what a beautiful place, we spent hours on the Ramblas and you truly couldn't find a place to serve dinner before 10pm.
We were living in Germany and we'd go to Spain once or twice a year so we could lay on the beach and soak up the sun.
In the 1970's we got more adventurous and started visiting other parts of Spain, camping everywhere.  We saw Madrid, Granada, Seville, Cordoba and Toledo for the first time.  Learned that I couldn't wear shorts into town, actually had to go change into long pants one time.
Mac's parents are from Spain and we looked for their hometowns, Macotera (near Salamanca) for his Mother's family and Seville for his Father's.
In the late 90's we traveled with Mac's brother and his wife to Malaga where we rented a villa and explored that part of Spain.
Then 6 years ago we returned to Toledo because it is our favorite city in Spain.  I love the Great Mosque in Cordoba, the Alhambra in Granada, the Alcazar in Segovia, the historic bullring in Ronda, but it's Toledo that calls us back.  We love its twisted, hilly streets, the Jewish Quarter, the Mosques, the small churches around each corner and of course the Primate Cathedral of St. Mary of Toledo.
It had been a number of years since we'd visited it, so we thought we should see it again.

And it is truly magnificent.  They were singing a mass while we were there and and it was so beautiful.  Love the El Transparente, a hole that was cut into the roof and the design of people peering down into the Cathedral.
Even enjoyed the Grecos, though religious art is not a favorite of ours.

El Parente
Lit candles for Mac's Mom and Aunt, though they're electric candles now, guess that's safer, but I miss actually lighting the candle. .  Spent most of the morning in the Cathedral  till tours started filling the place up and we knew it was time to leave.  I can only watch so many people taking Selfies before I want to grab their sticks and whack them with it.

16 comments:

  1. You should certainly know your way around Spain after all those visits. You must have seen many changes over the years.

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  2. How nice that you were able to go back and re-visit. Lovely pictures.

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  3. You know Spain very well. Until this year I had only visited the east coast on two occasions. Our trip to other parts of the country gave us a totally different and pleasing impression of Spain.

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  4. You've made me want to visit this lovely city. I'm so happy you had another great trip. Hopefully your jet lag is not too bad. Pat xx

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  5. Spain is one place I have never been. What beautiful photos.
    Plus I agree about the selfies, one or two is plenty. I want to see the sites where you have been not the same face over and over.

    cheers, parsnip

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  6. Thanks for telling about your trip to Spain. I doubt I will get over there in my lifetime, so its neat to see it through other people's adventures. Sounded like you both had a great trip!

    betty

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  7. Sounds like you've had a great tour of Spain over the years. I love that hole in the ceiling, are the people statues or just painted on?

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    1. They're statues or carvings of some kind, not just painted on, it looks so real.

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  8. A lovely post with great feeling for Spain. That ceiling is truly amazing. Definitely best to visit cathedrals before the tour parties and I’m in total agreement about the selfie sticks. B x

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  9. Whilst serving in Germany we used to travel to Italy, but you have certainly given us a taste for Spain. Loved the ceiling what a beautiful sight.

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  10. It looks like an amazing place to visit. I am not a selfie fan, really are people that into themselves?

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  11. Lovely to read your post and enjoy your pictures.

    All the best Jan

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  12. With so many beautiful things to see and photograph, why would anyone take a selfie? Those people looking down are a kick. Thanks for taking us on a tour with you.

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  13. It sounds like you had a wonderful time in a country you know and love!

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  14. The ceiling of the cathedral is so beautiful and it's lovely that you arrived when a service was going on. I always love to hear the sound in big cathedrals. It seems to envelop you. Nice photos!

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