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.