Spain 2011

The trip was from May 21, 2011 to May 31, 2011 with all of the local arrangements being made by our very generous Spanish friends Jose and Carmen.  During the trip we were joined by our California friends Leon and Margo.  We had a unique experience since it is privilege to travel with natives of the country and Spain has a very deep and interesting history.

The trip included the regions of Castilla and Leon, Extremadura and Andalucia.  We covered a lot of terrain and visited many of the most important historic sites in Spain.  We were exposed to about 4,000 years of history including the early Celtic tribes that lived in central Spain which proves the long connection between Ireland and Spain, the Roman Period which has left some impressive civic works, the Moorish/Islamic period which was a high point in the overall history of Islam and lasted 700 years, the Catholic Period and the re-conquest which went on for hundreds of years and ended with the fall of Granada.  The results of the conquest of the Americas are very apparent in the wealth of Saville and the monuments at Trujillo.  The current difficult situation that Spain is facing was clear from the youth protests at the Plaza Mayor in Madrid and on a smaller scale in Avila.

Note: The transition from one region to another is indicated by an image of a door or doorknocker.

Spain is country with wonderful food, excellent wine and very interesting historic sites so it is well worth a longer visit in the future. We look forward to the day we will be able to make a return visit and learn more about the culture and history of Spain.



Avila city walls
Morning coffee with friends at Jose's breakfast place.5/22/2011 3:23:43 AM



Avila city walls
View from the convenet of St. Theresa.5/24/2011 3:48:03 AM



Avila Cathedral
Facade of the Cathedral with impressive faces.5/22/2011 4:01:47 AM



Avila Cathedral
Stone carving of the Apostle Saint Mark with a lion.5/22/2011 3:57:09 AM



Avila
Flute player on the street.5/22/2011 3:58:51 AM



Avila
Lion enjoying the sun5/22/2011 4:07:05 AM



Celtic Stone Carving:Avila
Stone carving circa 2000 BC of a pig by Celtic tribes who lived in Central Spain.5/24/2011 3:15:23 AM



Avila: Celtic Tribes
Stone carving of a Toro from circa 2000 BC.5/22/2011 4:18:10 AM



Avila: Storks
Less than welcome year round residents of Avila.5/22/2011 4:20:09 AM



Two Gentlemen of Avila
Relaxing in the shade with an old friend.5/22/2011 4:58:05 AM



Avila
Children playing in the park.5/22/2011 4:59:38 AM



Avila: Favorite Bar
Bar owner with Jose and Carmen.5/22/2011 5:25:02 AM



Avila Convent
Kitchen used by St. Theresa 1515-1582.5/24/2011 3:55:23 AM



Avila Convent
View of the city from inside the convent cell of St. Theresa.5/24/2011 3:59:09 AM



Avila Youth Protest
Protest in the main square of Avila similar to the protests in Madrid.5/22/2011 3:51:47 AM



Avila Youth Protest
Says it all!5/22/2011 3:52:12 AM



Avila Youth Protest
Media coverage is a key driver for all protests.5/22/2011 3:48:08 AM



Avila
View of the countryside and mountains.5/22/2011 4:59:09 AM



Church door Avila
We now move on to visit the farm of Jose and Carmen near Avila.5/22/2011 3:51:03 AM



Alborino Farm
The farm of Jose and Carmen with house and out buildings.5/22/2011 12:29:37 PM



Alborino Farm
Large ancient liveoak trees dot the farm.5/23/2011 1:26:35 PM



Alborino Farm
Bark of an ancient liveoak tree.5/22/2011 12:55:05 PM



Alborino Farm
wild fushia and thyme flowers.5/22/2011 12:57:26 PM



Alborino Farm
Pure bred Black Avila cattle. Cow with two calves.5/23/2011 1:07:46 PM



Alborino Farm
Pure bred Arabian mare.5/23/2011 12:32:41 PM



Alborino Farm
Door of the chapel with alabaster vase.5/23/2011 1:58:11 AM



Alborino Farm
Interior of the private chapel.5/23/2011 1:58:45 AM



Door knocker Avila
To Segovia5/22/2011 4:32:42 AM



Segovia
View of the city and the Roman Aqueduct from the first century AD.5/23/2011 9:24:36 AM



Segovia
Roman Aqueduct is 818 meters long and 29 meters at its high point.5/23/2011 6:35:45 AM



Segovia
Detail stonework on the facade of a palace.5/23/2011 5:08:09 AM



Segovia Cathedral
The Lady of Cathedrals and the last Gothic cathedral build in Spain.5/23/2011 5:19:54 AM



Segovia Cathedral
Side nave5/23/2011 5:27:22 AM



Segovia Cathedral
Central cupola5/23/2011 5:34:42 AM



Segovia Cathedral
Modanna and child from the 12th century.5/23/2011 5:36:41 AM



Segovia Cathedral
Figure of Christ.5/23/2011 5:37:30 AM



Segovia
Lion guarding the city.5/23/2011 5:51:50 AM



Segovia
Special lunch of suckling pig and lamb.5/23/2011 7:50:38 AM



Segovia Cathedral
Afternoon storm approaching.5/23/2011 9:27:16 AM



Door knocker Caceres
To Extremadura and the provinces of Caceres and Badajoz.5/25/2011 12:50:00 PM



Special bird sighting
Spanish Imperial Eagle in flight. Park Nacional de Monfrague5/25/2011 4:38:02 AM



Extramdura
Countryside and small town with church tower.5/24/2011 8:16:51 AM



Monastery of Yuste
Retirement home of Emperor Charles V where he died in 1558.5/24/2011 9:11:26 AM



Plasencia
Cathedral of Plasencia gargoyle5/25/2011 2:08:48 AM



Plasencia
School children in their uniforms with a teacher.5/25/2011 2:41:23 AM



Trujillo
Plaza Mayor with statue of Pizarro and Arab Castle5/25/2011 8:08:14 AM



Trujillo
Franciso Pizarro conqueror of Peru 1471 or 1476 to 1541.5/25/2011 5:59:49 AM



Trujillo
Christian bell installed on the walls of the Alcazaba. For whom does the bell toll?5/25/2011 8:46:52 AM



Extramdura
View from the Castle of Trujillo. A hard land that bred the conquerors of the Americas.5/25/2011 8:45:10 AM



Caceres
Co-Cathedral of Santa Maria in the old town.5/25/2011 12:30:07 PM



Caceres
Palace with coat of arms in the old town.5/25/2011 12:34:15 PM



Caceres Museum
Celtic stone carving similar to Newgrange in Ireland.5/25/2011 12:09:41 PM



Caceres Museum
Roman mosaic of a horse and rider with spear.5/25/2011 12:11:41 PM



Caceres Museum
Roman mosaic of a lady.5/25/2011 12:12:28 PM



Caceres Museum
Roman water resevoir in the basement of the museum.5/25/2011 12:18:26 PM



Caceres
Modern town square5/25/2011 12:39:22 PM



Badajoz
Preparing the Jamon for curing.5/26/2011 5:49:30 AM



Badajoz
Jose and Carmen with their stock of Jamon.5/26/2011 6:01:56 AM



Zafra Badajoz
Street with balconies and flowers.5/26/2011 7:32:04 AM



Door knockers Zafra
To Andalusia5/26/2011 7:34:25 AM



Saville
Window at the Alfonso 13th Hotel. Flameco lady.5/27/2011 2:44:26 AM



Saville
Staincase at the Alfonso 13th Hotel.5/27/2011 2:41:19 AM



Saville
Alcazar or Royal Palace built in Moorish and Renaissance styles. Reflections in the front facade windows.5/27/2011 2:57:00 AM



Saville Alcazar
Cool green light and reflections from the gardens. The pillars are Roman.5/27/2011 3:10:29 AM



Saville Alcazar
Ceiling with Moorish and Reinaissance styles combined.5/27/2011 3:12:11 AM



Saville Alcazar
Moorish design like this inspired the artist E. C. Escher5/27/2011 3:11:10 AM



Saville Alcazar
Gardens5/27/2011 3:37:48 AM



Saville Alcazar
Detail of entrance to the Palace.5/27/2011 3:35:52 AM



Saville Alcazar
Gardens5/27/2011 3:41:47 AM



Saville Cathedral
View of the Cathedral with the Alcazar on the right side.5/27/2011 2:50:08 AM



Saville Cathedral
Main nave of the Cathedral5/27/2011 4:22:09 AM



Saville Cathedral
Side nave5/27/2011 4:10:33 AM



Saville Cathedral
Main alter piece with impressive details in gold.5/27/2011 4:07:57 AM



Saville Cathedral
Detail of the main alter piece.5/27/2011 4:05:21 AM



Saville Cathedral
Ceiling of a side chapel.5/27/2011 4:15:32 AM



Saville Cathedral
Stain glass windows5/27/2011 4:24:29 AM



Saville Cathedral
Royal saint5/27/2011 4:13:13 AM



Saville Cathedral
Detail from a painting showing how people dressed.5/27/2011 4:17:50 AM



Cordoba
Main doorway of the Cordoba Mosque showing Moorish and Christian elements.5/27/2011 8:56:53 AM



Cordoba
Side door of the Mosque in the style of the internal arches.5/27/2011 8:59:46 AM



Cordoba
Fortress external wall of the Mosque.5/27/2011 9:02:40 AM



Door knocker: Parador San Fernando: Granada
To Granada and Alhambra5/28/2011 5:04:04 AM



Granada
Alhambra: Palacio de Generalife: evening5/27/2011 12:44:24 PM



Granada
Alhambra at sunset5/27/2011 1:24:15 PM



Granada
Night view of the old town.5/27/2011 2:25:07 PM



Granada
Alhambra at night. Palace of Myrtles No tripods allowed!5/27/2011 2:24:14 PM



Granada
Alhambra at night.5/27/2011 2:23:04 PM



Granada
Honeycomb vaulting at night.5/27/2011 2:32:18 PM



Granada
View of the old town from inside the Alhambra.5/27/2011 2:48:42 PM



Granada: Alhambra
Court of the Myrtles Northern end.5/28/2011 2:26:10 AM



Granada: Alhambra
Court of Myrtles Southern end with the Palace of Charles V behind it.5/28/2011 2:30:48 AM



Granada: Alhambra
Moorish fountain at Patio of Mexuar.5/28/2011 2:19:40 AM



Granada Alhambra
Water bubbles out slowly making a soft sound. Patio of Mexuar5/28/2011 3:19:07 AM



Granada Alhambra
Blue and white decoration5/28/2011 2:28:37 AM



Granada Alhambra
Ceiling decoration in detail.5/28/2011 3:27:07 AM



granada Alhambra
Detailed plaster decoration.5/28/2011 2:51:45 AM



granada Alhambra
The Arabic script was retained following the expulsion of the Moors.5/28/2011 3:52:10 AM



Granada Alhambra
Window in Moorish style.5/28/2011 3:34:38 AM



Granada Alhambra
Ceiling like the night sky. Hall of Ambassadors5/28/2011 2:36:19 AM



Granada Alhambra
Night sky ceiling of the Hall of Ambassadors5/28/2011 2:37:04 AM



Granada Alhambra
Highly decorative cupola with lots of light. Hall of Sisters.5/28/2011 2:50:02 AM



Granada Alhambra
External view of the Moorish Palaces.5/28/2011 2:50:38 AM



Granada Alhambra
Palacio de Generalife with lots of projecting fountains.5/28/2011 3:32:03 AM



Granada Alhambra
Defensive walls since the main purpose of Alhambra was as fortress.5/28/2011 4:04:54 AM



Granada Alhambra
View of Alhambra Palaces and Fortifications from Generalife.5/28/2011 4:32:56 AM



Granada Alhambra
Small boy enjoying his visit.5/28/2011 3:17:57 AM



Granada Alhambra
Graffiti on a tree in the gardens.5/28/2011 4:52:39 AM



Granada Alhambra
Gardens of the Parador.5/28/2011 11:30:02 AM



Granada Alhambra
Granada rose in the Parador San Fernando gardens.5/28/2011 4:58:17 AM



Granada Alhambra
Central patio at the Parador San Fernando.5/28/2011 11:37:10 AM



Granada Alhambra
View of Generalife and distant Sierra Navada mountains from our restaurant.5/28/2011 12:50:59 PM



Granada Alhambra
Main Palaces with the Charles V Palace.5/28/2011 12:51:49 PM



Granada Alhambra
The Alcazaba or Citadel which is the most strongly fortified positon. Evening5/28/2011 1:16:20 PM



Granada Alhambra
Sunset reflected on the Sierra Navada mountains above Granada and Alhambra.5/28/2011 1:16:48 PM



Granada Alhambra
After sunset view of the Alhambra from our dinner table.5/28/2011 2:02:59 PM



Granada Alhambra
After sunset view of the Palaces5/28/2011 2:04:15 PM



Granada Alhambra
After sunset view of the Citadel from our dinner table.5/28/2011 2:04:34 PM



Granada Alhambra
Jose our leader, guide and friend.5/28/2011 3:05:25 AM



Granada Alhambra
Carmen our hostess and friend taking time to smell the roses.5/28/2011 4:00:19 AM



Avila
Margo at breakfast5/23/2011 2:39:25 AM



Caceres
Paulette at our hotel/restaurant.5/25/2011 9:54:06 AM



Zafra Badajoz
Leon enjoying the good life!5/26/2011 7:27:51 AM



Granada: Alhambra
Last supper for our group with Alhambra in the background.5/28/2011 12:58:08 PM