Top Ten - Spain

10. Madrid - Rowing and relaxing in the le Retiro (park) lake

I love to row. Didn't know this before Madrid.

9. Monastery of Montserrat hike or maybe just the view from the top

The hike was quite a challenge but the view from the top was worth it!

8. Hotel in Cordoba

The San Miguel hotel was located on a pedestrian street in the old city of Cordoba. Our flowered filled balcony overlooked an old church square and all the rooms surrounded a courtyard. It was a beautiful place.

7. Sneaking into the Alhambra in Granada

Never put anything past Grant. If he wants something, he will figure out a way :)

6. High speed trains (and the 1st class couchette)

5. My birthday, I'm 30!

I spent a wonderful day in Granada and had a traditional Spanish dinner in old town Cordoba

4. Bullfight (Go Bulls!!)

A unique but barbaric experience. We cheered for the Bull!

3. Grant's attempt to learn Spanish

I have to say I was impressed with the amount of Spanish Grant picked up. He was testing his new found skill on everyone: waiters, people walking down the street, the animals he encountered, etc.

2. Costa de Sol

The beautiful Mediterranean coast!

1. Spanish lifestyle

Late to rise, Late to bed and that was the norm

The Rain in Spain

Our last night in Spain and we had dinner at. . . . a Chinese restaurant. Typical of us. We did order completely in Spanish. Grant was even able to answer all of the waitress’ questions. I was impressed. (He has really been studying the phrase book).

The weather has been beautiful. Today was the only the only day I have even seen clouds and it waited until my siesta to actually rain. I guess it’s true what they say. The rain in Spain does stay mainly in the plain.

Zoo de Grant

Grant is attracted to animals or maybe they are attracted to him. Regardless, I have to laugh at the way he is distracted from an object of great historical significance by the appearance of a bird, cat, etc. I have included a collection (from the numerous) animal pictures that he has taken on this trip. I hope you enjoy and appreciate the affection from which they came, as I do.


Does this one count?

Early Morning in Cordoba

Grant woke me up at 9am this morning. What was he thinking? So we got an early start in Cordoba. It did work out for the best. We toured the city in the cool of the day and by the time everything closed for the afternoon siesta we were finished. I was able to have a little siesta of my own!

The cathedral in this city has a very different look than most European churches. It was a Christian church, then a mosque and then a church again. Because the same building has been converted several times the design is very unique.


BTW, I had my birthday dinner last night in a cute little plaza in the old city of Cordoba. Grant ordered fried sardines and liked them! How about that? I was shocked!

Scaling the Walls of Alhambra

One day to see everything in Granada. We were kind of on a schedule, so the timed entry ticket for the Alhambra (palace built by Moorish kings) was not working for us. Grant, ever the problem solver, said, “Let’s sneak in”. After 8 years I should not have doubted his ability to find a way and 5 minutes later we were in. To be clear, we did purchase tickets; we just didn’t have the time to wait for our appointed entry.


If you notice in the pictures I am wearing a dress and my 3” heels. Yes, I scaled the fence in that get-up. After the “break-in” we really enjoyed the palace. It was beautiful in its simplicity. The whole complex is constructed of wood, plaster and stone. What was created out of those common materials was a work of art.

It´s my Birthday!!!!!

Today is my 30th Birthday! We are in Granada, Spain for the day. It is beautiful here. Lots of small, winding streets and a mix of Spanish and Moorish architecture .

Statue of Queen Isabella and Christopher Columbus

Cathedral of Granada

Tomb of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella

I am now completely addicted to the Spanish way of life!! We wake up around 10 or 11 am and have breakfast, tour around until 2 or 3 pm and then take a break (maybe a nap or lay down in the park to read a book). We are back at it again by 4 pm and don´t have dinner until at least 10pm. The streets are hoppin´ until around 2am. By the time we make it back to the hotel it´s close to 3 am. I LOVE it!!!

Madrid

Madrid has really been a beautiful city. Grant and I were able to slow down a little here and enjoy the sites at a more relaxing pace.

We rented a boat in the Madrid Parque de Retiro


The Palace of Madrid is only used for State events. The King lives outside the city in a more modest estate.


The Plaza de Major was once the site of the Spanish Inquisition.

Is it wrong I cheered for the bull?

Don´t get me wrong, I don´t delight in human suffering. But if you choose to go into an enclosed area & torment an animal by stabbing it repeatedly, you deserve what is coming to you. I wonder, does the bull ever win?

I can´t help but think of the gladiator games in ancient Rome. Were they like this multiplied many times over? I really didn´t expect them to kill the bull. Some chasing the red cape and then off they go. Grant and I both thought it was barbaric and cheered for the bull. It´s a good thing no one around us spoke English. I don´t know how popular we would have been.