I have learned more about my usual travel-interests, History - Architecture - Art. But also have felt more of a connection with real-Life amongst the Portuguese and Spanish-people, even with the language-barriers ;-).

And have added a whole new element to any of my-travels, the enjoyment and exploration of Gastronomy :-).

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My-biggest impressions of Portugal are, the 5-reals!!

RealLife+RealSimplicity+RealStruggles+RealWarmth+RealSadness.

Here comes a test, for anyone who reads the blog, to pronounce this statement in Portuguese:
>"Proxima paragem....Lisboa, estacao Santa Apolonia."

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And as for Espana (said in a very-deep voice), after 4-weeks moving my way from North to South. It's a land of great-contradictions.

Most people in-Spain are very athletic, but yet they smoke like chimneys?!
They speed like maniacs, but have mastered/invented the Paseo?!
Their cooking is plain/fridura, but has some amazingly spicy-moments?!

Most of all they have accomplished much as a Country, but still they are a collection of distinct&diverse-regions?!

And now the test for Espanol.
>"Atencion....AVE, destino Madrid....Puerta de Atocha."

Adeus/Adios :-(

Hogar, y pensamientos finales!! remains copyright of the author bojangles, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Before exploring L'Eixample-district, and the Modernisme-sites. First was La Manza de la Discordia, a block on Pg. Gracia-street that contains several of Gaudi's-works!!

Then a metro-ride to Hospital Sant Pau, designed by a compatriot of Gaudi.

Onto, La Sagrada Familia started by Gaudi, under-construction for 125-years, all by donation!! A monstrosity, that will be twice as-tall when done, there are real-fears it could be damaged by the high-speed rail-lines underneath :-(.

And finally, after a few miss-starts during the week, I was able to see the fantastic water/light/music-show of Fuenta Magica on Montjuic, very nice way to wrap-up!!

And one last-pic of Gaudi's La Pedera....my-copy of a postcard ;-).

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But I did gain new respect for the man's vision&style, he dabled in just about every art-form.

Then a lunch-break, before heading back towards Barce, but with a stop in Girona.

Cool little-town, with impressive-Catedral, confusing Jewish-quarter, and a 2-km walk of the walls ;-).

Fundacio Gala – Salvador Dali remains copyright of the author bojangles, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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In-depth view of the Artists work from a young-man until his death.

Then finally had Churros-con-Chocolate, not to bad, a been-there done-that moment.

Then some more walking around, this time in Barri Gotic, the oldest-part of Barce.

And some more shopping at ECI LOL!!

OH, and here are some pics of the hotel, not very-pink ROMALOL.

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If you notice the spelling of some-words has changed, this is because they are in Catalan, not Castellano/Spanish. After a rest in the park, I walked the water-front, and visited the Museu Martim de Barcelona, then explored Las Ramblas or pick-pocket-heaven ;-).

They have a huge-market on this street, but was packed, so instead headed to El Corte Ingles for some shopping :-). This evening I attended a concert at Palau de la Musica Catalana, over 100-years old Art-Deco, very-cool!!

Las Ramblas, y nada Robada ;-) remains copyright of the author bojangles, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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There are no pics, as I was traveling-light, I went to the resort-town of Sitges, which is 1/2-hr by train from Barce.

And since I am in Spain, I joined half the crowd in working on my TOTAL-tan LOL, should be an interesting sunburn ;-).

Sitges, y La Playa :-)))) remains copyright of the author bojangles, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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It's very close to Praca Catalunya, which is a very large-square, took the metro to Praca de Espanya, and walked up to Montjuic.

Then to the Olympic-stadium, to watch RCD Espanyol beat Malaga 3-0, awesome experience, chanting-singing-the wave :-))))

And the Academy-award for best-performance goes to....ROMALOL!!

Futbol, RCD Espanyol vs Malaga, 3-0 remains copyright of the author bojangles, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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One of the most amazing-days of my-life!!!!

“The only conqueror is God”,

Basically this day is devoted to exploring Madinat Al-Hamra, the Alhambra. A massive-complex constructed over several-centuries, by the Moorish-people of Spain. A more wonderful-place I have never seen, at least in the daylight this time.

I started of walking thru the complex, to Generalife-gardens. The use of natural-space/plants/buildings/and agua, is amazing!!

Then a walk back-thru El Secano, the former-Medina of the city, there is not much left from Moorish-times.

A quick visit to Palacio de Carlos V, constructed many years after the Reconquista.

Marched up&into the fortress-citadel of Alcazaba, parts of which were the first thing built on this hill.

And onto the grandest-portion of the Alhambra, Los Palacios Nazaries!!!!

Starting with Mexur.

Then, the middle-one Comares.

And finally the most famous-one, Patio de los Leones.

As an after-thought there was the Partal, a garden area along the walls.

Though the shadows of these walls have long since gone, the memory of them will live on as the final refuge of dreams and art. And then the last nightingale to breath on this earth will build its nest and sings its farewall song among the glorious ruins of the Alhambra....F Villaespesa

After that a walk-down a trecherous-trail, and then much needed agua/sangria and gazpacho ;-).

My last sites of the day, before heading to the train-station. Were Catedral de Granada, a very-unusual place, and Capilla Real, where Isabella&Ferdinand are buried, she's the Queen whom gave Columbus his money to go explore ;-).

Renfe TrenHotel destino Barcelona....Buenas-Noches!!

Visita Gerneral, Alhambra y Generalife remains copyright of the author bojangles, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Also the group was very-small, met 2-lovely friends from Canada, Connie who is from Victoria, and Sheila who is from Toronto. We had great conversation/laughs/shopping, and back in Granada we had lunch-tapas together. Part of the enjoyment of tapas, is in the sharing of the experience with friends/fellow-travelers :-).

And finally a true picture of me, hope this makes WendyB happy LOL.

Had supper on Plaza Nueva, next to the hotel. Reading up on the Alhambra, before the in-depth visit tomorrow. Ohhh, and Spain is a salt-lovers dream, sometimes it's even to much for me!!

Conversación/Ríe y el Aceite de Oliva remains copyright of the author bojangles, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Basically I just walked around, did some-shopping in the Alcaiceria, the closest thing to Morocco I will see ;-).

Then onto one of the top-reasons I came to Spain. A sublime-nocturnal visit to the Alhambra, where at times you can find yourself all alone with the history&beauty of this magical-place!!!!

My camera doesn't take good night-pics, so will only tease you with a few, will post better ones after the daytime visit ;-).

Noche en Alhambra remains copyright of the author bojangles, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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A great start to the day, I visited Puente Nueve, a bridge-spanning the dramatic river-gorge, which Hemingway wrote about in his book,“For Whom The Bell Tolls”. Ronda was the site of massacres during the Civil-War, prisoners were tossed into the gorge!!

Then Plaza de Toros, > bullfighting-ring where the modern-Corrido was born. There are some impressive-parks with views of the gorge.

In the afternoon I walked around the Ciudad, > old Moorish-area. Visited a couple sites, but mostly hiked down/up the gorge PANT!!!!

Had a nice supper, in a restaurante with great views, the all hell-broke loose, firecrackers and honking-horns, it seems FC Barcelona won the European Champion's League in football, it means when I get to Barcelona in 3-days, it will be party-central :-) & :-(.

Hemingway, Corrida, y la guerra-civil Espanola remains copyright of the author bojangles, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Then over to Sandeman, for a tour&tasting of Sherry, which by the way is based on the name Jerez!!

Then tonight I switch bases to Ronda, this will be my last bus-ride :-). The bus-trip was thru amazing-vistas, if anyone chooses to visit Espana, renting a car, and driving the white-hill-towns in Andalucia, should be top on their list!!!!

Real Escuela Andaluza Ecuestre, y Sandeman remains copyright of the author bojangles, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Almost everywhere has a view :-).

Had a short walk around town, confirmed bus connections for the next few days.

Now am enjoying the best coffee I have had in Espana, gotta love espresso!! Catching some rays on the hotel rooftop-terrace, watching “The Backs of Birds” as locals say ;-).

Had a wonderful supper at the Parador, same name as the town. A Parador is a converted historical-building, into hotel&restaurante, in the 90's part of the hotel fell-off!!!!

Arcos de la Frontera remains copyright of the author bojangles, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Then a visit to Catedral de Sevilla, and walk up Giraldo-tower. The Cathedral is massive, 3rd largest in the world, some say largest in floor-space. The tower and the orange-gardens are the only surviving parts of the Mosque that stood on the site.

Then a little relaxing&typing up on the Hotel-terrace, was up till 4-am enjoying the nightlife, am to old for that ROMALOL.

OMG!!, nothing could have prepared me for the intensity of live-Flamenco, had to remind myself to breath!!

Es Domingo, Uno debe ir a la Iglesia ;-) remains copyright of the author bojangles, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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After that a very enjoyable visit to Real Alcazar de Sevilla, very pretty mostly in the blended Mujedar-style.

The Jardin, or gardens are especially nice. Then some blogging, drinking Cava on the rooftop-terrace of the hotel ;-).

Dormer, Comer y Real Alcazar de Sevilla remains copyright of the author bojangles, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Did some major-shopping, along Calle Tetuan, then walked along the riverbank, not the best area LOL.

And as it was getting very-hot again I scooted back to the hotel for my siesta.

In the evening people-watched and bought a ticket for Flamenco show on Sunday, the only available!!!!

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The hotel is like a mini-concert hall, I even attended a free-one tonight :-). Good thing I have 3-full days here, as I am in city-shock LOL.

Mi nuevo Amor es Sevilla! remains copyright of the author bojangles, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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But the half-butchery of the place is very upsetting, you can see the way the Moors had built to embrace-nature with water&light, and how this was covered with the trappings of the Catholic-Church, it's sad as Mass-started, it echoed in the forest of pillars :-(.

After regrouping I walked further around La Juderia, the former Jewish quarter, also upsetting that after 700-years of Moorish-rule, they too suffered after the Reconquista, and underwent the Diaspora, or dispersal of there culture&life :-(.

Then to lighten my mood I wandered around San Basilio, and it's amazing tableau of private-Patio's ;-).

Belleza y Carniceria :-( remains copyright of the author bojangles, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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The afternoon/evening was a wash-out, am feeling very-ill, the heat is like a blast-furnace, well over 34+. So did some laundry, got some fruit&liquids, and cranked up the air conditioning, and went to sleep!!!!

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Then visited Palacio Real de la Granja de San Ildefonso, a mini-Versailles with more impressive gardens, and a mountain setting!!!!

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And a simple-classy Monasterio San Juan de los Reyes, bought some "Mazapan", an almond-dessert, did some expensive-gift shopping. And had a long commune with several El Greco paintings :-).

Ohhhhh, and at WendyB's request a pic of me, well my feet :-)

Santos Toledo y Caliente! remains copyright of the author bojangles, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Then to Valle de los Caidos, Valley of the Fallen, a huge-somber memorial to victims of the Spanish Civil War, and Franco is buried here as well, it's a place not without controversy!!

Then back to Madrid, for paseo&shopping, and a siesta....

Then for evening fun I headed to Plaza de Castilla, a working class-area, with funky-buildings, and the Cuatro-Torres complex, 4-huge structures visible from 40-km's outside the city!!!!

Muerte y Conmemoracion remains copyright of the author bojangles, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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OHHHHHHHHHH, and will only be taking a bit of cash in my pocket....

And just finished talking to Sue at work, will see how much the phone-call costs latter LOL.

One slight miscalculation, a lot of Spanish-people are chain-smokers, and I should have guessed that applied to bars/clubs, so the first one I went into, I had to leave in seconds, as my eyes were on fire :-(.

So instead I had one long enjoyable Paseo, with mama&papa, ninos/ninas and after 10-pm hookers&etc ROMALOL!!

Dormer y Comer y Partido, Madrilenos-estilo!!!! remains copyright of the author bojangles, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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And one of the biggest Catedral I have seen yet, mostly because it was built onto a much older one. Oh and the Plaza Mayor in Salamanca is very nice as well, better picture when there is no fair going on :-(

Tonight I went to Plaza Mayor here in Madrid to watch some Zarazuela, or light-opera, and I am hooked on "Gazpacho", the cold-tomato-garlic soup, and sangria, but not tapas or paella :-)

:-) una-Universidad, una-Rana, dose-Catedrales remains copyright of the author bojangles, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Then onto Catedral Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena, a very modern-simple place.

After a short lineup, I toured Palacio Real de Madrid, a monumental place, that is more impressive than Versailles. Then some shopping around Gran Via ;-). For "Cena", > supper had a classic Castillian-meal, roast-suckling pig, LOL that will do wonders for the gout!!

Amo hoy Madrid! remains copyright of the author bojangles, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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