SPAIN: The Genius of Gaudi - Combining Nature, Faith and Imagination in Barcelona

Antoni Gaudí was a distinctive architect and the leading figure of Catalan Modernisme (Art Nouveau).

His name is most associated with being the architect of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

Gaudí was influenced by his observations of nature since a child. He studied plants, animals, rock formations, shells, etc.

Instead of straight lines, he preferred curves. Instead of classical symmetry, he used organic forms.

He was deeply religious and very proud of his Catalan identity.

He combined all of these elements in his designs.

SPAIN: The Spanish Tradition of Vermouth

A lot of countries have a distinguishing traditional “adult beverage” of choice.

Think of Scotch, tequila, rum, rye, whiskey, etc.

In Spain, it is vermouth, or, as it is called locally, vermut.

Vermut began in Spain in the 1800's. 

By the early 1900's it had become very popular in Spanish life.

Traditionally, almost every town had a bodega (local lingo for a bar) serving its own house vermouth, often drawn straight from a barrel.

For purely educational purposes, we decided it would be a good idea to go visit a vermut distillery to learn more. 

SPAIN: Stone Villages in Catalonia’s Pyrenees Mountains

John and I both love the mountains, so checking out the Spanish Pyrenees mountain villages was a definite YES on our list of things to do in Barcelona.

Our first village to visit was Besalú, a medieval center in the lower foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains.

In its heyday, Besalú was a political, religious and commercial hub serving the surrounding countryside.

Its 12th-century Romanesque bridge over the Fluvià River is picturesque.

But it is more than just pretty.

SPAIN: Barcelona's Christmas Traditions

We were in Barcelona for 6 weeks and it coincided with Christmas and New Year’s, giving us the opportunity to experience the Christmas traditions that are unique to the region of Catalan.

Barcelona's main Christmas Market is the Fira de Santa Llúcia in the square in front of Barcelona’s Cathedral.

It goes back almost 250 years when the Christmas Market was first documented in 1786. 

It is one of Spain’s oldest Christmas markets and one of the oldest continuously held markets in Europe.

But it is different than the other European Christmas Markets.

SPAIN: Barcelona and St George the Dragon Slayer

A guide pointed out that there are a multitude of images of St George the Dragon Slayer throughout Barcelona.

After that, I used my astute skills of observation to start noticing them.

And sure enough, there are!

I’m a story teller so I had to learn the story behind it.

All good stories have some fact, fiction, chivalry, strife, evil and then invariably end with good prevailing. 

So here is the history, the legend and the legacy.

SPAIN: Barcelona's Hidden Palau de la Música Catalanas

I had heard that the Palau de La Musica Catalana was pretty special and to go see it.

It was a good thing we had a heads up to look for it, because it is sort of hidden. But, not really. If that makes sense.

It is more to say it is not in a prominent location, but instead the flamboyant building is squeezed into a tiny space. 

You have to know to go look for it. But when you find it – WOW!

SPAIN: Sevilla's Plaza de España

A “modern” attraction in Seville is the Plaza de España, built as the centerpiece of the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929.

At the time Spain was redefining itself after the loss of its empire. 

The project was intended to reassert Spain’s cultural importance plus strengthen ties with Latin America.

However, timing coincided with the onset of the Great Depression and unfortunately, the fair never achieved the economic success its organizers had hoped for.

SPAIN: Sunny Costa del Sol

The Costa del Sol stretches along Spain’s Mediterranean coast.

Remember that jingle "The rain in Spain stays mainly aboard the plane"?

With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, the Costa del Sol is known for sunny skies, warm summers and mild winters.

We like warm summers, sunshine and mild winters.

SPAIN: White Villages of Andalusia

As we drove through Andalusia in southern Spain we saw cute white villages nestled in the hills and steep mountains.

The white villages are known as pueblos blancos. 

(I am linguistically challenged, but even I can translate that!)

They look very pretty, but they are more than just pretty.

Most of these villages developed during the centuries of Islamic rule in Al-Andalus.

The white villages were planned strategically.

SPAIN: Multi-Layered Cordoba

I have become a bit of a History Geek, and the layers of history in Andalusia fascinate me. 

Let's start in 785 AD, when the construction of Cordoba's original mosque began, on top of the site of a former Visigoth church.

During the 10th century, Cordoba was the capital of Al-Andalus and an Islamic powerhouse city.

At the time, Cordoba was one of the largest and most sophisticated cities in Europe —renowned for learning, medicine, philosophy and architecture.

SPAIN: "Romantic" Ronda

Ronda dramatically sits on a high plateau in Andalusia (southern Spain).

Its history goes back to Roman times.

Followed by centuries of Islamic rule.  

Which was then followed by the Christian reconquest.

The natural beauty and turbulent history gives the town a romantic allure and attracted the "Viajeros Románticos".

SPAIN: Caminito Del Rey - Not For Those That Are Afraid Of Heights

Both John and I are afraid of heights.

Looking back at these photos, I do not know how we did it. 

The Caminito del Rey is a walkway in Andalusia, southern Spain, running through the narrow El Chorro Gorge north of Málaga.

It has wooden boardwalks hugging the cliffs high above the Guadalhorce River.

Literally translated, “caminito” means “little path.”

The name reflects how narrow and precarious the original walkway was, often no more than a meter wide (39 inches) and clinging to the cliff face.

When King Alfonso XIII came for a brief inspection and opening, the full name “Caminito del Rey,” “the King’s Little Path” became the name that stuck.

UNITED STATES: The Old Ghost Town of Terlingua

Since 2004, one of our favourite places to visit in Texas is Terlingua, near the Mexican border, just outside of Big Bend National Park.

It was a boom-and-bust town that rose quickly in the early 1900s and then emptied almost overnight in the 1940’s, leaving behind a haunting collection of stone ruins, crumbling buildings and old miner’s homes.

Today, Terlingua’s Ghost Town has a quirky mix of restored buildings, art studios and lived-in dwellings sitting beside abandoned ruins.

We describe it as the place that people go to drop out of society.

Or, it could be the place for people in the Witness Protection Program.

UNITED STATES: Big Bend in West Texas

We fell in love with Big Bend National Park, in West Texas, the first time we went in 2004.

It is a long 10 hour drive from Houston, but, the park is beautiful with mountains and desert.

It is so different than anywhere else in Texas.

So many Texans have never been and say they want to go, but somehow don't.

They don't know what they are missing!

In some ways it is the best kept secret in Texas.

UNITED STATES: Fall Colours

Our timing to dog-sit B-Mac at the end of October worked perfectly to see the leaves change to their fall colours. 

The Blue Ridge Mountains are known for having one of the longest and most colorful fall seasons in the eastern United States.

A major reason the colors are so vivid is the biodiversity of the mountains.

More than a hundred species of deciduous trees grow here, each changing at a different time and producing different shades.