MEXICO: Tequila

There is a small town called Tequila, about 60 km northwest of Guadalajara.

Every country has what I term, its local “hooch”, or adult alcoholic beverage of choice.

It is always based on what can be produced locally.

Tequila is famous as the birthplace of the liquor spirit tequila, which is made from the local blue agave plant.

We had to go check out the town, and the liquor... for purely educational purposes.

Tequila, the town, is designated a Pueblo Mágico (“Magic Town”.) 

This is a recognition given by the Mexican government to places with cultural and historical richness.

MEXICO: Guadalahara's José Clemente Orozco and his Murals

Guadalajara is proud of one of their favourite sons - José Clemente Orozco (1883–1949).

José Clemente Orozco was one of Mexico’s most important muralists and a central figure in the Mexican Mural Movement.

As a teenager, a fireworks accident was severe enough that his hand had to be amputated, and he went on to build his career painting with one hand.

He lived through the Mexican Revolution, and, unlike some contemporaries, Orozco did not romanticize the revolution. 

His murals often show violence, suffering, and the human cost of political upheaval.

His style is dramatic, with strong lines, intense expressions, and bold contrasts.

MEXICO: Guadalajara

After Barcelona we had to make a trip to Houston for “routine medical appointments”.

(One of the downsides to being retired, is being “old”.)

So we figured while we were in the “neighbourhood” we’d pop down to Guadalajara, Mexico.

Guadalajara was founded in 1542.

The Spanish colonial city is Mexico’s second-largest metro area.

SPAIN: Unique Mix of Architecture

I debated if I should write another blog post on the architecture in Barcelona, especially after such a long post on Guadi.

But then I decided I would consider this a quick little BONUS blog post on the architecture of the city, outside of Gaudi....

Parts of the original Roman walls still stand in what is now the Gothic Quarter.

For centuries, Barcelona lived inside those walls. 

The streets were narrow and irregular, built for defense and shade rather than beauty.

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".