That first trip was part of our European voyage that included France, Italy and Switzerland, three countries that will eventually be included in this blog. On the second trip, in 1994, we were accompanied by 40 friends and Anthony, our oldest son, with his new wife, Karen, and also our youngest son, Allen.
SPAIN has a fantastic architecture, with innumerable parks, monuments, statues and gardens. The fields are almost totally cultivated, especially with wheat, olives and grapes. Its history can be felt around the narrow streets that exist in every town (not only Toledo) and in their ancient mosques, alcazars and churches. Spain is also a delight because of its exquisite cuisine but, most of all, for its people. Charming, hard working individuals and the most beautiful women, especially in Andalusia.
The “Autovías” are usually well maintained, and a toll is charged to travel on them. Hotels, restaurants, rental cars, gasoline, etc., is more expensive in Europe, as you may know. The gas, on our first trip was very expensive compared to US. It was $3.00 a gallon. Nowadays is more than $8.00 a gallon, although 70% is taxes.
Most of the bars are also restaurants. At lunch or dinner time, there are crowded with people eating standing up. If the food is taken to their tables, the price is higher. They serve the most varied and delicious food in Spain, at moderate prices. The tapas are an extensive type of hors-d’oeuvres, each bar specializing in a different one. Paella, probably the most famous Spanish dish, is prepared and cooked differently in every region. The rice is usually tender inside but a little crispy on the outside, as it is cooked in a hot skillet.
Andalusia boasts the prettiest girls. Fair skin and green or blue eyes, with long blonde hair. Men are also very handsome. Gitanas (gypsies) have dark skin with black eyes and hair and tough looking. Some of them are beggars, who touch you a lot to see if they can steal your wallet.
After spending a couple of nights in MADRID, on our first trip, we picked our rental car and drove to TOLEDO. The tortuous, narrow coble-head streets instantly captivate your attention. After Toledo, we visited CORDOBA, with its extraordinary mezquita that contains 850 columns of marble, onyx and alabaster.
In SEVILLE, we visited the immense Gothic cathedral (second largest in the world) where Columbus mausoleum is located. Attached to it is the Giralda, the beautiful Moorish edifice.
Next day we arrived at CADIZ, the port from which Columbus departed on most of his travels to the new world; then continued to ALGECIRAS, in front of Gibraltar.
Before reaching Granada, we visited other towns on this road: Marbella, Fuengirola, Torremolinos and Malaga. A few miles from this road is MIJAS, a very picturesque village high in the mountains, impeccably clean, with all the houses on white stucco with red-tile roofs. The taxis in town are burros.
GRANADA is undoubtedly the most beautiful of the Spanish cities. The Alhambra palace is the most important and appealing Moorish palace in Spain. The walls, colums and ceilings are made out of chalk and look like very intricate pieces of lace. The Jardines del Generalife, the summer palace of the caliphs, are so meticulously kept that they entice your imagination.
MURCIA, the place where my wife’s ancestors lived, is reached via a dangerous road across the mountains, but with fantastic views of the Sierra Nevada, with its snow-capped peaks.
We slept at ALICANTE and next day arrived at VALENCIA, drove through the outskirts of BARCELONA and arrived at GIRONA, close to the French border, where we spent the night.
After travelling for a couple of weeks through France, Italy and Switzerland, we came back to Spain, via SAN SEBASTIAN, in the Basque country.
Then it was SEGOVIA, with its majestic gothic cathedral and the imposing alcazar. After visiting El Valle de los Caídos (where Generalisimo Franco is buried) and the museum of El Escorial, we arrived at Madrid again for a night’s rest.
The following morning we stopped at CUENCA, which is famous for its “hanging houses” that are built half way out on a high cliff. Then we visited the Castillo de BELMONTE in La Mancha, and the windmills at MOTA DEL CUERVO, supposedly Don Quixote’s venue. Last town visited, before getting back to Madrid, was ARANJUEZ, where we had the best meal of the whole trip (estofado de perdiz).
On our second trip in 1994, with 40 other people in a chartered bus, we visited some of the same places, and added the walled city of AVILA, where the famous Sta. Teresita de Jesus lived. Then we traveled on our own with our youngest son to Asturias and then drove around the Cordillera Cantábrica on the northern part of Spain, with its famous Picos de Europa, the highest peaks in the Spanish continent. There are several interesting little towns in this area, including CASTRO URDIALES. On the road back to Madrid, we enjoyed the view of several castles, like Peñafiel, Cuellar and Coca, all of them outstanding.
THANKS for visiting.
