On a beach in the Mediterranean..

Missing my carefree days on the Costa del Sol

Plaza de España

This plaza is located in central Madrid. I really the atmosphere and vibe in and around most of the plaza's in Spain. The Plaza de España is centerpieced by a large monument honoring Miguel de Cevantes, the renowned Spanish novelist who wrote Don Quixote.

I took took the top photograph on May 1, 2010. May 1st is national Labour Day in Madrid. It was a right around sunset and some sort of fair/cultural event was going on in the plaza. Lots of people out and about enjoying the day.

I took this picture(below) the next day while going by on the bus.

The Spanish culture is known for its late starts and ends to the day and nowhere is this more visible than in Madrid.

Columbus Day

The Cathedral in Sevilla, Spain

Inside the cathedral...tomb of Christopher Columbus

Columbus monument outside the cathedral

The new world....Columbus Circle NYC

Granada

Panorama I took from the Plaza de San Nicolas. The Alhambra is straight ahead on the hill, to the left and behind it are the Sierra Nevada mountains, and to the right down below is the city of Granada.

Andalusia

Hot Hot Hot...I think the siesta was created in Sevilla

Uno..Dos..Adios

Took a bus from La Linea(Gibraltar) to Algeciras. Partway bus got a flat tire. Had to wait on side of highway. New bus pulls up. I and half of the people on flat tire bus get on new bus. Destination unknown. Bus goes to Algeciras harbor. Stay on bus. Time passes. Bus continues onward. Bus goes to Algeciras station. Relief

Alcázar de Segovia

About an hour north of Madrid lies the town of Segovia.

Segovia has a very cool Alcazar(castle) which was built on the side of an extremely steep cliff. The town Segovia itself is shaped like a ship and the Alcazar lies at the bow, or front, of the ship. From the top of the castle you can see for miles out across the Spanish countryside. With rolling green hills and valleys with mountains with snow in the distance. On this particular day the weather was pretty unsettling but this actually made the experience much more memorable. Looking out from the top you could see patches of rain and thunderclouds drifting about in the distance with the sun mixing inbetween. The wind was cold and howling at the base of the Alcazar where I took this picture.

¡Viva España!

Holy Toledo

A goodbye glipse of Toledo while leaving on the bus back to Madrid..

1yr ago today.

Museo del Prado

The Prado museum is probably one of the largest museum's that I've been to. Its 4 diverse floors definitely have something for everyone's taste. A lot of famous stuff inside. I found myself looking at certain paintings saying "I recognize that", or"I've seen that before somewhere in a history book or at school."

I also happened to go on May 2, which is a public holiday in Madrid. Therefore entrance to the Prado is free on May 2nd.

Spain's Culture Capital

Tour groups descending upon the church of Santo Tomé

Inside is El Greco's most famous painting "The Burial of the Count of Orgaz"

Luckily Since I was staying in Toledo I had already gotten there and was able to see it before the mass of day trippers arrived.

Sevilla, España

Tracks

Plaza Mayor

Marbella

A slice of heaven on the Mediterranean

Atlético Madrid

Madrid's "other" football club

The Heart of SPAIN

to the cathedral

to the river

Spanish Clouds

¡Real Madrid!

Generalife

Walls of Ávila