Spain

The Winner Takes It All – Song of Roland

/ Leya / 31 kommentarer

”I am watching your every step…”

Towards Pas de Rolande, where Charlemagne’s army was ambushed after the sacking of Pamplona – celebrated in the medieval poem, Song of Roland.

Along the road we met a herd of, what we believe was, Iberian wild goats. The gamey smell filled the air, and soon we saw them climbing the stony slopes up on our right side as well.

As they were rather close to the road, about 5-10 metres up, we could study them roaming the bushes, popping up a head every now and then.

We reached the rock formation in the gorge. According to legend, the gap once was created by Roland’s horse.

On my way back, alone, (my husband went back before me) the strong smell from the goats appeared again. And, I was lucky to witness this piece of wild life -love life!

The chase…
and…the mating
The fight when his foe challenges him
The loser turns back…
Then posing alone on the rock

”Well, I have seen it before…and in my  younger days I would…

…win all of those fights…”

It Is All About Bulls…

/ Leya / 5 kommentarer

A rather big city, renowned for its yearly dangerous race between men and bulls…

…running along this street…

…ending up in the arena on the other side of these red doors.

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The man who made this race known to the whole world had a street named after him here – just beside the arena.

And he happens to be one of my favourite authors. Although I must say the monument does not do him justice…

Surely you, by now, know where we are in Spain?  – Pamplona!

 

Thursday Thoughts – The Beach

/ Leya / 36 kommentarer

Sometimes strange things happen…like a jigsawpuzzle everything just fits in, and you experience a picture you thought you would never see…

…or be able to walk into. This happened to us this July, on the north coast of Spain. We had booked a hotel for the night, and had checked our guide books as usual – nothing special here in Santiago de Reinante…

But, I got a hint from a leaflet I saw at the hotel…that maybe we should go down to the beach. A square of 2×2 cm pictured Catedrales, a very special beach it seemed…

We soon realised that a permission was needed to walk the beach – it is a UNESCO World Heritage! Nothing, absolutely Nothing in our books had us prepared for these magnificent views.

My heart sank, maybe we would have to stay on the cliffs and not come down…But, there were very effective assistants on the steps down, and they helped us getting the permit via Internet – so,  we were two of the 4000 people allowed on this beach per day. My heart jumped and beat so hard I could feel it in my throat. This was so unreal…How could there be ebb as well? How could we be so lucky?

We walked for hours and hours…endless kilometres…trying to savour this moment as the precious gift it was. Unbelievable. This was not happening…

I never wanted the sun to go down, never wanted to leave this magnificent world…

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But finally the sunset had to come, and the night closed in. I cannot say how grateful I am for this evening gift. Pictures cannot convey …my deepest feelings.

I wish you all such wonderful and unexpected gifts – and a good night!

 

More facts and photos on this beach at Albatz Travel Adventures.

Abandoned

/ Leya / 27 kommentarer

We passed the tiny village Castro in our search for the hidden monastery. After the visit there, the decision was easy –  to park the car and walk up the main street of Castro.

At first sight it looked abandoned, but …electricity and a TV antenna told another story.

Maybe food storage
Number three…
…and the Marguerites

And all those doors…most of them belonging to abandoned houses or houses torn down – the door opening onto endless meadows behind… every door having its own secret story.

And, somebody is caring for the lonely rose.

The Enchanted Monastery

/ Leya / 22 kommentarer

Monasterio de Santa Cristina (Ribas de Sil) in Galicia, Spain, originates from the 11th century, when monks came here to live in seclusion to meditate.

We had great difficulties in finding the hidden monastery, and had to follow winding roads for miles. Then a multitude of stone steps down…but, we were richly rewarded.

There is not much written about the monastery, or its church, but the very location and surroundings are enigmatic. I hope you noticed the stone faces watching us from above in the header…

You can only imagine all the trouble getting the stones for the monastery down here…
…and the impressive church

Hidden in the forest, it was impossible to get an overview of the buildings. We walked up the layered paths, and the unreal feeling only escalated. Not many monks have ever lived here – but how did they survive? It seemed impossible that they would have grown anything in this stone paradise. No matter how green it was…

The cross on top of the church
Stones, stones…
…and majestic stone fences in layers

The old trees all seemed to be aware of us being there…and as I turned around on the path, one of them made my eyes wander up the trunk for his message…resting some four, five meters up…

Thursday Thoughts – El Capricho

/ Leya / 12 kommentarer

Why do I love Antonio Gaudí? Maybe because of his love for nature’s wonders – starting when he was only a small child. His way of using nature’s forms and designs in everything he created. Making the pillars in Sagráda Família with scars like the tree trunks get when they have lost a branch, making lamps look like flowers and light spill out like waves in the sea…

In every detail he was …mirroring nature.

In Comillas, on the north coast of Spain, you will find this ”folly” – El Capricho – by Gaudí, built for Máximo Díaz de Quijano (a relative of the marquis of Comillas) in the 1880´s. You immediately recognize his style using iron structures, glazed pottery and stained glass.

Come, let’s take a ”folly” walk …

Look out for the iron balconies with built in sofas…
Sunflowers on the tiles
Symmetry
In the bathroom – nature rules
I could dine here…

In my dreams, a dinner with Antonio Gaudí would be optional… to get the opportunity to listen to his ideas and maybe discuss nature’s impact on humans – body and soul. I would have had many, many questions…

I was lucky enough to meet him in his garden, sitting there admiring his work. I tried to get some answers, but mostly we sat quietly contemplating…me admiringly of course. But, I am so thankful for having finally met him – my favourite architect.

Cee’s Black&WhitePhoto Challenge: Things With Engines or Motors

/ Leya / 6 kommentarer

Well…I’m not sure it had any engine or motor – but I liked it!

Cee is asking for engines and motors…here is a car I fancied – and so did the man in it!

For more engines, click here.

 

Travel theme: Pastel

/ Leya / 14 kommentarer

In northern Spain, we feasted on bay windows (I have always wanted one…). Mostly white and covering the whole front of the houses, but I also found some in colour. For Ailsa, pastel is the choice.

 

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