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OK, I did threaten – I mean promise – in my last post that I would regale you with the delights to be had touring the grand Plaza de España in Seville.  I try to make good on my thr…commitments Here you will find a masterpiece that was created by Aníbal González for the Ibero-American Exposition in 1929. 

Read the entire post » Seville: Plaza de España

I guess I’m on a roll.  My last posts were about the amazing park, Parque Guell, in Barcelona and I now find myself reminiscing about another absolutely enchanting place to spend hours in Seville, in the Andalusian south of Spain. 

Read the entire post » Maria Luisa Park: Seville’s Garden Gem

Last week I lured you to take a stroll through a park with me.  So now that you’ve arrived at Barcelona’s outdoor treasure of Gaudi sculptures, fountains, paths, benches and arcades that make up Parque Guell, the best thing to do is savor the one-of-a-kind components and delights. 

Read the entire post » Barcelona’s Parque Guell – Part II: More Glorious Gaudi

We’ve all been to parks.  From the simple neighborhood gathering places where moms happily sit on benches absently rocking their babies in strollers while watching their toddlers frolic on the swings and the now-rare merry-go-rounds.  Some have shaded glens of oaks, pines, aspens, or a combination of trees that play a backdrop of rustling music while you read, or picnic or even loll romantically with your honey. 

Read the entire post » Barcelona’s Parque Guell – Part I: More Glorious Gaudi

This was my fourth visit to Spain and I finally secured a date with Toledo.  On my first stay there, over twenty years ago, I was living at my friend’s flat in Madrid, only a quick jaunt to Toledo by car and an easy 35-minute train ride from the Atocha station.  In those summer days of Spain, my friend and I were more intent on savoring and sampling the famed nightlife – or more like the early morning life! – of Madrid and it’s lively lavish clubs on the outskirts of the city.  In over a month, we never found the time, or woke up before noon, in order to make the trip.

Read the entire post » First Date: Toledo, Spain

I’m sure many of you have had this experience: You sit, fully sated and happily intoxicated with the smells and tastes of a fine meal and some relative — usually the matriarch of your family — insists that you have yet another serving of the dumplings, or eggplant, or casserole. 

Read the entire post » Food As Love: Finding Food Love in Seville, Spain

I take lots of pictures. Not necessarily great ones, but I try to capture memories and impressions…mostly for myself but I do like sharing!  There are so many big things in Spain: big cathedrals, big flowers, big dresses, big skies, big music, big platters of food (little ones too! Tapas – yummmm ) oops! Back on topic. 

Read the entire post » Patterns of Spain

After a day of dancing, drinking, dust!…and being asked “estas sola?”, I was still holding out hope to see a procession carrying the statue of the virgin through the streets of the Andalusian horse town of Rocio.  By 6pm – when it was apparent the virgin wasn’t making her appearance any time soon -  the party was just warming up and the best of the best flamenco-bedecked senoritas and handsome and skilled caballeros were emerging from the casitas.

Read the entire post » Rocio-Part III: Estas Sola? & Carpe Didn’t ‘em

I didn’t think I would like Gaudi.  In fact, from what I had seen, I thought his creations were just flamboyant, showy and gaudy.  Thank goodness it rained that fateful day in Spain.

Read the entire post » Oh My Gaudi! Being Broadsided by Casa Batllo

Touted as the largest festival in all of Spain, the Romeria del Rocio in the Andaluz region of southern Spain attracts the reverent, the revelers and the curious.  The romeros (travelers) come in various modes of transport with the preferred method being the carreta, or oxen-drawn carts and wagons…sort of like covered wagons, but with lace bonnets.  No motorized transport allowed for true pilgrims.

Read the entire post » Romeria del Rocio, Spain: A Pilgrimage and Spectacle Like No Other Part I

It’s amazing the things you can uncover by meandering slowly through the sites of any city, and even returning repeatedly.  This was not my first visit to this ancient and awe-inspiring Alcazar of Seville, or the Alcázares Reales de Sevilla in Spain. Not even my second.  I have been lucky enough to tour this gem of Seville and the grounds five times before whilst on holiday and Oh! the treasures I enjoy each time I stroll through this royal palace.

Read the entire post » Seville, Spain: Hidden Treasures of the Alcazar

Eyeballs…meet eyelids.  It’s been so long I think you may have forgotten you are acquainted My time here in Spain has been a whirlwind.  Unbelievably, I am learning español (don’t test me, though!). I sleep on average 5 hours a day, and usually it is broken into chunks…it´s my travel endorphins that keep me going.

Read the entire post » Spain: Synonymous with Sleeplessness