http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/karine/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from karine en-us Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:51:31 +0000 Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:51:31 +0000 This is one of my favourite cities in Spain The people were soo nice the city so accessible and especially the Muslim quarter Albayzin where I stayed was intimate cosy and homely. Rafa the hostel owner was possibly the nicest guy ever I decided to extend my stay and even though the hostel was full Rafa gave me his own bed while he slept on the sofa Now that's hospitalityThe Alhamb http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Andalusia/Granada/blog-195274.html Hot hot hot Spent most of my afternoons here just chilling in the airconditioned hostelThe Muslim influence is evident in the buildings around the city. I love the intricacy of it. The Alcazar here is quite amazing though I recommend seeing this before the Alhambra in Granada because that really overshadows any other palace in the country Unfortunately I missed out on seeing the inside of the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Andalusia/Seville/blog-195265.html Arrived in Rome to scorching heat I don't handle heat well especially not without a beach nearby Anyway I took a walk in the evening decided to just get a feel of the city. I walked into the path of the Colosseum so I thought heck why not just go in and take a look And as I was heading back to the hostel I walked right into the piazza where the Trevi Fountain was. That basically sums http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Rome/blog-186889.html Mallorca was beautiful weather was awesome and I got a great tan Didn't check out that many places but I reckon the beach and sun is that you go to Mallorca for anyway.Spent two weeks at the Calanova Sailing Club with 51 teens. Oh joy http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Balearic-Islands/Majorca/blog-181536.html One day and one night in Mlaga yet another whirlwind trip but it's a small enough city to enjoy in a day. Got a nice welcome from the hostel I stayed at Picasso's corner literally round the corner from where Picasso was born of course now turned into a 'fundacio'. I spent a good part of the day at the Alcazaba former palacefortress for the Muslim leaders built in the 11th century. Great http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Andalusia/M-laga/blog-142448.html The story in a nutshell goes that a local baker asked Sant Medir to cure him of an illness and the saint did. Thus the baker started a tradition of going round handing out sweets to the locals hence the candy fiesta nickname. Basically the parade consists of horsemenhorsewomen throwing out candy. It's like Halloween except kids don't go round to houses all dressed up they just stand in http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Catalonia/Barcelona/blog-135622.html What a whirlwind of a trip to Geneva. This is one of the reasons I decided to stay in Spain to take advantage of being able to be in another European country in two hours. Firstly I have to admit I woke up on Saturday morning not really wanting to take a flight anywhere after a long week. But I made myself go and was halfdozing off in the plane until for some reason I felt like opening the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Switzerland/South-West/Geneva/blog-121272.html Well well. One blink and Christmas is just around the corner Been awhile since I've posted anything on this travel blog. I guess that's because I've gotten into routine and have stopped feeling like I'm a traveller here. Hence the temporary halt in picturetakingHowever decorations on the streets of Barcelona really warrant some pictures especially since I doubt I'll be here next Christmas C http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Catalonia/Barcelona/blog-111873.html Zaragoza was freezing Didn't actually know that it was Spain's fifthlargest city until I got there.The Rio Ebro runs through it and the amazing Basilica De Nuestra Senora Del Pilar sits on the the edge of the river. The domes are decorated with tiles of green blue white and yellow and it's quite a sight to behold. There are also Roman walls here which are quite impressive. Didn't do any prope http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Aragon/Zaragoza/blog-111856.html A fourday festival of the patron saint of Barcelona or was it Catalunya First night was the opening with the sardana dance at the Cathedral gegants giants and fireworks at Placa Sant Jaume.Next night we headed to the Correfoc running with the dragons. You have been warned if you ever go for this bring something to cover your head AND the rest of your body because these dragons shoot http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Catalonia/Barcelona/blog-96865.html We had to go. It was Bananarama plus some popular local transvestites were making an appearance. This place is huge a few floors which play music to cater to every kind of taste.Laura and I were the only ones game enough to go but we had a ball gay parties rock http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Catalonia/Barcelona/blog-96862.html Went back to visit Gauds La Pedrera which I would recommended just for the experience of the roof Hes one amazing architect and has a style and sense of space unique unto himself. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Catalonia/Barcelona/blog-96859.html Here is one surprising city. I say surprising because you dont hear much about it but it is in fact a very modern city with a host of attractions. I have a feeling that Valencia has been somewhat snubbed by the country for political reasons but that's another kettle of fish which I don't want to open. Anyway there's a riverbed which is now covered and coverted into a 9km stretch of clean and we http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Valencian-Community/Valencia/blog-94807.html Back to explore the rest of the mountain the castle used as a prison for political prisoners before the Greek open theatre. Plenty of things to see here including the 1992 Olympic Stadium. Huge place to explore and it'll take at least a day to do all the spots.Laura and I took a bus here and for some reason decided that the furnicular could take us further up towards the castle so we didn't h http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Catalonia/Barcelona/blog-94846.html Saint Paul's Hospital still fully functional by architect Llus Domnech i Muntaner building started in 1901. This is an amazing piece of architecture and a World Heritage Site. It's the only hospital I know of where people actually go to just to sit and enjoy the views and relaxIf only all hospitals were this gorgeous. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Catalonia/Barcelona/blog-94842.html Went to catch the sound and light show at Montjuic fountains starts from 9pm and every half hour after. This must surely be the biggest fountain I've ever seen I don't see how anything else will ever compare to this.Music for the show was a tad tacky but ah.. can't win them all hey. Fountainwater show don't know what to call it was really good though Views of the place at night was great. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Catalonia/Barcelona/blog-94840.html The 3rd largest football stadium in the world and seats over 100000. Got to see the UEFA Cup WoooThere was a really interesting photography exhibition while I was there football images from various sporting magazines and newspapers. some terrific shots. Heaps of people waiting for the players to turn up for training imagine crowds welcoming you everyday when you get to work Haha. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Catalonia/Barcelona/blog-94837.html On the way back to El Hoyo from Avila we stopped by the Monasterio de San Lorenzo del Escorial. It's an incredibly impressive building with breathtaking scenery all around.Also including pictures here of the journey and the views on the road in the Communidad de Madrid region. No one could possibly be sleepy while driving around here http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/District-of-Madrid/El-Escorial/blog-94826.html Salamanca has the oldest university in Spain and is known for being a vibrant university town. Theres a little game people play in Salamanca where the objective is to search out a frog thats sculptured onto the faade of its University apparently if you find it without assistance youll have good luck and every other nice shiny happy thing you wish for. Guess I won't be getting any of that http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Castile-Leon/Salamanca/blog-94819.html Avila's another city with massive Roman walls these ones even higher than the ones in Lugo although here they charge you to go up on the walls and only allow a section of the walls to be climbed. It circles the old city and in here is also the Convento de Santa Teresa and in the Sala de Reliquia is an exhibit of St. Teresa's relics include a finger from her right hand We stopped at Avila http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Castile-Leon/-vila/blog-94805.html