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Published: November 25th 2008
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Spain
Glorious, Fantastic - Is how I describe the weather has been in Spain, travelling along the bottom part of Spain for the past three weeks, it's being nothing but blue skies. A big contrast compared to the weather experienced along the French Rivera before entering Spain. So further south I stay and travel as I figure the weather much better down here in the coming European winter.
First stop - Barcelona, a vibrant city unlike the other cities I've visited here in Spain. I describe it as being Stylish, with Designer shops, Art, Architecture and wonderful cuisines. It's busy pedestrian boulevard Las Ramblas explodes with life from early morning until late at night. Lined with Street Artists, News Kiosks and souvenir vendors it makes for a pleasant evening stroll from the top at Placa De Catalunya all the way down to the water front. Where at the end stands the ´Mounument A Colom´- a statue of Columbus atop a tall pedestal, right arm stretched out finger pointing outwards, supposedly to the New World. The Port Vell (Old Port) nearby offers shops, restaurants and nightlife options.
East of the Port Vell is the wide white
sands of the Barceloneta beach fronts, now standing deserted, only a few lay basking in this Autumn sun. You can picture it been heavily populated in the summer time with beach goers. Now the masses are a few kilometers away in the main city centre, it very much bustling away with office goers, shoppers and tourists. Be it in the busy Barri Gotic (Gothic Quater) or El Raval district on either side of the 'Las Ramblas' boulevard. The L'Eixample area a vast grid like district to the North is also known for it's excellent shopping and draws many crowds.
One of Barcelona's favorite son's is no other than Antonio Gaudi - Architect- His works referenced to nature and Christianity. Such works as La Casa Mila, Casa Batllo, Park Guell are all accessible via the Cities Sight Seeing 'Hop On Hop Off' tour bus, and his most famous master piece is the 'La Sagrada Familia' commenced in 1882 and still a work in progress, "when are they going to complete this cathedral??", I've known about this since High School and College days. It is now estimated to be completed around year 2020 - construction and it's progress solely reliant
on public money donations.
Next city, Valencia - the birth place of Paella's where I feasted and knocked back on a few spanish Sangria's. Valencia is Spains third largest city, but staying in the Barrio DEl Carmen (Oldest Quarter) is where it is most charming and has character. Quirky shops, funky bars all nestled in its alleyway streets. Here I learned, in the Romanesque-Gothic-Baroque cathedral adjacent to the Plaza Virgen houses the chalice Christ supposedly used in the last supper and only Holy Grail recognised by the Vatican. But Valencia´s newest pride and joy is it´s futuristic architectural landmark known as ´Ciudad De Las Artes Y Las Ciencias´, simply translated to ´City of Arts and Science´- it is a grand complex of museums, performing arts centre, and Aquarium known as L'Oceanografic'. A spectacular building to explore and loose your self in.
A little north and central in Spain, I found myself in Madrid. Spain's capital and the hub of the country's government and commerce. This for me was another sprawling metropolis, it did not have the effortless elegance of other European capitals. My preference now, is for smaller historical cities with charm and cities closer to
the sea having that seaside feel. I was fortunate to have met a traveller (as you do) in Barcelona, who recommend I stop over in Granada as it was in the direction I am travelling. If I ever see this fellow again, I'd buy him a couple rounds of drinks.
Granada is a big city, but away from the modern part and sprawling metropolis is the maze like streets of the Albayzin neighbourhood up on a hill and on the other side of the River Darro is the commanding presence of the Alhambra - One of the greatest Islamic accomplishments of art and architecture - simply breath taking, but nothing can really prepare you for seeing the real thing in person. It is a Palace and a Fortess dating from the 11th to the 13th centries, perched high up on the hill offering spectacular views and against the backdrop of snow capped Sierra Nevad mountains. Here i spent a couple of days losing , myself in the Albayzin area and exploring the Alhambra.
Malaga is a Port City, there the beaches are wide with soft ash like colored sands. But I think the area suffers from it's proximity
to the overdeveloped and out dated streetscape - It's no Surfers Paradise or Beacon Cove. However the sunlight still shines on the sands allowing time to lay back and bask in the sun and ponder on my next move - where to from here? - before hiding away in the early afternoon behind the tall high-rise skyline.
Malaga is an enticing mix of pedestrianised streets in the 'Centro Historico' part of town, vibrant nightlife, Tapas bars and designer shops. It also has a world class gallery - Museo Picasso Malaga - displaying over two hundreds works of Picasso's career. The nearby Alcazaba, a fortress and Palace dating back to the 8th century is up on the hill top together with the Castillo De Gibralfaro, a Moorish castle. From here it commands spectacular views across the city and sea.
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