Our Trip to Spain

 

(Above:  Selfie with Toledo in the background.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

We've been home for just over a week but it has taken until today for me to sort through more that 550 pictures, catch up on overdue correspondence, and do all the little things that needed done after being away for eight days!  In a nutshell, however, the trip to Spain was FABULOUS.  Yes, it rained a bit while we were in Madrid but not on the days when we went to Toledo and Zarazoga.  When it rained, we stayed in a few of Madrid's magnificent museums. Photography isn't allowed at the Prado but I made up for those hours with dozens of pictures from Reina Sofia and the Thyssen Museum.  I'm not going to post any of those.  Why?  Well ...this blog post is going to be a long one and the artwork can be accessed on-line!

We also walked a lot, more than 20,000 Fitbit steps most days.  We climbed towers and followed paths outlined in our Lonely Planet guide book.

We even stayed in a room in Zaragoza with the most amazing view to the main plaza and the imposing facade of the basilica.

We visited the royal palace (and recommend to anyone going to Madrid that they go there too ... and get advanced tickets to avoid the very, very long line.  Also, book an English tour.  It was grand and far better than wandering around with information headsets.)

 

I couldn't get over just how ornate every room really was!

 

The floors were gorgeous; the fabric exotic; the mirrors and clocks and furniture ... just WOW!

 

The chandeliers were simply over-the-top!

 

We visited the Temple of Debod, one of the few structures that were physically moved, piece by piece, from out of the area that is now under water due to the building of the dam on the Nile River.
 

 

On Sunday, there's a giant flea market in Madrid.  Visually, it was stunning to see all the vendors ... especially the one selling all sorts of picture frames!

We sought out unique architecture ...

... and visited several covered markets.

At one place, I added my prayer to thousands of others!

We didn't have a meal at the restaurant under this rooster sign ...

... but we did eat very, very well.  One night we had a traditional leg of lamb. Another night we had a seafood paella.  On this occasion, we ordered tapas ... both cold ones and hot ones.  We really have no idea what we ate because the restaurant was very much a locals hang-out.  We told our waitress to pick for us!  Everything was delicious.

I lost count of the beautiful churches we visited. Some were ancient. Some were much newer.  All of them, however, included elaborate decoration and a variety of styles.

The vaulted ceilings were often stunning.

Many were part of a larger complex with a cloistered courtyard.

Statues filled the many side chapels.

I can't ever remember seeing so much gold!

Even smaller niches were intricate.

We visited a synagogue and another church strongly inspired by Moorish design.

Ornate patterns were everywhere!

Domes were often over-sized and soared to unusual heights.

Several churches maintained separate museums ... like one for a grand collection of tapestries ...

... and another for stained glass masterpieces.  All in all, the time in Spain was inspirational and fun!