Spanish Vacation impressions and pics

Rob and I were Spain for a week in early December. Here are my general impressions:

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Fisherman at sunset in Cadiz


Spain was pretty incredible, and had so many different facets to it. In some ways the Mediterranean architecture and ocean seemed like part of LA, in some ways picture-postcard Spain, and in some ways (particularly some of the castles) out of a fairy tale.

Rob and I at Alhambra castle


We were in Andalusia, the southern party of Spain. You drive through mile upon mile of olive trees and rolling green hills. They have been cultivating olives here for the last 3,000 years! The cities are all built with gleaming white houses, in the local style. Many are purched on hilltops, so the rise atop the mountain from the green hills. Many of the cities retain the Middle-eastern Moorish influence even almost 900 years after the Moors left Spain. Houses have a plain white outside with characteristic "keyhole" doorways, but inside is beautifully tiled with gardens and fountains.



The castles are unbelievable. At the same time the Western Europeans were living in drafty stone castles, the Moorish Sultans were living in glistening white palaces with heating, plumbing and beautiful gardens. Every square inch of the walls and ceiling area decorated in mosaics, plaster art or paintings. The most incredible, something everyone should see once in a life time, is the Alhambra, the palaces in Granada.

Alhambra castle "Court of Lions"


he Siesta is alive and well in Spain! Every day from about 2-5 all the shops all close (including tourists shops) for the afternoon break. The Spanish eat at a totally different schedule too - small breakfast in the early morning, snack at about 11, a heavy meal at about 2-3 (during Siesta), then dinner after 9 PM. Woe to the tourist hungering for a meal at 6 or 7 PM, most restaurants are not even open yet! A must try in Spain is Tappas - small plates with of just about anything - you can make a whole meal out of the small plates of a variety of foods!



We saw many Sea-kitties in Spain. There seems to be a large population of feral cats living on the rocks near the water. I think they live on the offal from the local fisherman. We also saw locals coming to feed them. They all looked pretty well fed, but must not enjoy the rain!

Spanish Sea Kitties


For those that like chic clothes, Spain is the place for you! I think it is a law that women have to wear stylish heels or leather boots, even to do grocery shopping. You see shoe shops with beautiful shoes on every corner, about the same rate as Starbucks in LA. Grannies walk down the street in fur coats and stylish leather flats. Tweens and teens wear stylish "skinny jeans" and sweaters, ladies wear stylish coats and slacks. Even the little kids looked like something out of a winter postcard, with bows in the little girls hair and matching little coats and tights. I felt downright dowdy in my regular jeans and Dutch winter jacket, but I bought some pretty Spanish sweaters and shirts.

Torromolinos


Driving in Spain is not for the faint of heart. Traffic lights and signs are more warning than law, as running red lights seems a national sport. Mopeds race around every corner and between cars. I think the street sign department had major cutbacks, since we never really saw street signs or directions, and every few streets your road could randomly end in a dead end of construction. Finding your way is more a matter of Harry Potter magic and trial/error. Somehow, Rob would look at the sun, say "I think we are going North, that seems about right" - all those years of sailing navigation paying off! I'd madly look for a monument, any monument, and see if I could find the picture on the map to see where we were.