Spain 2019

Although extremely scenic, the hike itself along the Caminito del Rey is a big challenge as large sections of the path are full of holes or missing completely, leaving nothing to hang on to. Every year, skilled rock climbers and thrill-seekers from around the world come to test their adrenaline rush limits along the notorious "world's most dangerous walkway". We were up for the challenge! Although still virtually hanging off the sheer, vertical rock face 300 feet above the Gaitanes Gorge, since its 2015 renovation, the Caminito is much safer but just as spectacular as before. To grab tickets before they sell out, you have to plan in advance, and be patient and diligent - checking the website several times a day 3 months in advance. The flat, one-way "hike" is about 5 miles total, and takes 2-3 hours. Although not comprehending or anticipating adjusting to Spain's late start to the day, thankfully I had the foresight(?) to book the early, cooler ti...

The plan for today was to day-trip through Andalucia's White Hill towns - quaint villages perched in the sierras with wonderfully untouched Spanish culture. However, I made a late change to the itinerary and decided it would be best to stay overnight instead. It worked out well for us, and shortened the early morning drive we were expecting for tomorrow. We started on the outskirts of Sevilla in Italica, one of the earliest Roman settlements in Spain. Founded in 206 BC, it was the birthplace of Emperors Trajan and Hadrian, but what equally attracted us was its reemergence into history as the filming location of the Dragonpit from Game of Thrones. The impressive 25,000-seater amphitheater was one of the largest in the Roman Empire. Most recently it housed dragons, the powerful leaders of Westeros, and a wight. Next to the amphitheater, about five large houses of prosperous families have been excavated, some with well-preserved, colorful mosaics, including floors with exqu...

Today was a lazy day to sleep in, enjoy a cappuccino, walk around Sevilla, and try more food. Plastered with vibrantly colored azulejos (tiles) and encircled by a 1/3-mile canal, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more remarkable city square than Sevilla's monumental Plaza de España. We were pretty impressed with the Plaza de España.  It is a relaxing, open, photographic space - with the ambiance of Spain. Built for the 1929 expo, the Plaza de España is the size of 5 football fields, and is decorated with benches, period style street lamps, and beautifully ornate bridges. The plaza is lined with evocative tiled alcoves representing the 48 provinces of Spain 10 points to Jeremy for instantly recognizing it as Naboo from Star Wars 1 & 2 According to our guide Marina from yesterday, the Golden Tower along the river is where a couple of Christopher Columbus's voyages departed Greg just loves when I take a million pictures For lunch ...

Lonely Planet chose Sevilla as the #1 city to visit in 2018. The capital of Andalusia is on the same parallel as California city San Jose (or Turlock) and Seoul, Korea. It has very hot, dry summers and mild winters. After the city of Córdoba, Sevilla has the hottest summer in continental Europe, with average daily highs in July of 97 °F. It's only 90 °F today but when we leave on Friday it's jumping up to 107 °F. It's hot here - feels just like home! The place to keep cool is the massive Sevilla Cathedral, intentionally designed darker (cooler) than a normal gothic church. In 1401 it was decided: "Let us build a church so beautiful and so great that those who see it built will think we were mad". Consequently it is the world's largest Gothic cathedral. Seeing Sevilla's Cathedral, Kate commented that it looked just like the last cathedral we saw. (A fitting comment in reference to either Toledo or Segovia.) Christopher Columbus is buried here ...

We are back on the road today, headed south, with a couple stops along the way to break up the drive. We are on our way to Andalusia - the sun-kissed Spanish region with glorious, Moorish palaces, Islamic influences, passionate flamenco, intricate cobbled lanes, blindingly whitewashed villages, and buzzing tapas bars. We stopped for coffee in Toledo, the old capital of Spain. The entire city has been declared a national monument; to keep the city's historic appearance intact, the Spanish government has forbidden any modern exteriors. The maze-like streets are narrow, and the walls are scratched by cars squeezing through. Along the ring road are many scenic stops to capture El Greco's view of Toledo - my mom's favorite painting in the Met. The Cathedral of Toledo is considered the most spectacular in Spain; construction went on for more than 250 years. It rises out of the town's medieval center. All the streets surrounding the cathedral were draped in...