Spain 2019

I was looking for a cool place near Barcelona to spend our last couple of nights and Peñiscola was a perfect match (at least if you have a sense of adventure above all else)! It is a typical Mediterranean coastal town that still holds its ancient charm. We realized it is a popular tourist destination, likely in part to its castle dating back to the 13th century. Peníscola, along Spain's Costa del Azahar, is about 100 miles south of Barcelona Peñiscola reminded Jeremy of France's Mont St. Michel; it reminded me of an empty Dubrovnik. Many movies and television shows have been filmed here, due to the authentic medieval style of the castle, including - to no surprise - Game of Thrones. Peñiscola  was a double for Meereen in Season 6 of Game of Thrones One of its main attractions is its old town with narrow streets, whitewashed houses and the impressive Castillo del Papa Luna The downside to staying on the rocky fortress is its lack of modern conveniences l

Leaving Nerja, we had a quick 1-hour drive to our next destination: Granada. If you aren't familiar with this city, then I should start by giving you a few pieces of background. Or, if you know your Spanish history, then you'll appreciate the conquering direction our itinerary has coincidentally followed ... Nestled at the base of the Sierra Nevadas, the city boasts extraordinary architecture from over 250 years as the capital of a Moorish kingdom. It is home to the Alhambra - the last strong-hold of the Moorish kingdom in Spain, and one of greatest wonders of Europe. There is no place in Europe quite like it. La Alhambra  We are staying in a typical house, called a carmen, surrounded by a high boundary wall and including a small garden courtyard.  (It is the first door on the left.) When we arrived through an old city gate for our 2-night stay, our host gave a funny lesson in tapas here, describing why they are free. "In Granada they marry the drink with

Greg wanted to record me saying no more traveling with kids - a joke I was making the other night at dinner. I couldn't remember exactly what he recorded - but now we won't forget it ... Mercedes automatically connects to his phone and repeats the voice recording. "I love you!" We hear over and over each time we start the car, lol! If you spend a week in Nerja, on the country's southern Mediterranean coast, and don't want to just sit on the beautiful beach and enjoy the plentiful town, there are many day-trips you can take. Within distance are Granada, Malaga, Ronda, Cordoba, and Sevilla. (My family are not day-trippers so we stayed in them instead.) Very close are the Nerja caves, Rio Chillar, and Frigiliana. Mi familia obliged me with a morning in Frigiliana. Frigiliana is yet another of Spain's picturesque whitewashed villages. Of the ones we have visited, this one is the quaintest - and I feel like we are treading on the local's doorsteps.