End of a brilliant holiday

Only true friends would wake up at 6am in the morning to have a final breakfast with us. We said goodbye to Sarah & Dave in Geneva this morning. Breakfast of fresh bread, spreads and yoghurt parfait at a large wooden table. The end of a brilliant holiday!

Sevilla

The most active time for Seville besides Easter is the Feria de Abril. A large family affair at a showground where for 7 days people get dressed up in traditional apparel, travel in horse and buggy, drink sherry and dance. There are hundreds of tents decked out in fancy drapes of material with plenty of food and drink for members who pay steep sums annually to their tent to be part of the affair.

After the elegant fair Bec (and Rich) stuff their face on fresh churros and chocolate
We also had a lovely night walking around the old town in Seville with charming cathedral, Alcazar and streets.

South of Seville on the way to Malaga we stopped in the town of Ronda built across a stunning gorge.

Cordoba

We loved Cordoba! Lovely drive on country roads from Priego de Cordoba stopping in hillside towns and olive factories. Cordoba itself was a beautiful old town, full of culture, enjoying a Morrocan meal looking at sunset over the Mezquita and then relaxing till late at night in thermal baths.

View over the small town of Zuheros

The olive mill Nunez de Prado in Baena has been running since 1795

Old barrels used for making olive oil

Old ruins of Madinat Al-Zahra originally built in 936. A grand city only occupied for 70 years.

The Mezquita in the centre of Cordoba

Many columns inside the Mezquita - a beautiful building in the centre of town that was once a mosque but now a church - the two religions colliding in the architecture

Hammam Baths - Cordoba (photo courtesy of http://www.hammamspain.com/ as we were happy relaxing without the camera in tow!)

Gardens of the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos

Richard intently studying our next move

Priego de Cordoba

We´re staying in a small hilltop town between Granada and Cordoba. Beautiful rolling hills covered in millions of olive trees.

Quaint street that our little family run hostal is on

Spiral staircase in an old market place

Late evening dinners outdoors in the plaza

Granada

We´ve been enjoying the scenic city of Granada. The highlight was definately the Alhambra - (The Red Castle) an old Islamic area consisting of a fort, palaces and beautifully manicured gardens. Many pictures below...

Relaxing in one of Granada´s many tea houses

Late afternoon view of the Alhambra from lookout

Las Alpujarras

We have been spending an idyllic 3 days in Las Alpujarras, a series of villages dotted in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada in southern Spain.

A description as I have jotted down in my diary:

Rugged hills rising to snow capped peaks, slopes with sturdy rows of olive trees softened with apple blossoms. Bright green leaves cradling new baby figs. the sun shining through gaps in clouds, reflecting the brilliance of white flat roofed houses reflecting the sun's brilliance. The evening beckons with warm light. A hearty meal in a lantern lit room with cheerful sounds from an ajoining kitchen. The sound of a classical spanish guitar soaks through my soul as my eyes drift peacefully by the warmth of the fire.

La Sevillana - where we are staying for 3 nights. Verandah overlooking the valley. Who could ask for a better place to start the day with yoga?

Church through fig trees

Bubión, the village we are staying in

Apple (i think) blossoms

Barcelona

Arriving in the city of Barcelona somewhat reminded us of the scenery in southern California around LA. Beaches, dry hills covered in foliage.
We´ve been touring around the city looking at the various Gaudi architecture - churches, gardens, houses etc. We have visited La Rambla, a popular paved walkway down the middle of a street, selling flowers, paintings etc. Just of that is the La Boqueria Markets selling fruit, veges, nuts, chocolate, breads all at digestible prices - perhaps too digestible! Our stomachs are currently full!

View from the top of Parc Guell with some of Gaudi´s masterpieces in view

Details of tilework on structures

Outside the front of the church. It has been undergoing construction since the late 1890´s and contruction continues to date.

Models for parts of the church yet to be completed being made

Inside of the catherderal is full of light - the columns inspired by trees in a forest

La Rambla

La Boqueria - chocolates, nuts, fruit, everything fresh - we´d move to Barcelona just for this!