After a week out at Lake Clark, I took advantage of a great deal and flew to Spain Aug 1st. Arriving in Madrid after the long fight from Chicago, I took the train into the heart of the city to the Principio Pio main rail station and then a short cab ride to my little hotel a block from Teatro Real and only a few blocks walk from the Royal Palace and main Cathedral. Inspite of being tired from the trip , I had to walk over and again enjoy the close by features. Then a pleasant visit to the city market complex for some Spanish food and wine, dessert at an outdoor cafe, and a long nights sleep.
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| wine bar in upscale Madrid market center |
Then off on day 2 to Atoche rail station and the AVE train at 10 am south to Malaga. I marveled at the endless olive groves as far as the eye could see. Two hours in Malaga to browse shops then onto a bus for the nearly 2 hour ride south along the Costa de Sol to Estepona and my hotel on the beach.
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| me relaxing 1st day on Costa del Sol |
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| Estepona resort pools above beach |
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| wide , mile long beach in downtown Estepona |
Day 3 was a pool and rest day. Day 4 was a 6 am pickup for the bus ride and tour to Grenada and the Alhambra. Grenada sits in a lush valley below the towering highest peaks in Spain, some with snow still on the tops. The Alhambra and the Alhambra garden section are stunningly beautiful and one can see why they are considered as one of the worlds most famous and "must see" sites. The day was broken with a noon lunch in a charming restaurant by a park in downtown Grenada. It was hot and in the 90's and very crowded with many waiting to enter the Alhambra. We had the tour tickets and a time to enter the palace, or we would not have been able to even get in. Then I had the long 3 hour bus trip back to the hotel, arriving at 8 pm.
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| cathedral in downtown Grenada |
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| view from ridge of old quarter in Grenada across from Alhambra above city |
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| Spains best cerveza |
Me about to enter the famous Alhambra
A typical view of the garden section of Alhambra
more of the magnificent gardens and pools
Another of the endless, wonderful gardens
Some of the flowers and plantings were too beautiful to describe
Yours truly enjoying the view out from the end of the Gardens section
An early view of Alhambra itself just after entry
Looking across the grounds past the entry , location of many ruins
One of the many remains of ruins of early buildings
Another scene in that area of early ruins
The impressive main structures with their halls and courtyards within
Some of the beautiful Moorish architecture
An example of the incredible Moorish interiors
A particularly peaceful interior courtyard scene
One of the amazing vaulted halls
A classic example of the architecture of Alhambra
Beautiful interiors beyond description
My favorite interior courtyard in the main structure
The most beautiful vaulted interior of all
Yet another lovely interior area of such peaceful beauty
A scene from a main garden on the way towards exit.
An unforgettable experience , the Alhambra
I had another pool/rest day then on Day 5. On day 6 I caught an express bus north for a day in Malaga. The city is delightful, with wonderful pedestrian only shopping areas and a lovely new port area to explore. All in all , it was a very nice day in a charming city.
Malaga's lovely downtown waterfront
The scene of a midday stroll along the newly developed, lovely waterfront
The front of the immense, famous cathedral
Yours truly enjoying the wonderful shaded, covered pedestrian shopping streets in the city center
My very favorite photo of the many horse drawn carts in the city center with the most photogenic, charming horse of all !
Day 7 was another pool rest day, with a walk into Estepona for a grand dinner in an outdoor cafe. The little city is wonderful, with bike paths and pedestrian access everywhere. The downtown beach front is wide and splendid. Then on Day 8 , I took an all day trip over to Tangiers and Morocco , which I will post separately. Finally , the trip concluded with the bus ride back to Malaga, AVE train into Madrid and the airport train out to Barajas and a hotel close by for my early next morning flight back to Chicago.
