Cardona

This like a bit like the alps doesn’t it? We had a long drive to Cardona stopping at Ripoll for lunch. 

It would seem every weekend has a festival in these villages. We thought it must be a special evening but today looks just a busy. Have been invited to dancing @ 10pm in the square. Last night we had bbq sausage and bun and enjoyed the parade and youth orchestra. Sooo many clarinets. Lovely!

This morning as we wandered around we found some folk decorating the streets tonight. Grass clippings, rose petals, and coloured sand. They’ll be up early with the street cleaners tomorrow. 

Down into the salt mines this morning. Quite amazing. Rock salt has been mined here for centuries. Mine now closed - tourist attraction. 

The castle presides over the area.Built to protect the mines as salt was so important in the day and as follows great views so the area could be well guarded. 



Area where the trees are is where all the action will happen tonight. Ole!!

Costa Brava

Well here we are in the wonderful Costa Brava... staying in Port de Selva. This is a supreme holiday destination. We are so... lucky to be here without the crowds. They will be here next month when the water is warmer and the weather very hot

Yesterday we wandered around gorgeous Girona. Must admit we did sit out a downpour with thunder etc first... our wee coach seemed to be the best place.. and our guide, Justin was able to get us up to speed with some history. 9 people on this  Back Country tour. 

Martin and I shared a local delicacy - Xiaxu - cream filled deep fried donut type thing... note the name of the pastry shop - Martina sweet treats!!

Salvador Dalhi’s Port Lligat dwelling. When he lived here you could only come and go by boat. The museum etc. is his home as he left it. A group of old fishing huts which grew and evolved over the years he way here. A special place. 

May have enjoyed a lunchtime sangria; and what a view in Caraques?

And here I am all framed up on the other side of the bay. Home to Port de Selva in the late afternoon for a lovely soak in the Mediterranean. Only the crazy kiwi in for a dip. Lol - how warm does it need to be??

Barcelona again

Sagrada Familia was our destination when we arrived back in to Barcelona after our 4 hour speedy train trip back from Córdoba. Had wanted to see the inside and having purchased tickets on line we were into a taxi and on our way...we were not disappointed. It’s an amazing place. 



All dressed up and on the hill with a view for our farewell dinner - with Jane Wallace from Australia. Tall Jane and chatty Jane - which is which?

Lovely view for dining. :-)

Malaga - Córdoba

Very pleasant drive through the countryside to  make some touristy visits on the way to Cordoba. In this coastal area there are thousands of hectares of tunnel houses with a variety of vegetables - tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers etc.


Our first stop was to wander through this delightful white hillside village. Good photo and ice-cream opportunity!!




Lunch was in Malaga - by the seaside - lovely town and our guide suggested a delicious tapas bar - great recommendation! We had a lovely wander around the inner port area before continuing on our journey.


On the road again towards Cordoba and olive trees as far as the eye can see...

This morning we visited a large olive oil operation - over 600 ha and 100,000 trees. The Halls will be making some slight tweaks with their vast olive oil venture. Lol!!

"Vintage olive oil barrels - now use huge stainless tanks.

And the oil - currently being packaged for the Japanese market.

Cordoba bridge and Basilica - an amazing heritage site to visit.

Martin's new farm scooter - look out!!

Tomorrow we're off to the fast train back to Barcelona and the end of this part of our trip - will be having a farewell dinner together before we part ways the next morning.  Then we're off to Basque Country.

Granada

On our way to Granada we visited a co-operative farming dairy cows and making milk products. All the animals were housed inside. A very hot area so all food either grown locally or brought in. My friendly cow seemed happy enough but has never known NZ grass paddocks...

Ole!!! In the evening we were off to the bull fights. We were lucky enough to be on the shady side. Will tell you more about it when I see you but ,,,it was okay. One of those things  I can tick off!! Did think the Ferdinands we saw could have been sent back to sit under the cork tree after all their fine work!



 More  views - this time of Granada from one of the world hertigae sites - Alambra. Lots of walking but so much to see.







Later in the afternoon there was a bit of wedding crashing to be done down in the centre of the city...


And in the evening - the flamenco in a gypsy cave. 

Seville

The grand exhibition centre in Seville was our first stop. Created for an exhibition early last century, the mosaics and ceramics are lovely.  This is a very leafy city with lovely parks and the river meandering through. 
Our hotel looked like a dive from the outside, however was gorgeous and freshly refurbished. 

Celebrations in the city for Holy Week...the army was out in force.

The beautiful Guadalquivir River...



Outside displays associated with the religious festivals

An afternoon's stroll in the grounds of the royal palace. A beautiful place. Only had a coup;e pf hours. it's free for the locals to visit and there were many family groups with their picnic dinners.

Jerez again...

How about this for a horse pic?? Today’s post is all back to front so I’ll just waffle on about each bit...We had a free wander in lovely Jerez today. In the afternoon,  as a group,  we all went to the Royal Andalusian Horse show. Very clever horses but photos discouraged hence the stock photo from google images above. I did get a good shot of the tractor pulling the harrows around the arena. 

Back now to the markets. Interesting to watch the fishmongers struggle their stuff... and the wild foods was aptly supervised. Lol...

Below is a sample of the 20,000 barrels in the sherry establishment where we had a tasting. Also incredible art and antiquities. Jerez is famous for it’s sherry and apart from the dry one they were delicious and very moreish!!


Above is the hallway in the horse show arena - very posh. 

A view looking back at the palace from the horse show arena hallway.

Fountain in the central city area. They look best with water... seem to turn them off in the afternoon during siesta time.