August 25, 2022
After I drove all afternoon I got my car rental safely back to the airport, hopped on the shuttle bus back to Barcelona’s city center, then hopped on a subway to Barcelona Sants, the big regional trains station and took the high-speed back to Madrid. Then a taxi to my Read more…
On my way from Madrid… Excited to be here! Special instructions for skaters The Gothic Quarter is where I stayed. Lots of beauty everywhere Plaça Reial Teehee Plaça de Catalunya On the way to the beach, which I thought was “la playa” . . but I suppose “platja” also works. Read more…
Like Madrid, Barcelona is swarmed with vegan options. But I had made many-a day’s mission a meal in Madrid. In Barcelona, food would not be my first priority. I was on my own and free to explore at my pace, which meant sites trumped eats… especially because I had felt Read more…
August 24, 2022
Knowing I would need a meal, I decided to head to Girona, which seemed to be an attractive city based on its prominence on highway exit signs. A quick search for food yielded a couple of vegan options that sounded yummy. But I also discovered that the town had a Read more…
It was a difficult choice… which part of the Costa Brava region, known for its coastal beauty and rich medieval history, should I visit on my last day in the area. But once I saw the rock formations and lack of development surrounding Platja El Golfet, I knew… Looking at Read more…
August 23, 2022
At a certain point of my trip I realized how ideal weather conditions were for star gazing. Though I hadn’t intended to, having not brought my tripod, I decided I needed to do a night shoot. I had the time, the transport and Parc Natural del Garraf promised an escape Read more…
Construction of the iconic Catedral de Barcelona began in 1298 and was completed 150 years later. At present day, its spires getting repaired, a large Samsung advertisement greets your eyes as you first eagerly gaze upon the structure. A bit of a disappointment. It is an extremely tacky choice to Read more…
Barcelona’s Palau de la Música is drop-dead gorgeous. It is in the style of Art Nouveau and, astonishingly, was constructed 1905 through 1908. It is a World Heritage Site determined by UNESCO, which is a big deal. I just had to see its decorative combination sculpture, mosaic, stained glass and ironwork… Read more…
So there I was driving along Spain’s easy highway system, listening to my GPS and, at this point, completely comfortable driving and singing along enthusiastically with one of the many overplayed playlists I have on Spotify, when I reached a collection of toll booths before my destination of Sitges. A Read more…
Inside Barcelona’s Parc Collserola, the ruins of Casino de l’Arrabassada lay decaying in the woods. It was once a luxury hotel. Its 1899 property was expanded in 1911 to include a casino and amusement park. But when the governor banned gambling, the site grew neglected until its ultimate closing in Read more…
El Castillo Torre Salvana has stood in Santa Coloma de Cervelló, Spain for over 1,000 years. That’s one thousand. It was once occupied by the Cervelló family who once ruled the area. But during the Catalan Civil War of 1224, the castle was besieged and the inhabitants were brutally executed. Read more…
August 22, 2022
Architect Antoni Gaudí is a big deal in Barcelona and beyond. Known as God’s architect, his unfinished masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia, was intended to be a 20th century cathedral. And like most cathedrals it has been in active construction for centuries. Of all the Gaudí structures about Barcelona, I chose Read more…
This is the most beautiful cemetery I have ever visited. With an overwhelming about of beautiful art within its one million burials, it sits within a rocky slope creating a layered lay-out that is trily mind-blowing. To follow some of the beauty I found within my short visit.
Cementiri de Poblenou was a big reason for my deciding to go ahead and join a friend in Spain this summer. It was number one on my list of international must-visit cemeteries. This, because of a haunting sculptured entitled El Petó de la Mort or the Kiss of Death I Read more…
August 20, 2022
Behold a Madrid photodump! As I write this from my couch, it’s hard to imagine this backdrop was at my disposable for several days. I decided I needed to see more of the Old World… for the architecture alone. Ok, and their cemeteries. In the meantime… This was on a Read more…
{Warning: This is long. Just scroll down for the food if you’re not wanting the idiot’s guide to visiting and eating vegan in Madrid.} Simply put, the vegan food in Madrid is plentiful and outstanding. From the moment of my arrival to the time I boarded a high speed train Read more…
Casa de Campo is Madrid’s largest park… covering 1535,52 hectares (almost 6 miles). We planned on having a day to explore its many features, but the temperature was just so hot. And the park was not as lush as I had in my mind. In fact the ground had a Read more…
August 19, 2022
There are certain line-ups that are pleasant. Being on a long line of folks who want to look at art is one of them. Every Friday Museo Nacional del Prado is free between the hours of 6pm and 8pm, when they close. And even spending 2 minutes gazing upon the Read more…
August 18, 2022
A Flamenco performance was a must for me while in Spain. An art form whose pallet is the human form, this interpretive dance found its way to Spain through from the 9th and 14th century migrations of Romani. Steeped in the cultural influence of the Gitanos (the Andalusian gypsies of Read more…
Because I am mastering the subway, I hit another Madrid cemetery during my stay. The Cementerio of La Almudena is the city’s main active cemetery. Its 120 acres include several layers of graves spanning many years. I was taken aback by the size and saw many gorgeous statues besides a Read more…
August 17, 2022
Though far less grand than Cementerio Sacramental de San Isidro, Cementerio Sacramental de Santa María has some great unique works which I will let speak for themselves. Again, many vaults Loved this gal. Sliced cherub Rocky face There was a cat colony. A gorgeous stop well worth it.
It’s been awhile since I have been abroad! 7 years to be exact. With the worst school year of my life, ending in being excessed, another excessed teacher and I decided we had a lot to decompress from. I would join her in Spain on an adventure. With that in Read more…
I am ready to go! Farmers Fridge snack before take-off. Great textures! On the plane now, here is my vegan meal I ordered in advance for my flight. Better than I thought! Checking out the entertainment options. What kind of sicko would watch this film on a plane? My super Read more…