Euro Travel 2021

Day 16: my first visit to the famous Gehry designed, Marques de Riscal hotel.

Day 16 on the road in northern Spain, my first visit to the famous Gehry designed, Marques de Riscal hotel.
Located at the entrance to the town of 'Elciego' in the upper Rioja, near the 15th century church across the way, this imposing, strange looking structure which changed colors w/the evening light took my breath away. Elaborate, other worldly & ethereal, it is elegant & expensive. We sat on the patio. I sipped a Riscal gran reserva. My friends José Joaquín Sanz García & Paloma Dominguez Diaz & I took a picture w/the town in the background. We also went to the mouth of the bodega & got a good long view of the entrance.

Day 15: of this wonderful journey through the north of Spain

Day 15 of this wonderful journey through the north of Spain in the beautiful little village of Torrecillas, in the Cameros region of La Rioja nestled between jagged peaks & the 'Iregua' -a gurgling mountain stream. Staying in the quaint bed & breakfast; Villa Liquidambar w/my friend José Joaquín Sanz García.

Day 13-14: travels through the north of Spain. Leaving Galicia

Day 13-14, travels through the north of Spain. Leaving Galicia, but not before saying goodbye in Pontevedra to my cousins, the Estevez sisters, Margot, Amelia & (not pictured here) Maria del Carmen.
So overwhelmed with emotion I forgot to take the photo 'de rigor' & had to settle w/a photo from the car from my travel companion upon meeting them.

Day 7: of our road trip to Northwest Spain, Salamanca

Day 7 of our road trip to Northwest Spain, Salamanca, with its famous sandstone 'Plaza Mayor' & even more famous cathedral complex. The home of the distinguished philosopher, Miguel de Unamuno. University town full of youth & vitality, conquered in 217 BC by Hannibal. An institution of Spanish learning & repository of heritage & thought...

Day 6: Said goodbye to the Gredos mountains and on to Salamanca.

Day 6 of the road trip in Northern Spain. Said goodbye to the Gredos mountains and on to Salamanca. Bathed in a pool w/waterfall we first visited 18 years ago. Even though the rush of water is less than half what it was then, still remembered the memory of my son slipping & falling down to the bottom of the pool.

Day 4: of our road trip through northern Spain

Day 4 of our road trip through northern Spain... leaving behind the aqueduct & 'fantasyland', the little known fact that the Alcazar in Segovia was the inspiration for Disney's logo of the fantasyland castle in their TV programs & at their entertainment venues.

Day 3: of this glorious road trip through the north of Spain

Day 3 of this glorious road trip through the north of Spain & we have landed in 'la gran Segovia'.

As we rambled through the entrance to the aqueduct of what was once among the most important Spanish towns during the 'reconquista' & up into the center of town & the cathedral, we stopped to eat the finest 'jamon Iberico de bellota' we've tasted so far, in a region famous for its ham...Next we visit the Alcazar, the castle that inspired Walt Disney's fantasyland, & amble back to the palace at 'La Granja de San Ildefonso', iconic summer palace of the catholic kings & site for the brilliant new Netflicks series, 'La Cocinera de Castamar''.

Day 2. Arde la Puerta del Sol

Day 2 of the trip joined by my travelling partner & ex-professor friend, Lawrence Hawkins. Went to the center of town through Puerta del Sol to Plaza Mayor

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