so many colors, shapes and sizes

Marrakech,  Morocco

...and all together create a work of art.

lines, beautiful lines

Urueña (Valladolid - Castilla y León), Spain

lunchtime

Marrakech, Morocco

handmade

Marrakech, Morocco

colored yarn

Marrakech, Morocco

colored yarn - hand dyed
 

Moroccan markets

Marrakech, Morocco

In the middle is Moroccan lipstick!

 

Merry Christmas!

Tamdaght (Ouarzazate), Morocco

A heartfelt wish for health, love and happiness to everyone who has touched my life in some way or another.  Merry Christmas!

the spice of life

Marrakech, Morocco

Add a little spice to your life!

 

a staple of life

Marrakech, Morocco

whatever it takes

Marrakech, Morocco

Whatever it takes to have a hot cup of mint tea...

 

fresh mint

Marrakech, Morocco

A day in Morocco without fresh mint tea isn't a day in Morocco!

 

Segovia's cathedral from afar

Segovia (Castilla y León), Spain

textures

Segovia (Castilla y León), Spain

So many of the façades of the buildings in Segovia are covered with different designs and textures.

 

doorways

Segovia (Castilla y León), Spain

arches

Tarazona (Zaragoza - Aragón), Spain

City Hall - Tarazona

strategically located

Tarazona (Zaragoza - Aragón), Spain

This city, once of strategic importance sitting between the Kingdoms of Castile, Aragon and Navarre from centuries ago, was influenced greatly by the Romans.  Later it lived an era much like Toledo with the Christians, Muslims and Jews co-existing in harmony.  There is evidence of these different cultures in its architecture throughout the city.  

The bullring (in yellow) once contained 32 private homes and the balconies were rented out to watch bullfights and other festivities, much like in Peñafiel in Castile and Leon.  This bullfighting ring today is used exclusively for private homes.

On a personal note, this was my first time in the Autonomous Community of Aragón!
 

varied landscapes

Arguedas - Bardenas Reales Natural Park (Navarra), Spain

getting there

Arguedas - Bardenas Reales Natural Park (Navarra), Spain

just entering the park of over 42,000 hectares (100,000 acres)...

 

plains, plateaus and canyons

Arguedas - Bardenas Reales Natural Park (Navarra), Spain

surprising landscapes

Arguedas - Bardenas Reales Natural Park (Navarra), Spain

sandcastles

Arguedas - Bardenas Reales Natural Park (Navarra), Spain

This particular clay-chalk-sandstone structure seen in this photograph, nicknamed castildetierra (land castle), is one of many that has been formed in the Bardenas Reales Natural Park due to wind and water erosion.  It reminded me of the Badlands National Park in South Dakota.

the wild wild west...

Arguedas - Bardenas Reales Natural Park (Navarra), Spain

The wild wild west... in northeastern Spain!

explosion of color

Tudela (Navarra), Spain

I love this!

Walking down down a dreary street and coming into contact with a mural like this one on an abandoned building really adds a great deal of beauty to the surroundings.

reading

Valladolid (Castilla y León), Spain

"There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world.  Love of books is the best of all."

       

                                                                             - Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Sculptor from Valladolid - Belén González - Niña leyendo (girl reading)

more rooftops

Valladolid (Castilla y León), Spain

rooftops

Valladolid (Castilla y León), Spain

San Pablo

Valladolid (Castilla y León), Spain

Built between the 15th and early 17th centuries, this church (San Pablo) represents the Isabelline Gothic-Plateresque style.  For a short time, Valladolid was once the capital of Spain and two of its kings were baptized here, Philip II and Philip IV.

dragonflies

Valladolid (Castilla y León), Spain

Holy Toledo!

Toledo (Castilla la Mancha), Spain

What beautiful doors there are here!

back in the day

Madrid, Spain

This building stands not far from the Royal Palace in Madrid.  I often imagine what life in Madrid was like in the times this building was built.  Who lived here?  What did they do?

people watching

Madrid, Spain

getting lost in the moment...
 

just around the corner

Madrid, Spain

Just around the corner is the fairly "new" cathedral of Madrid - Cathedral of Saint Mary the Royal of la Almudena - which wasn't built until the late 19th century.  Talk of building the cathedral started in the 16th century when the capital of Spain was moved from Toledo to Madrid, but Spain's priority at the time was to expand and maintain the Empire; therefore, the cathedral was put on hold.

 

streets of Madrid

Madrid, Spain

emblematic buildings

Madrid, Spain

People cross the street here all the time, but do they ever really look up and appreciate the details of this building?

Banco España on Paseo del Prado

 

Courage and Temperance

Madrid, Spain

Courage and Temperance - These statues on top of the emblematic Puerta de Alcalá represent two of the four Cardinal Virtues.

standing tall

Madrid, Spain

Standing tall, this church grabs your attention on Alcalá Street next to the Retiro Park.

Church of San Manuel y San Benito - Neo-Byzantine style - 1902-1910

fall foliage

Madrid, Spain

Walking just past the Prado Museum, this made me stop in my tracks!  Could it be any more beautiful?!  

The Retiro Park used to belong to the Spanish Monarchy up until the late 19th century.  Now it is enjoyed by all and is located in the heart of Madrid.

details

Guimarães (Norte Region), Portugal

18th century wonder

Guimarães (Norte Region), Portugal

Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Consolação e Santos Passos - Church of Our Lady of Consolation and the Holy Steps

 

Castle doors

Ampudia (Palencia - Castilla y León), Spain

Castillian architecture

Ampudia (Palencia - Castilla y León), Spain

Traditional Castillian architecture

 

funny signs

Etxalar (Navarra), Spain

Funny signs for the pharmacy...

 

popular Basque architecture

Etxalar (Navarra), Spain

eguzkilore

Lesaka (Navarra), Spain

This flower, eguzkilore, literally translated from Basque means "sunflower".  The name of this flower in English is the silver thistle.  Traditionally, Basque families put it on the outside of their houses for good fortune and to protect themselves from the evil spirits that were known to be out at night.  Having this flower supposedly meant the sun was shining on the house, which in turn would keep these spirits away.  Another belief is that the flower protected the house from lightning and storm damage.

If you travel around the Basque country, you will notice it decorating many homes!  So, now you know why!

another pretty street

Espelette (Labourd, French Basque Country - Aquitaine), France

red and white

Espelette (Labourd, French Basque Country - Aquitaine), France

So many houses and shops have peppers hanging from them!

change

Sare (Labourd, French Basque Country - Aquitaine), France

heaven

Guéthary (Labourd, French Basque Country - Aquitaine), France

This was just two weeks ago!  The weather has changed a bit since!

 

village life in the north

Etxalar (Navarra), Spain

verdant villages

Etxalar (Navarra), Spain

Here's a perfect example of what a village is like in Navarra...