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!

mountains and sea

Liencres (Cantabria), Spain

This beautiful beach sits in the middle of a natural park, Parque Natural de las Dunas de Liencres.  Mountains and sea all in one shot... what more can you ask for?

 

end of the day

Sepúlveda (Segovia - Castilla y León), Spain

With natural parks and mountains to its east, west and south, this medieval town lies in a privileged location.

boat rides on the Albufera

El Palmar (Valencia), Spain

The Albufera (Arabic word meaning "small sea.") is a privileged nature reserve of more than 21,000 hectares (52,000 acres) containing a freshwater lagoon surrounded by rice fields, where flora and fauna thrive year-round.  

El Palmar (10 km south of the capital city of Valencia) offers many delicious restaurants serving the famed paella rice dish which is said to have originated in the Albufera in the 19th century.  The word paella is a Valencian/Catalan word meaning "pan", referring to the shallow pan they use to make this marvelous dish.  The restaurants in this town are lined up along a canal in a pleasant setting.  I highly recommend trying paella in any one of them.  You'll be glad you did!

regional dress

Miranda do Douro (Norte Region), Portugal

Miranda do Douro is located on the border with Spain, with the Douro River separating the two countries, forming part of the International Douro Natural Park, one of thirteen national parks in Portugal.  These peculiar bronze statues (José Antonio Nobre, 2006) can be found in the João III Square in the middle of this town, representing the traditional regional dress of the rural people of this area.

horses wandering freely

Parque Natural Saja-Besaya (Cantabria), Spain

Copper Falls

Mellen, Wisconsin, USA

Many different Indian tribes lived in this area over the centuries and mined copper to make hunting weapons and tools.  The most recent Indians in this region were the Sioux and Chippewa who were here when the French first arrived Lake Superior.  In 1929, this area has been named Copper Falls State Park, where the Bad River meets with the Tyler Forks tributary, creating a series of waterfalls.

Devil's Lake

Baraboo, Wisconsin, USA

Devil's Lake State Park is a fantastic place to go to enjoy nature.  This lake was created by a glacier during the last ice age, some 12,000 years ago.  If you think 12,000 years is old, take a look at the pink quartzite boulders in the picture; many of them have ripple marks on their surface, much like the ripples you see on sand dunes formed from the wind.  These perfectly preserved marks tell us that they once were sand on an ancient beach calculated to be around 1.6 billion years old, give or take a few years!

This area of Wisconsin is perfect for camping, hiking, biking, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, hunting, fishing, winter sports, golf and scenic drives.  If any of these activities interest you, this is a perfect place to visit.

Sagres

Sagres, (Algarve Region) Portugal

This magnificent rocky coastline makes up the southwestern most tip of Portugal and forms yet another part of the 110 kilometers of the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park.  The land has almost no vegetation at all here and is quite flat, abruptly dropping several meters when it reaches the Atlantic Ocean.  When standing at the edge of these cliffs, it seems as if you were standing at the end of the Earth!  It's really quite impressive to see in person!

red doors

Porto Covo, (Region of Alentejo) Portugal

This picturesque fishing village set within the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park is a wonderful place to enjoy the unique light and colors all around you.  Red doors are particularly characteristic of this quaint town.

beaches, beaches and more beaches

Aljezur, (Algarve Region) Portugal

The beach of Monte Clérigo is one more of the many beaches in this area to enjoy.  It is tucked away in a small cove forming part of the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park.  This coastline is a hidden treasure!

Arrifana

Arrifana, (Algarve Region) Portugal

Just one cove over from Arrifana beach is this spectacular rock-cliff shoreline facing the Atlantic Ocean.  It forms part of the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park which stretches for over 100 kilometers down the Portuguese coast.  It is definitely worth a visit!

the lone surfer

Arrifana, (Algarve Region) Portugal

This beach, Arrifana, is one of the most sought after beaches for surfing in the Aljezur area located within the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park.  It is protected by tall cliffs and has a stretch of sand of over 500 meters.

Vila Nova de Milfontes

Vila Nova de Milfontes, (Region of Alentejo) Portugal

Vila Nova de Milfontes is found along the western coast of Portugal at the point where the Mira River flows into the Atlantic Ocean.  It is a popular tourist destination in summer months due to its large number of beaches, ecological tourism and positioning within the Nature Park of the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast.  This park runs over 110 kilometers down the Portuguese coastline and shares its borders with the neighboring Algarve Region.

The port area you see in this picture is located in the estuary and provides a small source of income for the area.  The colorful wooden fishing boats have always been a weakness of mine and it's impossible for me to pass by without photographing them!

Aracena

Aracena, (Huevla - Andalucía) Spain

Aracena is one of the 28 whitewashed towns in the province of Huelva that make up the Sierra de Aracena Natural Park system.  A 13th century castle built over an old Muslim fortress overlooks this town, known today for the frequently visited cave located directly below the castle extending over 2000 meters, of which more than 1000 meters can be visited.  Aracena is also known for its tasty Iberian cured ham produced from acorn-fed black pigs.