My phone keeps reminding me of what I was doing a year, two, three years ago on this day. No international trip this year. But I can always reminisce! What I loved about the 2017 trip to Spain were the textures, shapes, and patterns. Here are a few. Which shot do you like best?
Cindy Bruchman 
All cool but I like the pool best
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That day was hot and when I walked below the palace, it was quiet and cool. A beautiful place.
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Same here!
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Must be summer time and we all could use a dip in the pool…
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Oh YEAH! If only we had one. 😉
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Each has a character of its own but the two that stood out for me were one and two. Hard to make a choice but I’ll settle on two. 🙂
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That pool was an image that hasn’t left my head. Thank you, Ian.
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I have been abroad to Costa Rica to study abroad for two weeks. That was over the summer. Loved the beauty of that world.
When I first started high school, I did not want to take another language. But in freshman year after starting to learn Spanish, I fell in love with Spanish. Not just in the language, but the culture as well.
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I was surprised how beautiful and nice the Spainards were to us. I’d love to return to Seville. What a historical place in World History.
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For me, it’s the picture of Toledo. It reminds me of the city’s status as the place for the best swords in Europe and all of those Buñuel films shot there.
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It’s an impressive fortress on a rock, eh? I hadn’t thought about ever visiting Toledo, Spain. It was a side trip stop that turned out to be a highlight. Wandering around the cobbled stones, impressed with the history and culture–I’d recommend it any day!
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All good!
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The reflection has it. Are these still on your phone?
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Yes. I have some kind of setting that Google pulls up my gallery and says “One this day, 3 years ago…” I was in Spain and went for a revisit of the photos. I forgot about the patterns and colors and history. Now I’d like to go back and sit a spell in Seville. What a magical city.
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I can’t pick just one, as they all portray different things about Spain that are so recognisable and familiar. (Though I have only been to the North-East) The Alcazar at Toledo is such an imposing building, and for someone like me who has studied the Spanish Civil war, it has modern historical significance too.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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I loved Alkazar. I loved the mosques, synagogues, and churches. I found it fascinating how the varying religions combined the architecture to give the building it its own flavor depending on the acculturation in history.
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These are stunning pictures. The vaulted ceiling over the pool is beautiful. I’ve visited Madrid and Barcelona, so this does seem to be very different architecturally (I’m only a casual observer so happy to be corrected on this!). What it does remind me of is my trip to California last year. We visited Hearst Castle, which is a little like Frankenstein’s Monster, although impressive nonetheless. So, whilst perhaps not quite the same as being in Toledo, you can see where Hearst was influenced, in part, in his choice of design(s)!
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Hi Sarah! A great, a fellow traveler and lover of architecture. 🙂 I could spend a month in Seville and never see it all. On the World History stage, Seville had a big part bringing two hemispheres together (controversy, too). I don’t know if you were a Game of Thrones fan, but in season 5, they filmed the fictional city of Dorne in Seville. Not that it matters, but it was cool to see an exotic place and know you’ve been there. 🙂
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Hi! So much to see in the world! It’s difficult to know where to pick next! Would love to go to Seville but North Italy is next on our ‘Wish List’ – hopefully next year for that. Game of Thrones! Loved it! I had no idea it was filmed in Seville. I know they filmed a lot in Malta (for S1) amongst other places in Europe. Valetta is an impressive city with an equally impressive history. Definitely agree that it’s very cool to visit these places. To see a location and have that ‘movie moment’ brings a specialness to it. We’ve done a few of those when we’ve been on various road trips around the West Coast and California in particular – Vasquez Rocks immediately springs to mind and is so recognisable without people necessarily realising just how many movies and TV shows it’s been in! Your post has brought back some good travel memories.
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Terrific photos, Cindy. For depth, I love the Seville underground pool and for architecture, my favorite is the Santa Maria la Blanca corbel, exquisite detail.
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That was a quiet, out of the way Synagogue. I loved the interior pallet of white and grays. The horseshoe arches and corinthian columns of pinecones were unusual and familiar at the same time. It had a holy feel to it. Not as gaudy as the marvelous Mosque Cathedral of nearby Cordoba.
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Wow! it’s hard to pick from so many stunning photos. The underground pool and Toledo door are my favorites.
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The underground pool and gardens were quite the oasis in the hot, dry heat of a Spanish summer day.
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I can imagine!
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I will not choose…they’re are great. Spain is on our (now-someday) travel list.
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HI June. I only went to the parts that everyone seems to go to. But I was impressed and wish I could return and stay longer. Barcelona felt like Paris but had a sea and the people were nicer. Really, the whole country has amazing architecture and history. The food, the climate–I’m surprised people don’t choose to travel there more. Less crowded than other European cities.
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Oh boy! You’ve ticked all the right boxes for me. Perhaps 2021 🙂
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Good luck!
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All terrific but the Seville underground pool reflection is mesmerizing!
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If you watched GoT, season 5, they filmed the fictitious city of Dorne at Seville. I bet you have great stories about Spain. The food, the culture, the Flamenco dancing, etc.. I loved the country–better than France!
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No. 2.
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Ah, the pool! Everyone loved the pool. 🙂
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It’s the tunnel effect and bright colours. I also liked no.1 a lot and I think no.3 from the cathedral?
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It was a fun experiement trying to catch the patterns and geometric beauty. I loved the Mudéjar art, the horseshoe arches. Busy, but fascinating to experience in person.
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Everybody I know who gone to Spain has nothing but good things to say about it. You and yours stay safe Cindy.
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You, too, Lloyd. Thanks very much!
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As a college student, I visited Spain and Toledo was by far my favorite city! My friends preferred the gregarious Madrid and Barcelona, but I was drawn to Toledo’s medieval atmosphere.
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Great! You are a serious bloke, yes? Me, too. I love the history of the place. If you have never been to Seville, you’d love it there–it’s steeped in history.
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I love the mixture of cultures. It is my favorite thing about Spain and Portugal. I absolutely feel home there regardless of my northern roots 🙂 Thank you for the beautiful tour!
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Welcome back, Inese. I have never been to Portugal. I am sure I will love the rocky coast and the history and culture. Can’t wait to travel there. I, too, loved the hybrid of cultures. It gives it a unique aura that I haven’t observed in other European cities. The sunny climate and the friendly people make it an advantageous destination.
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True. I feel home in Spain and Portugal. People there are wonderful.
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Wow what memories! It was so much fun exploring Spain with you guys! Only bad part of the whole trip was the occasional vomiting, the tragic lack of chicken, and the Sangria (yuck!). Do you remember the museum we happened across in Madrid? So cool!
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It was all great. Saville and Toleda were my favorites. Well, Barcelona was pretty sweet.
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