After completing the Camino de Santiago, we departed from Santiago de Compostela, filled with a sense of accomplishment and anticipation for the next leg of our journey. We boarded the high-speed train to Madrid, a marvel of modern engineering that whisked us through the Spanish countryside with breathtaking speed and comfort. By noon, we arrived…
Category: Spain
Camino de Santiago – Galicia Region
O’Cebreiro is a small, picturesque village located in the region of Galicia, Spain, and serves as a notable landmark on the Camino de Santiago. Nestled in the mountains, O’Cebreiro is renowned for its traditional stone houses with thatched roofs, known as pallozas, which offer a glimpse into the village’s ancient Celtic origins. The town has…
Camino de Santiago -Leon Region
León’s history stretches back to Roman times, when the city of León was founded as a military encampment. Over the centuries, it blossomed into the capital of the Kingdom of León, a major Christian stronghold during the Reconquista. The region played a pivotal role in the formation of modern Spain, with its kings leading the…
Camino de Santiago – Castile Region
Castile’s history is deeply intertwined with the formation of modern Spain. The region played a pivotal role during the Reconquista, the centuries-long struggle to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from Moorish rule. The Kingdom of Castile emerged as a powerful Christian stronghold, eventually uniting with the Kingdom of Aragon to form the cornerstone of a unified…
Camino de Santiago – La Rioja Region
Nestled in the north of Spain, La Rioja is a small yet captivating region renowned for its rich history, vibrant culture, and world-famous wines. This enchanting area, with its lush landscapes and charming villages, offers travelers a delightful mix of heritage, gastronomy, and natural beauty. La Rioja’s history dates back to prehistoric times, with evidence…
Camino de Santiago – Navarre Region
The Camino de Santiago, or the Way of Saint James, is a network of ancient pilgrim routes that converge at the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in Santiago de Compostela. The French Way, or Camino Francés, is the most popular route, stretching approximately 780 kilometers from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France to Santiago in…
Antoni Gaudi – Barcelona’s Great Architect
Antoni Gaudi and his unique approach to the Art Nouveau Movement generated some of the most creative buildings you will see in Barcelona, they are unmistakable. We were fascinated by his work and wanted to experience as many as possible. The first we saw was the Casa Mila, La Pedrera, one of Gaudi’s main residential buildings…
The Basilica of the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
The Sagrada Familia is the most visited monumental site in Spain, over 3 million visitors per year, and our bus tour of 34 people with a guide was a small impact on the number of people already there. The challenge of making a half-completed building the most visited monument in a country, could only be…
Barcelona, Spain
Our first visit to Barcelona, Spain, after our ski trip to Chamonix, France, was such an amazing cultural and architecturally mind-blowing experience. We stayed in a beautiful hotel in the center of the city with easy walking distance to all the sights. The first day we joined the ski group on a bus tour of…