Exploring the Fabled Red Towers and Walls of the Alhambra In Granada, Spain
The Alhambra palace and fortress stretches her magnificent form across the top of the hill, La Sabika and its fabled red towers and walls are seen from almost every vantage point in Granada. The Alhambra de Granada is the most...
7 Europe Destinations for a Truly Unique Winter Experience
Whether it is warm and sunny, or snow has taken over its beautiful cities, Europe is absolutely gorgeous. There are so many things to do and places to see, that choosing only one destination for your winter holiday can be very...
Extended Travel Weariness: from the followsummer archives
I stumbled upon this blog entry from August 2004 as I was going through some files here on followsummer. So interesting to note and remember our feelings of a year full of travel, and with only three and a half months left in...
The Tourist Trail of Don Quijote. Keep Left
From the followsummer archives. Spain, September 2004 Madrid to Cordoba: 396 kilometres It is nearly 11 when we check out of our hotel and find the M506 that will direct us to the A4 south to Córdoba, Espana. We have to re-check...
Holy Toledo! What to See in Toledo, Spain in One Day
Holy Toledo! We now understand where this exclamation comes from. Toledo is crammed with churches and cathedrals and former mosques and former synagogues. It is the center of the Catholic Church in Spain and was Spain’s capital...
Madrid: Alive and Breathing in Life to its Fullest
Madrid is not one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. Much of its historical and cultural history has been torn down to make way for the new. Indeed, it seems to be a city on the verge of the next century, good and bad. The...
The Prado in One Day
I was merciless yesterday as we did our walking tour of Madrid: although the guidebook told us that the walking tour would take at least two days, we got it done in one (and were our feet complaining loudly last night? You bet...
Sevilla: Full of Fan Palms, Cafés and Historic Monuments
We enjoy the luxury of a four-star hotel for a change. Purists would have our heads on a platter as we consider by-passing Sevilla altogether for the privilege of just vegging and enjoying some TV and the swimming pool. But that...
Sunday: A Complete Day of Rest in Catholic Spain
For anyone who doesn’t work in a store or a restaurant, Sunday seems to be a complete day of rest in Catholic Spain, with not much going on (other than eating out or shopping, with the major stores open all day long). In...
Barcelona: Just Beyond Our Reach
Despite the miles we have walked, we feel like Barcelona is just beyond reach. We decide to take a bus tour of the city to see the places we haven’t seen. 5 hours later, all spent on the 2nd level of a double-decker bus, we think...
Spain and Cyprus: Books to Inspire Your Travel
I am doing what many Canadians do at this time of year – head for warmer climates, but for me, it's through these two books. Join me as I take a literary travel hop from Cyprus to Spain!
Blending In With the Locals in Southern Spain
They are burning the fields throughout southern Spain today and the horizon is dotted with plumes of white and brown smoke that trails up and tracks across the sky, dragged by the high blowing winds. We worry about the controlled...
An Entire Year of Following Summer.
A day of travel and time for contemplation. The beginning of a year of living in the moment, following an intense period of planning, when it often seemed that we spent all our time living in the future as we laid the groundwork...
Our Little ‘Chateaux’ in St. Fréchoux
Thursday, September 2nd, 2004: St Jean de la blaquiere, France We set out around 11 this morning to run some errands in the closest “big” town of Clermont l’Herault about a 10 minute drive away. The market is on today and there...
Just Hours in and We Love Barcelona Already
Saturday, September 4th, 2004: Barcelona, Spain N 41 E 002 St. Jean de la blaquiere to Barcelona: 353 kilometers Spain welcomes us in the early afternoon as we drive south and cross the border, past the Costa Brava and into...
In Barcelona, On a Sunday
Sunday, September 5th, 2004: Barcelona, Spain We sleep late, as apparently everyone does here in Barcelona, at least on Sunday. We head to the big wide boulevards to find a cup of coffee and a brioche. We thought the price of...
Welcome to Madrid!
Tuesday, September 7th, 2004: Madrid, Spain N 40 W 003 Barcelona to Madrid: 658 kilometres Madrid is an interesting curiosity: rising out of a dry, brown plateau, the city welcomes its driving visitors first with urban sprawl,...
Lazy Food Compromising in Sevilla, Spain.
Monday, September 13th, 2004: Sevilla, Spain N 37 W 005 Cordoba to Sevilla: 138 kilometres Today we have an easy drive. We sleep in, and head out just before noon. Shortly after 1 we are driving down Avenida Kansas City, the main...
Sevilla: A Beautiful, Lush City Full of Fan Palms, Cafés and Historic Monuments
Tuesday, September 14th, 2004: Sevilla, Spain We enjoy the luxury of a 4 star hotel for a change. Purists would have our heads on a platter as we consider by-passing Sevilla altogether for the privilege of just vegging and...
A 2 Day Drive to Vacation from Vacation
Friday, September 17th, 2004: Valencia, Spain N 39 W 000 Granada to Valencia: 567 kilometres The Costa Brava is north of Barcelona on the Mediterranean, and today we begin 2 days of driving, stopping in Valencia for the night...