Photo Album..............Spain.......................................................
The church where Christopher Columbus heard mass on the morning that his fleet sailed off to discover the New World. Near Huelva, Spain in a little town where the captains of his other ships were born.
Al on one of the Columbus fleet replicas in a museum at La Rabida, Spain (near Huelva.)
A shot of the entire Columbus replica fleet from the outer edge of the artificial lagoon in which they float.
The church at El Rocio, Spain, which is the destination for a mass pilgramage every spring. The town has no paved roads and right after a rain, the streets are like swamps. El Rocio is also a major destination for birders visiting the Donana National Park.
One of the many spoonbills we saw foraging in the lagoon at El Rocio. The flock of flamingos was too far away for a good shot. We also saw black terns and numerous other wading and water birds in the lagoon which turned out to be the best birding spot in the entire Donana National Park.
An outdoor cafe at El Rocio. Despite his expression, Al really was having a good time. After a hot day of birding, the shade was welcome and that beer really tasted good.
An old pit mine at Minas de Riotinto. The color of the water in the pond and also in the Riotinto river itself comes not from pollution but from the mineral content of the rock formations. As part of our train ride, we had a guided tour of some of the mining areas and reached the location from which this shot was taken by walking through a long rock tunnel.
Al with the locomotive that pulled our train. The track was originally installed to transport copper ore down to the mouth of the Riotinto and was really way too rough for transporting passengers. Thankfully the ride was only 45 minutes each way. On the outbound leg our lovely narrator talked non-stop in rapid-fire Spanish without resorting to any notes.
More wildflowers, these at the turn-around point on the train ride.
For the rail fans out there, this is a Garratt locomotive in need of a few million euros for a complete restoration.
More narrow-gauge locos awaiting an angel for restoration.
The beach at Conil, halfway between Cadiz and Tarifa. We spent a lot of time walking along the surfline and sitting on the sand. Al appreciated the local age-appropriate custom of wearing only the bottom half of a bikini. In the high season, the beach is crammed with vacationers, primarily from Germany, but this early in the season it was relatively empty although both air and water temperatures were perfect.
Al in the costume of the Sandeman Sherry logo. As usual, the hat is way too small. Our English-language tour consisted of us, a couple from Norway and a brother/sister pair from Japan. Despite our age differences, we had such great conversation that we asked for and got permission from the tour guide to linger in the tasting room. You get to taste about four different sherries and then finish up with brandy. The non-drivers had the enviable task of finishing the drinks of those who had to drive.
Al looking at North Africa from the point at Tarifa, the southernmost city in Spain. You could see Tangier and I decided that was as close as I needed to get.
Kitesurfers on the beach just outside Tarifa. Never seen such a collection of six-pack abs in my life, but when you see the exercise they get controlling the kite while standing on a board, you understand.
All of Europe has gone for windpower in a big way. Notice the wildflowers in the foreground.
More wildflowers on the cliffs just north of Conil. This view is just a few steps from the nude beach.
More wildflowers, these in the Parque Natural de los Alcornocales on the way to Ronda. This drive was the best part of the day.
A cork oak that has been stripped of the cork. I had envisioned trees of larger diameter but this was about average size and we saw even smaller ones from which the bark had been harvested.
Our trusty Peugeot at the picnic area in the Parque Natural where I snapped the cork oak picture.
More wildflowers, these from the Parque Natural.
Part of the medieval wall at Trujillo in Extremadura. The town is visited by a lot of tourists but has managed to retain its charm.
Storks, storks, storks, all over Spain. These are on top of the church facing the Plaza Mayor in Trujillo. Storks nest on every church tower and power pole. They don't seem to be concerned about their neighbors or the presence of people.
The Plaza Mayor in Trujillo where everyone gathers in the evening for a drink, a meal, or just to hang out. The few local tuner cars drive through with maximum noise and the teenagers hang out on the steps of the church while the smaller kids run around, perhaps kicking a ball.
A griffon vulture in the Montafrague National Park. There would be dozens of these giant birds (as big as or bigger than a bald eagle) soaring along a cliff. It's hard to think of a vulture as beautiful, but these were lovely birds.
Another example of community nesting by storks.
Views from our hotel balcony in Ribadesella, on the north coast of Spain. The promenade is lighted at night.
A little hill village near the north coast of Spain.
The Picos de Europa, a small but spectacular mountain range in northern Spain.
More Picos de Europa. Note the orange stone outcropping on this peak which gives it some distinction that escapes me at the moment.
On the coast east of Ribadesella.
The church where Christopher Columbus heard mass on the morning that his fleet sailed off to discover the New World. Near Huelva, Spain in a little town where the captains of his other ships were born.
Al on one of the Columbus fleet replicas in a museum at La Rabida, Spain (near Huelva.)
A shot of the entire Columbus replica fleet from the outer edge of the artificial lagoon in which they float.
The church at El Rocio, Spain, which is the destination for a mass pilgramage every spring. The town has no paved roads and right after a rain, the streets are like swamps. El Rocio is also a major destination for birders visiting the Donana National Park.
One of the many spoonbills we saw foraging in the lagoon at El Rocio. The flock of flamingos was too far away for a good shot. We also saw black terns and numerous other wading and water birds in the lagoon which turned out to be the best birding spot in the entire Donana National Park.
An outdoor cafe at El Rocio. Despite his expression, Al really was having a good time. After a hot day of birding, the shade was welcome and that beer really tasted good.
An old pit mine at Minas de Riotinto. The color of the water in the pond and also in the Riotinto river itself comes not from pollution but from the mineral content of the rock formations. As part of our train ride, we had a guided tour of some of the mining areas and reached the location from which this shot was taken by walking through a long rock tunnel.
Al with the locomotive that pulled our train. The track was originally installed to transport copper ore down to the mouth of the Riotinto and was really way too rough for transporting passengers. Thankfully the ride was only 45 minutes each way. On the outbound leg our lovely narrator talked non-stop in rapid-fire Spanish without resorting to any notes.
More wildflowers, these at the turn-around point on the train ride.
For the rail fans out there, this is a Garratt locomotive in need of a few million euros for a complete restoration.
More narrow-gauge locos awaiting an angel for restoration.
The beach at Conil, halfway between Cadiz and Tarifa. We spent a lot of time walking along the surfline and sitting on the sand. Al appreciated the local age-appropriate custom of wearing only the bottom half of a bikini. In the high season, the beach is crammed with vacationers, primarily from Germany, but this early in the season it was relatively empty although both air and water temperatures were perfect.
Al in the costume of the Sandeman Sherry logo. As usual, the hat is way too small. Our English-language tour consisted of us, a couple from Norway and a brother/sister pair from Japan. Despite our age differences, we had such great conversation that we asked for and got permission from the tour guide to linger in the tasting room. You get to taste about four different sherries and then finish up with brandy. The non-drivers had the enviable task of finishing the drinks of those who had to drive.
Al looking at North Africa from the point at Tarifa, the southernmost city in Spain. You could see Tangier and I decided that was as close as I needed to get.
Kitesurfers on the beach just outside Tarifa. Never seen such a collection of six-pack abs in my life, but when you see the exercise they get controlling the kite while standing on a board, you understand.
All of Europe has gone for windpower in a big way. Notice the wildflowers in the foreground.
More wildflowers on the cliffs just north of Conil. This view is just a few steps from the nude beach.
More wildflowers, these in the Parque Natural de los Alcornocales on the way to Ronda. This drive was the best part of the day.
A cork oak that has been stripped of the cork. I had envisioned trees of larger diameter but this was about average size and we saw even smaller ones from which the bark had been harvested.
Our trusty Peugeot at the picnic area in the Parque Natural where I snapped the cork oak picture.
More wildflowers, these from the Parque Natural.
Part of the medieval wall at Trujillo in Extremadura. The town is visited by a lot of tourists but has managed to retain its charm.
Storks, storks, storks, all over Spain. These are on top of the church facing the Plaza Mayor in Trujillo. Storks nest on every church tower and power pole. They don't seem to be concerned about their neighbors or the presence of people.
The Plaza Mayor in Trujillo where everyone gathers in the evening for a drink, a meal, or just to hang out. The few local tuner cars drive through with maximum noise and the teenagers hang out on the steps of the church while the smaller kids run around, perhaps kicking a ball.
A griffon vulture in the Montafrague National Park. There would be dozens of these giant birds (as big as or bigger than a bald eagle) soaring along a cliff. It's hard to think of a vulture as beautiful, but these were lovely birds.
Another example of community nesting by storks.
Views from our hotel balcony in Ribadesella, on the north coast of Spain. The promenade is lighted at night.
A little hill village near the north coast of Spain.
The Picos de Europa, a small but spectacular mountain range in northern Spain.
More Picos de Europa. Note the orange stone outcropping on this peak which gives it some distinction that escapes me at the moment.
On the coast east of Ribadesella.
posted by Al and Linda @ 8:47 AM
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