Oh! How I would like to bring my kids for a beach outing to San Sebastian and show them what I’ve seen. If beauty is in the eye of the beholder ,today my eyes overflowed from the scenery. The panoramic view of the bay was breathtaking.
Our guided tour given by Eduardo was educational and hilarious. He kept my interest by cracking a joke in every other sentence. “Shall I conduct this tour in Italian, French or German? Better yet, why don´t I just do it in Basque?” Basque is a language used by some inhabitants of Northern Spain.
San Sebastian has three beaches and the island of Santa Clara in the bay. Several people in our group braved the small ferry to explore the island. We found a flight of stairways that seemed to stretch all the way to heaven. Without hesitation, I took the first step. “I am not going up all those steps” I heard someone say. “I´ll wait for you all down here.” I continued up the stairs. About half way up I thought, “How much more do we have to go?” I was gasping for air. I took in such a deep breath. At that moment, the fragrance of the yellow mimosas filled my lungs. I knew the walk would be well worth it.
When we finally reached the top, my suspicions were confirmed. The view was incredible. Ironically enough, we found a ramp leading to the top.
As I stood admiring the scenery, I was reminded that the climb to the top is never easy. If it was, everyone would do it. Everyone can, but only those who choose to take the first step and complete the journey delight in the view.
Saturday, June 16
San Sebastian- The View From The Top
Friday, June 15
Burgos - La Catedral Y La Españiola
Living so close to the Rio Grande has caused a division in my culture. Soy Americana. Both my parents are Mexican. I have never felt fully Mexican nor have I wanted to embrace the over indulging American way.
Traveling through Spain and learning about their traditions, history and culture has allowed me to learn about my roots. The magnificence of the Burgos cathedral is indescribable. Our travel guide, Carlotta was wonderful. She possessed an energetic personality and lead our our group through the grounds.
She communicated with us using not only her words but also her facial expressions and hand movements. "The construction of this cathedral spanned over five centuries" she said with a smile on her face. "There are several different types of architectural styles found here."She went on to explain the history both good and bad of her country. Carlotta directed our attention to the beautiful sculptures made of gold. "Much of the gold used to mold these figures came from the Americas. The Spaniards took from the land and brought it here. " With an apologetic look on her face she regretfully said, "I´m sorry for that."
Part of our sightseeing tour in Burgos included visiting the Cartuja de Miraflores. In this church lay the remains of Juan Carlos II and Queen Isabel de Portugal. They were the parents of Isabel I. Also is a shrine dedicated to Prince Alfonso, brother of Isabel I. He died when he was fourteen.
I asked our lovely tour guide if Alfonso had lived would he have been in line for the throne? I knew I had asked an interesting question when she dashed across the room, grabbed my forearm and said "NO! The king and queen had an older son named Juan. He had a daughter who would have been next in line to the throne. However, Prince Juan died but ruled his daughter an illegitimate child. He claimed she was not his own daughter but that of a noble man."
I loved the way she told the story. "It sounds like a family soap opera. Tell me more. I want to know all about it," I said. "I am very interested." "Well of course you are, " she said. "you are a descendant of Spaniards."
With that, I began embracing the culture, the Spanish culture. It is my culture.
Traveling through Spain and learning about their traditions, history and culture has allowed me to learn about my roots. The magnificence of the Burgos cathedral is indescribable. Our travel guide, Carlotta was wonderful. She possessed an energetic personality and lead our our group through the grounds.
She communicated with us using not only her words but also her facial expressions and hand movements. "The construction of this cathedral spanned over five centuries" she said with a smile on her face. "There are several different types of architectural styles found here."She went on to explain the history both good and bad of her country. Carlotta directed our attention to the beautiful sculptures made of gold. "Much of the gold used to mold these figures came from the Americas. The Spaniards took from the land and brought it here. " With an apologetic look on her face she regretfully said, "I´m sorry for that."
Part of our sightseeing tour in Burgos included visiting the Cartuja de Miraflores. In this church lay the remains of Juan Carlos II and Queen Isabel de Portugal. They were the parents of Isabel I. Also is a shrine dedicated to Prince Alfonso, brother of Isabel I. He died when he was fourteen.
I asked our lovely tour guide if Alfonso had lived would he have been in line for the throne? I knew I had asked an interesting question when she dashed across the room, grabbed my forearm and said "NO! The king and queen had an older son named Juan. He had a daughter who would have been next in line to the throne. However, Prince Juan died but ruled his daughter an illegitimate child. He claimed she was not his own daughter but that of a noble man."
I loved the way she told the story. "It sounds like a family soap opera. Tell me more. I want to know all about it," I said. "I am very interested." "Well of course you are, " she said. "you are a descendant of Spaniards."
With that, I began embracing the culture, the Spanish culture. It is my culture.
Thursday, June 14
Madrid: Plazas and Castles
If you ever have trouble sleeping, take a 15 hour connecting flight to another country, spend an hour at the airport waiting to claim your luggage, drive through a city taking snapshots at ten or so monuments and plazas and take a tour of a 2,800-room castle. By the time you get done, you will not have a difficult time sleeping.
On the first day we arrived, we hit the ground running. Well, it was more like plowing through a field churning up a huge load of information. Visiting plaza after plaza, the names were too many to remember. I am glad I snapped a picture of each plaque to keep track of what monument was dedicated to which honorees. The quick (well about one hour) sightseeing tour helped me get my bearings. I was able to recall the plazas we returned to later the next day.
After the plaza speed run, we stopped at the Palacio Real. The main staircase is a long flight of very wide low ascending steps. The purpose of the slow incline is to create a graceful ascension for the king and queen. Sixteen of the rooms are available for public view. The first few rooms were fascinating but towards the end the combination of jet lag and so many decorations began to seem gaudy. However my spirits were re energized when I walked into the throne room. The gold garnishing, beautiful crimson velvet wall coverings and rock crystal chandeliers left me in awe of the position of king and queen. The canopy above their seats is a symbol of authority. My spirit stirred with admiration.
On the first day we arrived, we hit the ground running. Well, it was more like plowing through a field churning up a huge load of information. Visiting plaza after plaza, the names were too many to remember. I am glad I snapped a picture of each plaque to keep track of what monument was dedicated to which honorees. The quick (well about one hour) sightseeing tour helped me get my bearings. I was able to recall the plazas we returned to later the next day.
After the plaza speed run, we stopped at the Palacio Real. The main staircase is a long flight of very wide low ascending steps. The purpose of the slow incline is to create a graceful ascension for the king and queen. Sixteen of the rooms are available for public view. The first few rooms were fascinating but towards the end the combination of jet lag and so many decorations began to seem gaudy. However my spirits were re energized when I walked into the throne room. The gold garnishing, beautiful crimson velvet wall coverings and rock crystal chandeliers left me in awe of the position of king and queen. The canopy above their seats is a symbol of authority. My spirit stirred with admiration.
Wednesday, June 13
Madrid: Bienveñido a España.
The combination of excitement and uncertainty overwhelm me when I arrive in a new country. The words “Toto, I have a feeling we are not in Kansas anymore” always come to mind.
Arriving at the airport in Madrid extremely increased those emotions. As I heard the landing gear come down, I bit my bottom lip. We had arrived in Europe. Peeking out the window, I read the names on the side of airplanes I had not seen before: Spainair, Icelandair, Saudi Arabian Airlines.
I wanted to run off the airplane and begin exploring this new land. With camera in hand I was ready to capture every bit of my trip. I asked my travel partner to snap a shot of me waiting in line by the Aduana sign. I still had a smile on my face, so I was ready. As soon as the flash went off a woman security official approached me. “Photos are not allowed at security points,” she said. “Please delete the picture.” Oops! I thought I must have missed that sign. I purchased a new camera for this trip, so it was taking me a while to find the delete function. The line was forming long behind me. The clerks at the desk directed travelers to proceed around me to the left. Finally, I found the delete button admired the photo for one second and said goodbye to my first picture in Madrid. “Please show me the rest of your photos,” the security official said. I only had a few pictures from the airplane ride. “Vale” (which I understood to mean OK) she said and walked away. I stepped up to the counter, where a handsome European man was smiling. I recognized his cologne. It was Curve by Liz Clairborne. His scent was familiar and comforting. “Was it a good picture?” he asked. “Yes,” I said “too bad I couldn’t keep it. I’ll be careful to obey the laws.” He chuckled and said “Bienvenido a España.”
The event was much more memorable than the picture would have been.
Arriving at the airport in Madrid extremely increased those emotions. As I heard the landing gear come down, I bit my bottom lip. We had arrived in Europe. Peeking out the window, I read the names on the side of airplanes I had not seen before: Spainair, Icelandair, Saudi Arabian Airlines.
I wanted to run off the airplane and begin exploring this new land. With camera in hand I was ready to capture every bit of my trip. I asked my travel partner to snap a shot of me waiting in line by the Aduana sign. I still had a smile on my face, so I was ready. As soon as the flash went off a woman security official approached me. “Photos are not allowed at security points,” she said. “Please delete the picture.” Oops! I thought I must have missed that sign. I purchased a new camera for this trip, so it was taking me a while to find the delete function. The line was forming long behind me. The clerks at the desk directed travelers to proceed around me to the left. Finally, I found the delete button admired the photo for one second and said goodbye to my first picture in Madrid. “Please show me the rest of your photos,” the security official said. I only had a few pictures from the airplane ride. “Vale” (which I understood to mean OK) she said and walked away. I stepped up to the counter, where a handsome European man was smiling. I recognized his cologne. It was Curve by Liz Clairborne. His scent was familiar and comforting. “Was it a good picture?” he asked. “Yes,” I said “too bad I couldn’t keep it. I’ll be careful to obey the laws.” He chuckled and said “Bienvenido a España.”
The event was much more memorable than the picture would have been.
Sunday, June 10
San Antonio: Medieval Spain
For three centuries the Visigoths ruled Spain. Yet the remnants of their legacy are minimized insubstantially to a rough-hewn country church, a few pieces of jewelry, an obscure law and a regal crown in a museum. The Visigoths did manage to erratically unify the country. This was Spain’s first attempt to unite as a nation. Building a capital on the meseta, a central plateau in the heart of the peninsula, was their greatest impact. Political power was shifted to this area. The more advanced coastal regions focused to the interior of the country for the first time.
This change did not radically transform the country. Ortega y Gasset, one of Spain’s foremost modern thinkers, blamed the nation’s problems on the Visigoths. He accused them of being weak barbarians who never achieved any unity or stability found elsewhere in Europe. Once again Spain was “different.”
The religious entanglement created in this region made it susceptible to more invasions. The Goths persecuted a large Jewish population that resided on the peninsula for centuries. This stirred a plot between the Jews and Moors. The Moors refer to a Muslim population that lived in North Africa known today as Algeria and Morocco. They succeeded after a second attempt to conquer the Iberian Peninsula. The Moors ruled Spain for almost eight hundred years. They planted new agricultural crops, such as the orange, lemon, peach, fig and pomegranate. Today, these are some of Spain’s most important products. The Moors also brought Arabian horses. These horses later developed into the Andalucían breed which were brought to the Americas.
This change did not radically transform the country. Ortega y Gasset, one of Spain’s foremost modern thinkers, blamed the nation’s problems on the Visigoths. He accused them of being weak barbarians who never achieved any unity or stability found elsewhere in Europe. Once again Spain was “different.”
The religious entanglement created in this region made it susceptible to more invasions. The Goths persecuted a large Jewish population that resided on the peninsula for centuries. This stirred a plot between the Jews and Moors. The Moors refer to a Muslim population that lived in North Africa known today as Algeria and Morocco. They succeeded after a second attempt to conquer the Iberian Peninsula. The Moors ruled Spain for almost eight hundred years. They planted new agricultural crops, such as the orange, lemon, peach, fig and pomegranate. Today, these are some of Spain’s most important products. The Moors also brought Arabian horses. These horses later developed into the Andalucían breed which were brought to the Americas.
San Antonio : A Trace of Spain
Several different civilizations have left their imprint on the country of Spain. One of the first groups to make a conquest here were the Iberians. Present day Spain and Portugal are located in the Iberian Peninsula whose name originated from these important people.
Iberians settled in hilltops that were easily defended. Iberians were feisty, devoted to horses, suspicious of strangers and respectful to their elders. Individualism was what an Iberian prized most. Least favored was organization. Spaniards throughout history have reflected these personality traits.
Historical debates have been started about the presence of Celtic people in middle Europe. They, much like the Iberians contributed a lot to the Spanish race. Today skepticism still exists about their time in Spain. The Greek historian Herodotus made reference to the Celtics specifically by the fifth century. The problem is in distinguishing indigenous remnants that predated invasions and the Celtic. The facts that support the Celtics introduced iron metallurgy, a short broad sword and the custom of wearing trousers.
While the Celts were taking over the north, the Phoenician traders were gaining a stronghold in the south. Phoenicians were a commercially oriented empire. The alphabet we use today is their greatest legacy. Phoenicia controlled Mediterranean commerce but never established a military power.
The Romans brought the best and the worst to Spain. They mercilessly destroyed their enemies and violence became the national sport. Yet, they also brought peace and culture to the Mediterranean area. The Romans built roads, bridges and aqueducts. The law prevailed. However, it was not an easy task. It took over two hundred years to conquer the Hispani people. The fact they the Hispani never learned to have a united front is what made this lengthy battle so amazing.
Iberians settled in hilltops that were easily defended. Iberians were feisty, devoted to horses, suspicious of strangers and respectful to their elders. Individualism was what an Iberian prized most. Least favored was organization. Spaniards throughout history have reflected these personality traits.
Historical debates have been started about the presence of Celtic people in middle Europe. They, much like the Iberians contributed a lot to the Spanish race. Today skepticism still exists about their time in Spain. The Greek historian Herodotus made reference to the Celtics specifically by the fifth century. The problem is in distinguishing indigenous remnants that predated invasions and the Celtic. The facts that support the Celtics introduced iron metallurgy, a short broad sword and the custom of wearing trousers.
While the Celts were taking over the north, the Phoenician traders were gaining a stronghold in the south. Phoenicians were a commercially oriented empire. The alphabet we use today is their greatest legacy. Phoenicia controlled Mediterranean commerce but never established a military power.
The Romans brought the best and the worst to Spain. They mercilessly destroyed their enemies and violence became the national sport. Yet, they also brought peace and culture to the Mediterranean area. The Romans built roads, bridges and aqueducts. The law prevailed. However, it was not an easy task. It took over two hundred years to conquer the Hispani people. The fact they the Hispani never learned to have a united front is what made this lengthy battle so amazing.
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