Looking at my house after some maintenance work saw many souvenirs of our trip to my dear Spain and why not in my blog, After all this is my life and my family life’s history, This post allows me to show in my blog things collected over the years by my dear late wife Martine that still hangs and will forever in my house. Nostalgia sets in and here I go on my curiosities of Spain !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I
In 834, Alfonso II, King of Asturias, set out from Oviedo, thus laying out the first pilgrimage route to Compostela , which would later be called Camino Primitivo, or Primitive Way, The Camino Francés or French Way begins at the famous city of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, The ideal time to hike is spring, from March to May. Distance: 930 Km Stages: approximately 32. From the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela, the French Way crosses the regions of Aragon, Navarre, La Rioja, Castilla-León and Galicia. We have done it by car and stop by to get a souvenir quick stop with the dish.
Residence of the Spanish kings from Charles III to Alfonso XIII, the Royal Palace of Madrid is open to all those who wish to travel through the history of Spain. Although not inhabited by the current monarchs, the building is the official residence of the kings of Spain. I was here as a child with my late mother Gladys and later came in couple times more with my dear late wife Martine, late father Elio ,and my boys. One of the oldest souvenirs dating from 1990
The Plaza de España attracts crowds of all nationalities. The square is home to one of the most photographed monuments in Madrid , The new square extends over an area of more than 70,000 m2, where all modes of transport rub shoulders, with pedestrian areas and cycle paths located on the surface , while an underground tunnel connects Bailén and Ferraz streets, extending the tunnel built in 1990 in front of the Royal Palace. More than 1,100 new trees have been planted there, more than 3 kms of cycle paths have been laid out on the roads and nearly 400 meters on car-free spaces, as well as vast play areas for children. Besides the famous Monument to Cervantes inaugurated in 1915, the square has two other fountains: a new creation, the Fuente del Cielo (Fountain of the Sky), a work in makauba blue marble, inspired by the sky of Madrid; and the one known as Fuente de la Concha (fountain of the shell) or del Nacimiento del agua (of the birth of water), previously located in front of the Spain or España building and which will soon be moved in front of the parish of Santa Teresa y San José, at no, 14 Plaza de España, a magnificent neogothic temple of medieval inspiration. This one played around in the old square for many years and then came back with family to see again, the latest came with my boys. One of the oldest souvenirs dating from 1990
The Roman aqueduct of Segovia, probably built around the year 50 of the Christian era, is remarkably well preserved. This majestic construction with double arches is part of the magnificent historic city of Segovia . It is an enormous masonry work 813 meters long, made up of four straight segments and two superimposed arcades bearing on 128 pillars. At the lowest point in the valley, the aqueduct rises 28.5 meters above the ground. Apart from Madrid, this is the second city visited in Spain in my child years and have come back several times with the family.
The La Mancha area, the homeland of Don Quixote. And the windmills in Campo de Criptana ! From Toledo is the canon who, after running into the gang that was carrying Don Quixote in a cage, engages with him and the members of the expedition in a long dissertation. Also in Toledo is the asylum ; the house of the Nuncio ; where Don Quixote ends up being hospitalized in the book of Avellaneda. Even today it remains unknown, although according to a study promoted by the Complutense University of Madrid and carried out by ten scientific experts, they place Villanueva de los Infantes as the birth town of Don Quixote.I have taken the route with the family and visit many of these towns including Toledo where had nearby cousins.
To visit a must in Toledo are the Toledo Cathedral. Valley viewpoint. Synagogue of Santa María La Blanca. Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes. Alcantara Bridge. Alcazar. Church of Santo Tomé and Plaza de Zocodover. Amongst many more indeed. One of the earliest visited cities in Spain, and lucky to have been back several times.
The official Spain tourist office : https://www.spain.info/en/
There you go folks, a walk of nostalgia from my dear Spain. The curiosities of Spain, everything under the sun, that still rings many nice memories to my mind on each stretch of meter I take on it. These were some souvenirs taken by my dear late wife Martine and still hang in my house forever, Again, hope you enjoy the post as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 
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