Bobbie and I recently spent 15 days–when you add in travel time–cruising the Iberian coastline from Barcelona south to Gibraltar then north ultimately to Lisbon. The trip was delightful. We were well cared for at every moment by Grand Circle Cruise Line’s program director and crew who genuinely seemed to enjoy their tasks and our presence. At each of a dozen stops we saw magnificent churches, picturesque old towns (with the occasional no-longer-Jewish Jewish Quarter,) Medieval and Roman and–perhaps most remarkably–Phoenician ruins. Sagrada Familia, the Gaudi church still being built in Barcelona, remains the high point of this trip for me. The only way I could make a poor photograph in this place was by accidentally shooting my feet or the back of some other tourist’s head as she passed between me and my intended target–and yes, I did both.
Along with documenting the trip to re-trigger our memories in whatever distant future might remain to us, I also found more than enough time and subject matter to do some of my more personal visuals. Here–and in no way intended to represent our trip–are a few of my current favorites.
Enjoy!
Leaving the Clio
Gaudi’s Casa Batllo at night, Barcelona
Sagrada Familia
Valencia
Reservatauro Rondo
Malaga’s Jewish Quarter
Malaga’s Jewish Quarter
Ray
Gibralter: Macaque monkey
Seville: Jewish Quarter
Seville: Plaza de Espana
Seville: Holy Week Parade float carrier
The road to Cordoba
Cordoba: Jewish quarter
Cordoba: Mezquita-Catedral de Cordoba
Cordoba: Mezquita-Catedral de Cordoba
Loule Portugal
Loule Portugal
Francisco Carrusca Cork Factory, Portugal
Alfama, Lisbon
Welcome! 
Wonderful, as usual.
Welcome back!
LikeLike
Looks lovely! Spain is a great vacation. Haven’t been to Portugal. Adding it to the list now. Thanks Goldenmeisterdude!
LikeLike
Judith Raices
to Richard
Good post!
LikeLike
Dick & Bobby,
So happy you were able to see some of Spain. I lived in Seville from 1959 to 1961 and it was there that I became interested in photography which I did as a career for over 45 years. I have been back 3 times since I lived there and each time was like a home coming. I especially liked the photo of the Seville Jewish Quarter. That area is called the barrio de santa cruz and is one of my favorite areas of Sevilla. You were fortunate to be in Sevilla for some of the Semana Santa (Holy Week) which I saw when we lived there but have never been back to see again. It is quite a Catholic spectacle. A lot of the best art treasures in Spain are things left by the Moorish rule many years ago. The Moors were very open and accepting of other religions at that time. Catholics and Jews lived there among them without harm. Some Jews rose to high positions among the Moors. When the last Moor was driven from Spain in 1492, King Ferdinand decreed that if you wanted to say in Spain you must become Catholic or will will kill you……so much for tolerance.
LikeLike
Stunning
LikeLike
Beautiful photographs, Richard. You have such a good eye (at least one!). Seriously, it looks like it was a great trip. I’m sure looking at the pics again and again brings you and Bobbie a lot of pleasure. xox
LikeLike
graeme beaton
to Richard
Great pix, Dick.
LikeLike
marge kennedy
to richsgold
Richard, These photos and words are wonderful. I just spent the last hour reading and enjoying. Now I’m back to this:
retirement–
vacation becomes
something to do
LikeLike
Hello Richard!
Nice pictures! Hope all is well looking forward to seeing more pictures.
Margaret Tapp
LikeLike
Phoebe Conway: Richard, I just finished looking through all your musings and all your photographs. I cannot begin to find words to tell you how much I enjoyed them. Thanks!
LikeLike
Lovely photos, as usual. Last December Don and I did OAT to Portugal and Spain. The highlight for me was the post-trip north, to the Basque country. To my surprise and delight, it is also the sites of much evidence of prehistoric man, cave paintings and structures. Was thrilling to stand in a dimly lit cavern seeing a drawing of bison on a wall. I want to write about that experience some day soon… on my list of one of these days.
LikeLike
Dick..Bless you and Bobbie..as always thanks for sharing the journey. Lew
LikeLike
Nice job Richard. Thanks for sharing… Barbara 😊
Barbara Armstrong
LikeLike
Hi Richard,
Welcome back.
Love your photos and prose and your: waxing poetic hither and yon.
As always, Dana
LikeLike
Paul Goldschmidt
to richsgold
Thanks ever so much for the rich text and the glorious pictures.
LikeLike
Thank u again for the wonderful tour! Btw, I’ll buy the book😀
Sharyn
LikeLike
I too love senor Gaudi. I will never forget my wonderful trip to Barcelona and enjoying his works. Please get in touch when you get back
so we can enjoy some companionship.
Ron Cohen
LikeLike
Fab photos and I loved the Haigas !
Roxy
LikeLike
eve winer
You are a very talented photographer. Perhaps you should find a publisher to make a book.
LikeLike
Hi:
Thanks Richard. The pictures are awesome. Thanks for sharing.
Best,
Huguette
LikeLike
Once again I’m stuck on your unbelievable photography!
Shirley
LikeLike