Spain

6/21 -- 7/4/2014

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Spain, in southwestern Europe, covers the greater part of the Iberian Peninsula and is the third largest country in Europe.  Spain has both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines, and also includes two island groups: the Canaries in the Atlantic and the Balearics in the Mediterranean.  Its southernmost point faces North Africa, across a strait, making Spain a bridge between continents.  During the Middle Ages, much of it was ruled by the Moors, who arrived from North Africa in the 8th century.  It was reconquered by Christian forces, and unified by Isabel I of Castile and Fernando II of Aragon in the end of 15th century.  A succession of rulers tried to impose a common culture, but Spain remains as culturally diverse as ever.

Getting there ...

The main trigger of this Spain trip was because both Linus and Iris were participating in the Saratoga High School music tour (band & orchestra) to Spain.  I basically planned this trip to meet their itinerary so we could attend their concerts, but we traveled separately with our own rental car and lodge reservations so we could explore more places at our own pace.   When we were at SFO to check in our flight, we got a call from Iris saying that her flight reservation was messed up, and that she ended up without a seat on the plane.  It was quite chaotic: we decided to take Iris with us, changed our flight (since our flight was all full), bought Iris a one-way ticket (very very expensive), and were delayed for more than 15 hours (so I missed my bullfighting in Madrid ....).

 

[6/23 Madrid -- Toledo -- Alarcón]  [6/24&25 Alarcón -- Valencia]  [6/26 Valencia -- Peñíscola]  [6/27&28 Peñíscola -- Barcelona]
[6/29 Barcelona -- Zaragoza]  [6/30 Zaragoza -- Ordesa]  [7/1 Ordesa -- San Sebastián]  [7/2&3 San Sebastián -- Madrid]

Map of Itinerary

June 23 (Madrid -- Toledo -- Alarcón ) ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

>> Next Destination           

[6/23 Madrid -- Toledo -- Alarcón]  [6/24&25 Alarcón -- Valencia]  [6/26 Valencia -- Peñíscola]  [6/27&28 Peñíscola -- Barcelona]
[6/29 Barcelona -- Zaragoza]  [6/30 Zaragoza -- Ordesa]  [7/1 Ordesa -- San Sebastián]  [7/2&3 San Sebastián -- Madrid]


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