Thinking about our new challenge prompted me to share some shots I took in Spain last year.  I was surprised at the amount of Roman influence still visible.  But then again, I guess the Holy Roman Empire stretched a long way.  Driving south of Sitges, we pulled off on a little roadside rest, and stumbled across this ancient Aquaduct that was built by the Romans. You could actually go up and Walk on it, so we did.  Farther south in Terregona, there are remains of a Cosiseum also built by the Romans.  It isn't as big as the one in Rome, but it does have a nicer view!  

One of the highlights of Spain for me was Traveling up the Mountains to the Monestir de Montserrat 9'th century.  It is on the highest point in Spain (4,055 ft.) and you can see The View of Barcelona in the distance.
The Waterfront in Gerona gives you an idea of their urban housing.  I will end this tour with a glimpse of Salvadore Dali's Museum in Figures.  The Upside Down Boat in front of the museum's sphere was a nice whimsical touch!  Hope you enjoyed this little tour!

3 days in Madrid is not enough...

Paseo de la Castellana

House of Congress

Torre Europa

Gran Via

Torres Kio, the leaning towers of Madrid

Torre Picasso One, Two and Three

Plaza Mayor, the main square. Don't leave your camera or your cellphone on the table... the kids will steal it.

The Police with the symbol of Madrid in the background - el oso y el madroño (the bear and the strawberry tree). Madrid, you're on notice.

Puerta del Sol, and again

Maybe a little glimpse of springtime will lighten the cabin fever for those of you all snowed in.  Wales is one of the greenest places I have ever seen.  Peeking though this opening at the Galway Castle wall  Castle wall is like looking into springtime.  I learned that only 1 in 5 Welsh people still speak their native language, which I think is sad.  Check out this sign written in Welsh and it gives you an idea why! Welsh sign
I love taking pictures of things against the sky.  English statue  This was on top of a castle in Leeds, England.   We went to Sitges, Spain on Easter Sunday, this is the cathedral at Sitges on the sea, a magical day.  Sitges I guess one of my favorite things to shoot is architecture, I fell in love with the iron work on the buidings in Marseilles.  A wonderful place to sit and watch the world go by on a spring day.  Marseilles
 For those of you who suggested I crop the picture of my son in the alley in Gerona, here is the revised version.  I think I still like the tall overexposed sky shot better though!  
Gerona Spain  What do you think?  original Gerona shot  Thanks for looking at my shots, appreciate your comments and suggestions.  There are some really talented photographers on this site, a great learning tool!

We were walking down this narrow street in Gerona, when I called to my son who was ahead of me.  He turned around and gave me that look that every Mother with a camera has seen before.... that bored, please don't take another picture of me look...  but thought that his look and the street captured something special on this one!

It all started when Lee, Jim and I decided that a trip to Ibiza (via Barcelona) was in order.  We should have know trouble was ahead of us right then and there!  We went anyway.

Out apartment in Barcelona was located off a really cool little road, but unfortunately was clogged up by a film crew making a movie of some sort.  That didn't slow us down a bit.  We headed straight for the Beach which was topless to our suprise! (family site, no smutty pics here!)  After a day of that, we did a little sight seeing and hit up this museum, which was completely boring! So we jumped a train to Valencia!

It was around Jult 1st, which happened to be the month of flowers there.  Our hotel looked out over this little square.  We were only there for a day before jumping on this  boat  to Ibiza - sweet!  Upon arrival, we saw a bay full of Yachts which seemed to be a good omen (for some strange reason!)

After checking into our new digs, we headed straight for club Eden for Judgement Sunday - it was an initiation tot he club scene in Ibiza.  Soon after cam Manumission at Privelage, After hours at Space and afternoons at the Cafe del Mar wehre we met some great  >.People.  One friend with blue eyes was esepecially trouble!!!  One highlight was seeing DJ Tiesto's album release at Amnesia.  This is about what I  remember of the evening/morning! Acutally that's the memory of most nights in Ibiza!

The next few days we hung out and took day trips ... here's me on one of those excursions  The other times we just hung out in the  West End or cruised up the main drag.   After 2 weeks in Spain, seven spent in Ibiza, it was time to come home and let the sun set on our most eye opening adventure to date.

Thanks for reading, take care ... the Dancefloor

(fyi - all the pics are small because I had to scan them and the file sizes messed up - sorry)

I had a week off work so I used it to go back to Gran Canaria. I stole my dad's car for a day and, with a friend, I drove to the mountainous center and the windy south east of the island. Places I had never seen properly before.

Chess in San Mateo, a small village with a popular Sunday market.
A San Mateo house with the typical balconies in this region.
San Mateo has a local festival on.

After San Mateo we continued to drive up.

The Clouds below
Kilometer 0 with the Roque Nublo, a natural landmark, in the background.
Closeup of the Roque Nublo.

The Roque Nublo was our last stop before heading down South East.

Wind farm 1.
Wind farm 2, with the local flora in the foreground.
Where there's wind, there's windsurf. The sail numbers on the statue belong to Bjorn Dunkerbeck and twins Iballa and Daida Ruano Moreno, three local legends.
An abandoned bus I found when I took a wrong turn into a private farm.

I work in the UK but I'm from Gran Canaria, Spain. I go back every now and then to meet friends who live close to my old neighbourhood, and family. It's a cool island, with a busy city and small villages as well as the well-known beach resorts.

The tourism industry has brought about a construction boom, leading to many seaside shopping centers being built... and then left sort of abandoned.

Other places look better, like this open area next to the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium and the Las Palmas Philharmonic.

Because of work, my trips are frequent but short, so I spend a good chunk of my breaks at airports (Madrid Barajas). Here's a Ferrari at Gatwick airport.

And here's a panorama of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.