Castles in Spain

Spain is blanketed with ancient buildings….. monasteries, churches, towers, castles, etc. Many are maintained by the government, as upkeep would be beyond the means and interest of most private individuals and companies.  About 90 years ago, some smart administrators decided to convert those structures that were suitable into paradors, inns for travelers who would enjoy staying in an historic place.

We stayed in several in our travel across Spain’s northern border with France.  The first was Hondarribia, a 10th-century castle that looks out upon a lovely bay.

The accommodations in many paradors are clean and modern, but usually not terribly luxurious.  The appeal is in the ambiance…. and often terrific views.

Next was Olite in the Navarre region, with delicious wine.

And finally, Cardona, high on a hill overlooking a salt mine……

From Cardona, we visited Montserrat, an intriguing geological feature, but also the site of a monastery honoring a statue called the Black Madonna.  Alongside it is the most shameless souvenir shop we have so far seen…

Barcelona is a fun city with lots going on; with only one day, we opted to see the city from the cable cars that festoon Montjuic and traverse the port area.

Beauty shot from our hotel at sunrise….  (Don’t ask about why the Canadian flag is on display here – we don’t know.)

In a few days, we will be following in the path of Christopher Columbus’ first expeditions to the New World….. here he is, pointing the way.

Columbus is much noted in Spain, for as you may recall, his expeditions were funded by the Spanish kingdom, although he himself is generally considered to be from Genoa, in present-day Italy.  Historic replicas are plentiful…

As with Columbus, the starting point for our west-bound voyage is the Canary Islands, part of Spain but located off the western coast of Morocco.