Spain Tour 2008

Hola de Espana!
Piling off the overnight redeye onto a bus to visit bustling downtown Barcelona, our eyes met blue Mediterranean bracketing one side of the city and mountains with monasteries at the other end. As we walked the city's centerpiece, Gaudi's Sagrada Familia Cathedral (pictured) struck us as bizarre, glorious and mysterious all at the same time.
Tapas and Spanish wine brought us together with laughter and fun. We were all jet lagged but joyous to be in Espana together. Stay tuned all this week and next for more travel updates.
(written by Sally Lewis, station development director and traveler)

Postcards from Spain: Day 2
Today, our travelers explored Barcelona via a walk through the medieval Gothic Quarter that sits on the original Roman military outpost. We even touched stone laid by slaves 100 years before Christ! This afternoon we toured the Picasso museum, explored La Boqueria Market (pictured), and dipped our toes in the sea, just to say we did! Tonight, a classical guitar concert, Catalan style.
(written by Sally Lewis, station development director and traveler)

Postcards from Spain: Day 3
In 1816, Goethe penned in his diary, Nowhere but in his own Montserrat will a man find happiness and peace.
Our tour bus climbed 4300 feet through fog toward a spectacular geographic formation. Serrat refers to the jagged edges that poke dramatically skyward, resembling the finger of God, according to lore. The monastery´s art museum includes a Caravaggio, an El Greco, several Picassos and a Miro, treasures in any museum! The famous black Madonna and child sits above the choir of boys who sing each day. Our flamenco guitar concert included a gypsy sing-along. The audience whistled, stomped and called out Ole! with wild enthusiasm, bringing the young guitar genius back for two encores.
(written by Sally Lewis, station development director and traveler)

Postcards from Spain: Day 4
We headed north from Barcelona to the edge of the Pyrennes, just 30 miles from France, to the home of Salvador Dali, the town of Figueres. Dali spent his final years here, constructing his own museum and gallery (pictured). Filled with works of this bizarre artistic genius, this structure must be the most unique building on the planet! Later on, we found a friend at a 14th century castle and former nunnery. Our winery guide there had spent a year as an au pair in Albany, OR, and was thrilled to greet us. The fact that we brought rain, complete with thunder and lightening, was a hit with the locals who felt the luck of Oregon cheered the grape vines on!
(written by Sally Lewis, station development director and traveler)

Postcards from Spain: Day 5
Arriving in what our guide calls the real Spain (Madrid), we found our hotel situated in the heart of the art museums. After a typical three-course meal plus bread and wine, the group set out for the Reina Sofia Museum, a 5-year-old structure, housed in a former hospital to which a modern wing of glass and chrome was added. The entire Picasso Museum from France is now in Spain for a 4-month exhibit. What a treat to visit hundreds of his works in the same location. The museum also houses many Salvador Dali and Joan Miro pieces. We are now off to join the group for and 8 p.m. dinner, considered ungodly early to Spaniards.

Spain Postcards: Days 6 & 7
In Madrid, Leonard Slatkin directed the National Orchestra of Spain in a brand new hall. Of course, we all fell in love with the young pianist Lang Lang. The next day we toured the famed Prado Museum, now completely reorganized and accessible. I have never seen so many Goyas in one room! In Toledo, we explored castles, synagogues and Moorish-built walls, walking cobblestone streets along the way. We crossed the Bridge of St. Martin (pictured) on foot after a long but exhilarating day, more aware of the rich history of this region and of a world left behind. Finding out-of-the-way restaurants for tapas and regional wines is our new-found delight!

Postcards from Spain: Day 8
As our group readies to take the bullet train south to Seville, the full moon outside says it is very early Tuesday morning. I am amazed at the vast richness of cultural life here in Madrid. During yesterday´s walk around the central city, we enjoyed a tour of their opera house (pictured). Both Lang Lang and Gustavo Dudamel appear there this season with the symphony, and every single major art gallery is hosting an internationally supported special exhibit. Yesterday, I popped around the corner to see a major exhibit from Florence´s Uffizi Gallery. Two blocks across a major plaza to the botancial garden, I stood awash with tulips and lilacs.
(written by Sally Lewis, station development director and traveler)

Postcards from Spain: Day 9
Calling from a classic Moorish courtyard in Arcos de la Frontera (southern Spain), our travelers describe whitewashed houses atop rocky limestone ridges, and the exhilarating view plunging to the fertile valley below. A visit to charming Jerez de la Frontera revealed a charming old town with beautiful palm-lined squares. Jerez is noted for sherry, horses and flamenco. We drank the sherry, visited the graceful dancing horses of the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art and tonight, we’re off to a flamenco concert.

The magnificent city of Seville is our perfect introduction to Moorish Spain. While there we visited the royal Alcazar Palace, built as grand as the Alhambra by Moorish workers, giving it a distinctly Islamic design. We then ventured to Catedral de Sevilla, the 3rd largest cathedral in the world. Builders said, “Let’s build a church so grand that the rest of the world thinks we’re crazy.” Its masses contain at least 25 chapels, along with a central altar that took generations to complete. Part (yes, that’s right) of Christopher Columbus is reportedly buried here.

Flamenco is our new entertainment of choice and tonight, our last evening in Spain, we partake again. This amazing adventure is permanently etched in our hearts.