Life looks relaxed in Spain. People exude a combination of dignity and welcoming, enjoying life and fiestas, still having their siesta in the afternoon and sitting exceptionally late at night on outside terraces sipping sangria.

The Muslim heritage is more visible in Andalucia and Extremadura are two unique and remarkable regions. From Toledo, gently sloping over the Tagus River, we drove to Cordoba, where its enchanting Mesquita is surrounded by the white houses of the old Juderia, to Ubeda and Baeza, two architectural treasures of Andalucia and Purullena, preserving a large share of troglodyte dwellings. Further was Granada with its Alhambra Palace, Seville, with its impressive cathedral, Giralda and the Alcazar, Ronda, and the Pueblos Blancos, the old Arab villages hanging up on the mountain slopes in Sierras de Grazalema.  

In Extremadura, Caceres, Trujillo, and Guadelupe were the birthplaces for most families that left Spain in the 16th century to conquer the New World.

Down on the British filled Costa del Sol, we stopped in Malaga and Marbella. In British Gibraltar we watched the monkeys populating the rock, further following the coast to Cadiz, one of the oldest harbors of Europe.

From Madrid, we went to  Catalonia’s capital, Barcelona, enjoying the Gaudi architecture, continuing to Figueras, Cadaques, and Girona, and following to the tranquil cities of Costa Brava. (Catalunya, Blanes, Tossa, Escala, Ampurias, St Pere de Rodes, Sitges, Cuenca, Jerez)