Cazorla Natural Park

Last Monday, David and I took a day trip to Cazorla Natural Park. This is Spain's largest national park and the second largest in Europe. We did a 10 mile hike to a beautiful waterfall and really enjoyed being in the park. Here are some pictures.

The Wieders Visit

 My fam was able to visit, and we enjoyed every moment. Traveled to seven different cities and the beach. This photo if from the Attic terrace in Granada

 

 Eric and I at the Alhambra, in Granada

Tapas in Malaga, the garage below almost killed the car.

Jeri enjoyed the churros with us.

Drinks with Javi, Stella and the girls.

Nice shot of the gorge in Ronda

Ran the beaches in Elviria and Malaga. Mom loved the sunny weather.

 Family Video

Madrid by Foot

Every once in a while we choose to run a race, a challenge, a good way to stay in shape. The Madrid Marathon was April 22nd, a day after my dad's birthday. His goal was to complete a marathon, so we ran it with him.

It wasn't the easiest marathon we've run, having more time to train and miles of great trails didn't prove helpful. But we finished under four and took home lots of loot. Look at the bags by our feet, chucked full of freebies.

Semana Santa - Easter Week

For the Easter break we hosted Angela's mom, or mi suegra. It was a great trip, everything was strategically planned for efficiency and we moved at a maddening pace for seven days. Only stopping to grab café con leche or vino tinto con tapas. Thankfully Daneen was at ease with our nutty routines and didn't gripe when we paced the blocks looking for the perfect meal, and by 9pm she probably should have. But for us, it's typical. Here's our trip in chronological order.

Madrid 1

Pick up Mom at Madrid Airport, photo op at Parque Retiro.

 

 Toledo 2

Visit Toledo, dinner with Spanish ham. I just remember the ice cream.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Captivated by this Ent of a tree in Valencia.

 

Martos 3 

Two nights at home, we visited with our friends, walked the town, ran the Via Verde, and shopped at the markets.

 

Valencia 4

Behind the tree is the smallest gas station.

Valencia Science Park with amazing futuristic buildings.

 

Valencia, met with Becca, Ed, Clint, Sara, and Jenny for dinner in the Plaza de la Reina

Valencia -We biked around and around, then made a crazy sprint back before closing time. If it wasn't cold we would have swam in the ocean too.

Mom and Ang in front of the Cathedral

 Barcelona 5

Favorite Tour, Sagrada Familia, giant church by Gaudi. Also saw his Park Güell.

View from MNAC, Nat'l Museum of Art, and adjacent to the site of the 1992 Olympics.

We toured on rainy days too.

Downtown after a great meal of tapas we ordered from the buffet along with fresh sangria.

Gaudi Sagrada Familia Church, building in progress.

Museum of Arts, celebrating 1000 years of art.

sink/shower

 

Zaragoza 6

We drove back to Madrid, had an excellent dinner of tapas and dropped Mom back at the airport in the morning.

Cathedral, in preparation for Easter processions.

 

 Burgos 7

Ceiling of Cathedral. It's a beautiful place, we made a quick 30 minute stop, running to the church in the cold rain.

Everything is greener up north.

Preparation for the elaborate Easter processions.

 Bilbao 8

Happy to visit the wild Guggenheim Art  Museum by Frank Gehry in '97

All from Flowers, a big dog by Jeff Koons.

 San Sebastian aka Donostia 9

The first of three pincho bars with cidra. The best food and cider we've had yet.

We stayed in the attic of this old home, great place. Marleen our wonderful host made us breakfast.

Shot of the old town with Santa María Church behind.

Buen Pastor Cathedral - NeoGothic, housed an amazing exhibit of the life of Mother Teresa

Hope all is well.

Lanjaron, Spain

There is Groupon in España, which gave us a deal on a couple nights in Lanjaron. A town on the southern slopes of Spain's Sierra Nevada. The World Health Organizations lists it as one of the healthiest places to live with the longest living inhabitants. Lanjaron produces popular mountain fresh bottled water which is said to have healing qualities. This trip came right after our 3-day madness in Cadiz, Tangier, and Gibraltar and all we were wanting was rest. It was a great place to do just that. David and I enjoyed some wonderful patadas asadas (baked potatoes with everything including tuna and beets) our first night from an outdoor vender as well as a long run in preparation for the Madrid maratón. And Yes, we re-filled 30 liters of water bottles at the local fountain for extra health.

Hiking View

Patata Asada with extra cheese.

View from the hotel.

Tour Guide Sergio

The town of Las Casillas, "the little houses"

Sergio climbing the largest olive tree with us.

Hike to an ancient watering fort, with buried treasures.

The week after Lanjaron our friend Sergio took us on an amazing wandering history tour of the region of Jaén. From Martos to the organic olive groves, to the Las Casillas reservoir, to the peaks where the best wild mushrooms are discovered after a light rain, and then into the larger town of Alcaudete. A perfect day to appreciate the area and history of a region built and destroyed by nearly three thousands of years of inhabitants.