Seville

Malaga

Birthday Dinner

Costa del Sol Birthday Celebration

So last night I boarded a train to Cordoba, at the last second I bought a bottle of Spanish Rioja hoping someone would help me drink it. I was put in an all womens sleeping car or at least that is how it worked out. There was an older woman in her 60s or 70s and then the other two were in their 30s, both unmarried one with a child... Franciola. She said she would share my wine and then informed me that at midnight she would be 36. So we all visited until midnight when the oldest woman said it is midnight, happy birthday we can all go to sleep now. At that point the other woman had earphones on and we were happy to go to sleep... it was that or another story from the old woman about her granddaughter. In the course of the conversation Franciola invited me to her town outside of Malaga. I really wanted to go to Cordoba first to see the Mezquita, which was awesome, and the town smelled like orange blossoms. So I said that I would spend the morning there and then head on down. I had no idea the town, Fuengiaola, a place another 50 minutes away from Malaga, right on the Medeterrenian. Tonight is her birthday celebration. I sat with her while she made vegetables, cooked meat, couscous and yummy sangria from scratch. Her friends should be here in about an hour. Tomorrow I have invited her to go to the Picasso Museum in Malaga, they are having a special exhibit with many other wonderful artists as well as the Picasso collection donated from his family to this area. She may go but then has to return for a family lunch, I am going to head on to Granada to see the Alhambra and then return for a night in Malaga with her friends. The next morning on Sunday I plan to head to Seville for the end of my trip and then that is it. It is so nice to be here in her house, I had a bath with incredible water pressure and the house is filled with the most wonderful smells. Lucky me....

More Photos to come...

The Road goes ever on and on down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, and I must follow, if I can, pursuing it with eager feet, until it joins some larger way where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say. - J.R.R. Tolkien

Now in Barcelona

I can´t belive I haven´t posted any photos since I was in Paris. So much has happened since then. I have rented two cars, failed to make it to Venice yet again, damn Italian trains... I have been cursed by a gypsy...I think... and have attended a Barcelona soccer game. I have danced in an Irish pub in Sorento Italy, ordered lemon granita on the side of the road over looking the Amalfi Coast, drank free proseco in a bar in Firenze and met another Ms.Phillips. I have been to a Cezanne exhibit, the Picasso Museum, and the Gaudi Museum in Parc Guell. Here are a few photos until I get to a better keyboard...

Happy Birthday Mom!

Italy