Review: Spain Vacation, Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Ronda, Toledo, Segovia, Prado Museum, Flamenco Performance

Our tour guide introduced us to the architecture, history and stories of Spain's capital.   Our guide's knowledge of art history made the tour of the Prado Museum so rewarding.  She explained the way artist went about expressing themselves so that I now have a much deeper understanding and appreciation of art.  We were given the surprise opportunity to see the Maria Pages' show were we saw a modern dance that showed flamenco in a new way.  Then in Seville we saw a wonderful dancer with a singer and guitar player doing classical flamenco which was made more wonderful by comparison. 

Our guide also escorted us to the historical town of Toledo where I could not take enough pictures of such a beautiful city and area. The next day we were escorted to Segovia where our knowledge of the history of Spain was enlightened by a visit to the castle.  Here we enjoyed one of the many wonderful meals we had in Spain.  Again the day was enriched by our guide's knowledge and her ability to share it.

From Madrid we took the fast train to Seville.  There escorted by our guide we had the opportunity to go to the Feria de Abril.  We loved seeing all the women and young girls in their flamenco dresses with flowers in their hair and the men in their best suits.  We joined in the carriage ride through the streets and felt like we too were part of the celebration.

On a walking tour we were escorted through the streets of Seville, seeing the large beautiful Gothic cathedral containing Christopher Columbus's tomb.  We were astonished by the ornate Alcazar Palace and impressed with the beauty and influence the Moors brought to Spain.

The trip to Ronda with its large river gorge, the tour through a beautiful home sitting overlooking the gorge and being able to see so far in the distance this beautiful area has been recorded in my memory and on my camera.

One of the highlight of this trip was the opportunity of going to the bull farm and learning how the bulls are raised.  But the eye opening information for me was that the bulls are bred not by the pedigree of the bull but the courage of the cow.

This area of Spain is undoubted too beautiful to ever forget.