This is the view from our apartment out towards the Tianjin eye. I particularly like the lights from the wheel reflected in the apartments and, the whole lighting effect of the lights on in the blocks.
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The Alhambra is one of Europe's most impressive buildings and, as such, is a touch busy. To regulate the flow of visitors you have to buy your tickets in advance and then get given a specific time slot on a specific day. Woe betide you if you miss your slot.
Not a problem... We knew all this and booked in advance to get the time slot we wanted. However, when we went to collect the tickets something had gone wrong and we had bought tickets for nearly a month later! Obviously, no tickets left for today. Not a happy camper! First job is to sell our tickets for the future back to the Alhambra.... Didn't cost us anything so a small plus. There was one small silver lining. You could still book for the night-time slots. By the time we had gone round the Generaife (Which means overseer's garden in Arabic) we had bucked up at the thought of coming back later when it was fully dark. I have to say it was excellent and in many ways better than going during the day time. Would like to do both in one day to compare and contrast. We left the Alhambra and wandered down the beautiful tree lined path back to the city having strolled around the gardens.
Before a spot of lunch we decided to have a gander at the Cathedral which is supposed to be spectacular. Firstly, we were well pleased as we were expecting to have to pay but no, it was free. Inside it was OK but not that spectacular. So, we had a nice little look round and left. We then realised that it was actually the church next door we after. We had been in the Capilla Real: The Royal Chapel. Isabella and Ferdinand commissioned the place and are entombed there. Tickets for the Alhambra are divided into different sections. One of the nicest parts are the gardens. However, they are still busy, but with a little patience you can still find some peace. Having said that, the number of people who are happy to wander around and then spend hours taking pictures of themselves and clogging up the view for everyone else is not something I understand. Even less do I get the idea of a stick to put your camera on so you can take pics of yourself. Why? Who wants to look at endless pictures of themselves stood in front of God knows what? Why not take some nice pictures of the thing you have come to see? Why do you have to be in every shot? Will you not believe you were there if you don't have a photo to prove it?
We timed our visit to coincide with the Semana Santa celebrations on Good Friday. This is a major Catholic tradition in Spain. Large religious effigies are carted through the town by hooded sinners known as the Nazarones who wear the pointy hats. Others escort the procession which takes a good long while to pass by.
Ronda claims to be the home of bullfighting and indeed the place where it all started when some idiot fell of his horse and, to save himself from being gored to death, a young man of the town distracted the bull with his hat and cape.
Although we went to Malaga a couple of times when we lived here it was never really somewhere we were particularly keen on... Always thought it was a bit of a dump to be honest. However, it seems to have had a lot of money spent on it over the last few years and the tourist areas at least have really been tarted-up.
They have most definitely realised that Picasso was born here and there is a euro or two to be made from this. The Picasso museum is certainly impressive but, I have to say, that I don’t really ‘get’ most of it. I am sure that he was a genius and everything but most of it looks like it was done either by a 7 year old or someone who is completely off his tits on something chemical! Anyway…. |
This will be a blog about my latest shots and what I liked or was trying to do with them
AuthorsWe are teachers and have worked in various schools in Europe & Asia. This is really a chronicle of out travels over the years. It is meant for us to look back on, reflect and remember where we've been, what we've done and all our little adventures. If you like it too, then fab! If you don't, do you think we care? Archives
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When I am old I shall wear purple with a red hat, which does not go.
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