Spanish days are long in the summer months, but finally, as I strolled along the plazas, I could see the sun beginning to fall behind the taller buildings of Madrid, beckoning me toward my hotel, almost like my Dad's whistle that rang through the neighborhood on summer nights of my childhood, signaling it was time to come home. Tomorrow morning would come too soon, when I would hoist my suitcases into a taxi and go to el aeropuerto, to begin my journey home. The thought br

Eventually I decided to continue my exploration, so I walked a bit further, along cobblestone streets, passing shops and stores of every kind. Lots of gorgeous graffiti in el barrio La Latina. It was nearing midnight on a Tuesday, yet it felt like noon on a Saturday! Faaaabulous!! The air was warm and the streets were still filled with as many (if not more) people as in the middle of the day! A few more steps, and the streets opened into (surprise!) another beautiful plaz

Real Jardin Botanico The next day I awoke early and had breakfast in the hotel café. Now fortified, I was ready to embark on my last full day in Spain. I kept my heart-sick sadness at bay as I skipped through what were now familiar cobblestone streets, back to Plaza del Sol where the Metro station was. I quickly figured out which train I needed, bought my ticket, hopped on the train (look at me, I'm and "old pro" at this now), and headed in the direction of Real Jardin Bot

It only took about 10 minutes in Madrid to realize that I wanted to have much more time there. I had saved it for the end of my adventure, and now had only a few precious days to spend in this ancient city, lovely and magnificent in its juxtaposition of ancient (cobblestone streets, ceramic tile street signs) and progressive (iPads in every hand, Spanish divas in the latest style and fashion, the urban hustle-bustle everywhere). The Exploration Begins Wasting not a single mo

Topping off and rounding out my stay in Barcelona, was La Fiesta de Sant Joan (that's Catalan for St John), celebrated passionately (and exclusively) in Barcelona. It's one of the biggest fiestas of the year celebrated by all of Barcelona, but not other parts of Spain. It's a huge party with food, music, fireworks, bonfires on the beach, and it goes all night, and then folks watch the sunrise in the morning (think rave or Burning Man). The primary ingredient is fire -- bonfir