Christmas & New Year's have usually been family holidays for Jyl and I, but with baby growing at a healthy pace in Jyl's belly it seemed like a tough year to make the 9+ hour flight. We decided to make the best of it with a road trip to Cordoba & Granada, two beautiful old cities in Southern Spain. Our trip managed to balance getting our fill of the dramatic history and sights of Andalucia while also relaxing and decompressing in some modern amenities. We took in all of the must-see landmarks, ate some good food, listened to some great flamenco, and did our best to soak up the laid back atmosphere. Looking back on a year that was full of travel to many incredible locations, I have to say that Spain really tops my list... if you are reading this and haven't been, put it on your bucket list... it's an amazing country.
Cordoba's main attraction: The Mezquita; a cathedral built on top of and inside an ancient Mosque.
Light streamed in through vibrant stained glass.
Don't worry, I found the craft brew place in town. Good selection!
mmm... elbow...
The Alcazar
The old roman bridge
"All this is mine!"
Contemplating... something.
The Cathedral in Granada: Built over an old mosque, it's hard to believe how massive it from the outside because it is so enclosed by other buildings.
The Alhambra awaits...
Contemplating... something else.
We waited in a very cold line for an hour to get tickets into the Alhambra... a massive complex originally built during Granada's Islamic age. Worth the trip.
Granada, from above.
Gatekeeper.
We finished our trip to Spain with an indulgent night at the Precise Resort in El Rompido, just a short drive from Portugal. Although the resort was very nice, we were stoked to learn that it abutted an extensive wetland park system. We saw spoonbills!
It's easy to forget how much we still don't know about the hip, old city that's in our backyard. Jyl surprised me with a little overnight getaway in the beginning of December to help us explore.
She scheduled a haircut at a hip(ster) new men (and dogs)-only barber shop. The haircut was okay, but the vibe was worth checking out.
Whoa! Graffiti that matched what we saw in Florence 2 weeks earlier!
Wee door.
Pavilhao Chinez: Full of wacky knick-knacks and paddy-whacks.
In one of our last pre-baby adventures out into the world we chose to hop across the Mediterranean Sea to a place Jyl had always wanted to visit: Italy! We flew into Rome, took the scenic speed train north on Thanksgiving day, enjoyed 2 nights there before returning to Rome for some solid site-seeing. It was a quick trip, but still a delightful feast for all the senses. The photos below tell the story well enough...
Food was a priority! This tasty lunch was fantastic.
What's that?
The basilica in Florence. Big and bold.
Baby shot on top of the Duomo!
Ponte Vecchio
Choice graffiti
We found the craft beers!
David, stone cold chillin'.
Thanks for helping us find the best gnocchi in Florence, Joey!
Botticelli's springtime.
Rome had a parade to welcome us. Or maybe it was farmworkers protesting for fair pay in the pouring rain.
St. Peters Basilica in Vatican City
Pantheon
Italian guard dog.
Our hotel was a bit run down. (or maybe this was the Colosseum... I can't recall)
