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domingo, 29 de diciembre de 2013

SPAIN: MONASTERIO DE PIEDRA

Hidden in the mountains in the province of Zaragoza, the Natural Park of the Monasterio de Piedra offers a really beautiful environment, especially in Autumn.

Around a monastery, the waters of the River Piedra have shaped the landscape into lakes, grottos and waterfalls, such us:

  • Cascada Caprichosa (Caprichosa Waterfall)
  • Lago de los Patos (Lake of Ducks)
  • Cascada Trinidad (Trinidad Waterfall)
  • Cascada Caprichosa (Caprichosa Waterfall)
  • River Piedra
  • Cascada Iris (Iris Waterfall)
  • Gruta Iris (Iris Grotto)
  • Cascada Cola de Caballo (Cola de Caballo Waterfall)
  • Lago del Espejo (Mirror Lake)
  • Monasterio de Piedra


Besides, the park preserves dense forests in an ecosystem of great biological richness with many different species of animals and a great variety of giant trees. 



Natural Park of Monasterio de Piedra
Here begins the itinerary of Natural Park of Monasterio de Piedra


Natural Park of Monasterio de Piedra
Fallen leaves in Natural Park of Monasterio de Piedra


Cascada Trinidad (Trinidad Waterfall)



Cascada Caprichosa in Monasterio de Piedra
This is the first waterfall we saw in Monasterio de Piedra


Cascada Caprichosa (Caprichosa Waterfall)



Cascada Caprichosa in Monasterio de Piedra
A closer view of the previous waterfall


Lago de los Patos (Lake of Ducks)



Lago de los Patos in Monasterio de Piedra
A bridge over Lago de los Patos in Monasterio de Piedra


Lago de los Patos in Monasterio de Piedra
Nice environment in Monasterio de Piedra around Lago de los Patos


Cascada Trinidad (Trinidad Waterfall)



Cascada Trinidad in Monasterio de Piedra
Cascada Trinidad in Monasterio de Piedra


Cascada Trinidad in Monasterio de Piedra
A closer view of Trinidad waterfall in Monasterior de Piedra


Cascada Caprichosa (Caprichosa Waterfall)



Cascada Caprichosa in Monasterio de Piedra
As you can see, there are many waterfalls you can see in Monasterio de Piedra



Cascada Caprichosa in Monasterio de Piedra
Cascada la Caprichosa (Caprichosa waterfall) in Monasterio de Piedra


River Piedra


River Piedra
River Piedra, whose waters have shaped the landscape of this park




Cascada Iris (Iris Waterfall)



Cascada Iris in Monasterio de Piedra
Cascada Iris in Monasterio de Piedra




Gruta Iris (Iris Grotto)




Gruta Iris in Monasterio de Piedra
Gruta Iris (Iris grotto) in Monasterio de Piedra



Natural Park of Monasterio de Piedra
Beautiful place where we enjoyed our meal in Monasterio de Piedra


Cascada Cola de Caballo (Cola de Caballo Waterfall)



Cascada Cola de Caballo in Monasterio de Piedra
Cascada Cola de Caballo (Cola de Caballo waterfall) in Monasterio de Piedra


Lago del Espejo (Mirror Lake)



Lago del Espejo in Monasterio de Piedra
Lago del Espejo (Mirror Lake) in Monasterio de Piedra



Monasterio de Piedra



Chapter room of Monasterio de Piedra
Chapter room of Monasterio de Piedra


Cloister of Monasterio de Piedra
Cloister of Monasterio de Piedra



Finally, next you have links of other beautiful places I have visited in Spain:


- Catalonia

- Basque Country

- Cantabria

- Granada

- Sevilla, Córdoba, Cádiz and Costa de la Luz

viernes, 27 de diciembre de 2013

THE PHYSICIAN (Noah Gordon)



In May 2008 I finished reading The Physician. It's a book I loved because of the values ​​of sacrifice, generosity, effort and talent it conveys.

Recently, in Barcelona, the film has been released in the cinema. For this reason I would like to update the post I wrote then about this book
.

In the eleventh century, in London, Rob J. Cole became an orphan when he is still a child. Fortunately the early years of his life he become the assistant of a man who travels the roads and villages of England selling its expertise in pain relief through homemade remedies.

Going with him, Rob matures and learns the difficulties of adult life in England, with roads full of bandits and where the brutality of Nordic warriors reigns. And even more important, seeing his master awakens in him the desire and ability to heal, to overcome death, to give life to those who are losing it. And so, to heal, he knows from an early age that he has a gift that will help him a lot.



The Physician written by Noah Gordon

The Physician, written by Noah Gordon




This will to heal will become uncontrollable the day he finds a doctor who is able to restore sight to the blind through cataract surgery. This will and passionate vocation for medicine, for becoming a doctor, will take him to a dangerous journey, full of dangerous adventures throughout Europe and across the Middle East to reach the splendor of the distant and wise Persia and, thus, to become a pupil of the most famous doctor of the time.

With straightforward language and a great ability to describe, Noah Gordon writes ​​a history that serves to describe the three major religions of the time: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Covering a large number of countries, the author explaining the lifestyle of each one, always influenced by the predominant religion. But surely, what I like the most of this novel is the protagonist's fighting spirit, his determination to heal,   to overcome death and the value he gives to the lives of others since he risks its own like to heal others.


Finally, next you have links of other interesting book I have read:



domingo, 22 de diciembre de 2013

SHOPPING IN BARCELONA: PASSEIG DE GRACIA


If you are searching for exclusive boutiques in Barcelona, then you should go shopping along Passeig de Gràcia. This avenue begins in Plaça Catalunya and ends at Avinguda Diagonal. Apart from buying, you will enjoy the fabulous façades of some of the most impressive modernist buildings in Barcelona, like La Casa Milà or La Casa Batlló (both designed by Antoni Gaudí).

Below you can see pictures of some of the shops and boutiques you can find in Passeig de Gràcia.


Apple Store



Apple Store in Barcelona
Apple Store in Passeig de Gràcia in Barcelona




Burberry


Burberry in Passeig de Gracia
Building of Burberry in Passeig de Gràcia



Yves Saint Laurent


Yves Saint Laurent boutique in El Passeig de Gràcia
Yves Saint Laurent boutique in El Passeig de Gràcia, the most exclusive shopping street in Barcelona



Emporio Armani


Emporio Armani store in Barcelona
Emporio Armani store in Passeig de Gràcia

Cartier


Cartier in El Passeig de Gràcia
Cartier at Christmas, another exclusive boutique in El Passeig de Gràcia de Barcelona

Furest


Furest store in Barcelona
Furest store in Passeig de Gràcia


Guess


Guess store in Barcelona
Guess store in Passeig de Gràcia


I would also like to show you pictures of Casa Milà and Casa Batlló, two masterpieces designed by Antoni Gaudí.

Casa Milà



Casa Milà or La Pedrera in BarcelonaBuilt between 1906 and 1912, the Casa Milà occupies an entire corner of the Passeig de Gràcia in Barcelona’s Eixample. Antoni Gaudí created an astonishing modernista style building, set out around two interior courtyards which provide the flats with ventilation and light


Casa Batlló



Casa Batlló in Barcelona

Casa Batlló in Passeig de Gràcia is one of the masterpieces designed by Antoni Gaudí


Some of the most exclusive stores and boutiques you can find in Passeig de Gràcia are:


  • Apple Store (Passeig de Gràcia, 1) 
  • Felgar (Passeig de Gràcia, 6)
  • Mango (Passeig de Gràcia, 8-10)
  • McGregor (Passeig de Gràcia, 8-11)
  • Furest (Passeig de Gràcia, 12-14)
  • Tous (Passeig de Gràcia, 151)
  • Diesel Store Barcelona (Passeig de Gràcia, 19 bis)
  • Marina Rinaldi (Passeig de Gràcia, 23)
  • Cartier (Passeig de Gràcia, 35)
  • Regia (Passeig de Gràcia, 39)
  • Desigual (Passeig de Gràcia, 47)
  • Armand Basi (Passeig de Gràcia, 49)
  • Lacoste (Passeig de Gràcia, 51)
  • Bulevard Rosa Shopping Center (Passeig de Gràcia, 51)
  • Loewe (Passeig de Gràcia, 91)


Finally, other shopping streets and malls in Barcelona are:



miércoles, 18 de diciembre de 2013

COSTA BRAVA: CAMI DE RONDA IN PLATJA D'ARO

A lovely wednesday in early November we drove to Platja d'Aro and to S'Agaró (Sant Feliu de Guíxols) in Costa Brava to wander the footpaths, called Camins de Ronda (Ronda Ways), which begin in these towns.

Camí de Ronda is a footpath built in 19th century along the Costa Brava coast to help the police to patrol the coast and to avoid smuggling. It was formed from small footpaths through the cliffs along the coast of Catalonia.



Cala Rovira in Platja d'Aro
Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) beside Cala Rovira in Platja d'Aro


Nowadays Camins de Ronda are a set of public seaside footpaths (belonging to the GR-92) often connecting beautiful beaches and villages of Costa Brava and offering beautiful views of its beaches and coves.

Some of the most beautiful Camins de Ronda are:

  • Camí de Ronda in Begur, connecting the beaches of Sa Tuna, Sa Riera and Aiguablava.
  • Camí de Ronda in Palafrugell, linking the fishermen's districts of Llafranc and Calella de Palafrugell.
  • Camí de Ronda between Platja d'Aro and Sant Antoni de Calonge.
  • Camí de Ronda between S'Agaró, in Sant Feliu de Guíxols, and Platja d'Aro.


These are the beaches of Platja d'Aro and Sant Antoni de Calonge we saw from Camí de Ronda:

- Platja d'Aro

  • Platja Gran and Cavall Bernat
  • Camí de Ronda
  • Cala Rovira
  • Punta Cala Rovira
  • Sa Cova
  • Cala Pi
  • Cala Belladona


- Sant Antoni de Calonge

  • Cap Roig
  • Can Cristos

Platja d'Aro


Cavall Bernat in Platja d'Aro
Beach of Platja d'Aro behind the Cavall Bernat


Cavall Bernat in Platja d'Aro
Cavall Bernat on the beach of Platja d'Aro in Costa Brava


Cami de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Platja d'Aro
Beginning of Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) between Platja d'Aro and Sant Antoni de Calonge


Cami de Ronda and Cavall Bernat in Platja d'Aro
Beginning of Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) between Platja d'Aro and Sant Antoni de Calonge. On the left, Cavall Bernat in Platja d'Aro


Cami de Ronda and Cala Rovira in Platja d'Aro
Camí de Ronda and Cala Rovira in Platja d'Aro


Cala Rovira in Platja d'Aro
Cala Rovira in Platja d'Aro


Punta Cala Rovira in Platja d'Aro
Punta Cala Rovira in Platja d'Aro


Cami de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Platja d'Aro
Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) between Platja d'Aro and Sant Antoni de Calonge, two towns you can visit in Costa Brava


Cami de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Platja d'Aro
Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) between Platja d'Aro and Sant Antoni de Calonge is perfect for a pleasant walk beside beautiful beaches of Costa Brava


Sa Cova beach in Platja d'Aro
A closer view of Sa Cova beach in Platja d'Aro


Sa Cova beach in Platja d'Aro
Sa Cova beach in Platja d'Aro from Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way)




Cami de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Platja d'Aro
Nice view of Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way)  in Platja d'Aro



Cala Pi beach in Platja d'Aro
Cala Pi beach in Platja d'Aro from Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way)


Belladona beach in Platja d'Aro
Belladona beach in Platja d'Aro



Cap Roig and Belladona beaches in Costa Brava
Cap Roig and Belladona beaches are located between Platja d'Aro and Sant Antoni de Calonge

Sant Antoni de Calonge



Cap Roig beach in Sant Antoni de Calonge
Cap Roig beach in Sant Antoni de Calonge



Cap Roig beach in Sant Antoni de Calonge
Cap Roig beach in Sant Antoni de Calonge


Sant Antoni de Calonge in Costa Brava
Sant Antoni de Calonge and Palamós from Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way)


Can Cristos beach in Sant Antoni de Calonge
Can Cristos beach in Sant Antoni de Calonge



More beautiful Camins de Ronda in Costa Brava are:



If you liked these pictures, clicking on the next links you will find more pictures of another fantastic beaches in La Costa Brava, like:


Besides, in Costa Brava you can visit the fantastic old city of Gironamany lovely villages and interesting places, like:


Moreover if you like beaches, below you have other beautiful beaches in Catalonia, Spain and Portugal:

- Costa Daurada beaches

Barcelona Beaches


Finally, clicking on the next link you will find more beautiful villages, beaches and landscapes in Catalonia.