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. 

Here begins the itinerary of Natural Park of Monasterio de Piedra

Fallen leaves in Natural Park of Monasterio de Piedra

Cascada Trinidad (Trinidad Waterfall)

This is the first waterfall we saw in Monasterio de Piedra

Cascada Caprichosa (Caprichosa Waterfall)

A closer view of the previous waterfall

Lago de los Patos (Lake of Ducks)

A bridge over 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

A closer view of Trinidad waterfall in Monasterior de Piedra

Cascada Caprichosa (Caprichosa Waterfall)

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

Cascada la Caprichosa (Caprichosa waterfall) in Monasterio de Piedra

River Piedra

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

Cascada Iris (Iris Waterfall)

Cascada Iris in Monasterio de Piedra

Gruta Iris (Iris Grotto)

Gruta Iris (Iris grotto) in 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 (Cola de Caballo waterfall) in Monasterio de Piedra

Lago del Espejo (Mirror Lake)

Lago del Espejo (Mirror Lake) in Monasterio de Piedra

Monasterio de Piedra

Chapter room of Monasterio de Piedra

Cloister of Monasterio de Piedra

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

- Catalonia

• Barcelona
• Costa Brava in Catalonia
• Girona

- Basque Country

• Bilbo - Bilbao
• Getaria, Zarautz and Hondarribia in San Sebastián

- Cantabria

• Cantabria
• Santander, Comillas and Santillana del Mar in Cantabria

- Granada

• La Alhambra, Albaicín and Sacromonte in Granada

- Sevilla, Córdoba, Cádiz and Costa de la Luz

• Sevilla
• Córdoba
• Cádiz and Costa de la Luz

- Toledo, Madrid, El Escorial and Segovia

• Toledo, Segovia, Monasterio del Escorial near Madrid

- Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera

• Sóller, Port de Sóller, Deià and Valldemossa in Mallorca
• Palma de Mallorca

• Beaches and Las Dalias Market in Ibiza
• Ses Illetes beach in Formentera

- Galicia

• Santiago de Compostela in Galicia
• Costa da Morte
• Baiona, Islas Cíes and more Beaches in Galicia
• Tui and Camino de Santiago Portugués

- Zaragoza, La Rioja and Navarra

• Zaragoza (Tapeo in Zaragoza)
• Haro in La Rioja
• Laguardia in La Rioja Alavesa
• Camino de Santiago Francés
• Estella and Los Arcos in Navarra
• Tarazona, Veruela Monastery and Sanctuary of Borja

- Alicante

• Alicante, Elche and Isla de Tabarca

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

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:

• The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)
• Playing the Enemy (John Carlin)
• The Alchemist (Pablo Coelho)
• The Lord of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkien)
• The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien)
• The Cathedral of the Sea (Ildefonso Falcones)
• The Art of Loving (Erich Fromm)
• Annoyomics (Risto Mejide)
• Ninja Crisis (Leopoldo Abadía)
• The Shadow of the Wind (Carlos Ruiz Zafón)
• The Afghan (Frederick Forsyth)
• The Eight (Katherine Neville)
• The Fire (Katherine Neville)
• The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
• Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
• Dante's Equation (Jane Jensen)
• Wecome to the Real World (Sandro Rosell)
• The Pillars of the Earth
• Le Petit Prince
• El Quijote
• Victus

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 Passeig de Gràcia in Barcelona

Burberry

Building of Burberry in Passeig de Gràcia

Yves Saint Laurent

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

Emporio Armani

Emporio Armani store in Passeig de Gràcia

Cartier

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

Furest

Furest store in Passeig de Gràcia

Guess

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

Built 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 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:

• Viladecans The Style Outlet
• Las Arenas Shopping Mall
• El Portal de l'Angel in the Gothic Quarter
• Shopping malls and Outlets
• Shopping along La Diagonal
• Shopping in Carrer Pelai
• Shopping in Fira de Santa Llúcia (in Christmas)

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.

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

Beach of Platja d'Aro behind the Cavall Bernat

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

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

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

Camí de Ronda and Cala Rovira in Platja d'Aro

Cala Rovira in Platja d'Aro

Punta Cala Rovira 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

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

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

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

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

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

Belladona beach in Platja d'Aro

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

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

Can Cristos beach in Sant Antoni de Calonge

More beautiful Camins de Ronda in Costa Brava are:

• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Tossa de Mar
• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Sant Feliu de Guíxols
• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in S'Agaró
• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Palamós
• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Platja d'Aro
• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Begur
• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Calella de Palafrugell

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

• Blanes
• Tossa de Mar
• Sant Feliu de Guíxols
• S'Agaró
• Palamós and Sant Antoni de Calonge
• Sa Tuna, Sa Riera and Aiguablava beaches in Begur
• Llafranc and Calella de Palafrugell beaches
• Tamariu beach
• Cadaqués, Roses and Empuriabrava
• L'Escala, L'Estartit and Les Illes Medes

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

• Calonge
• Pals and Peratallada
• Dalí Theatre-Museum
• Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes in El Port de la Selva
• Empúries
• Catedral de l'Empordà (church of Santa Maria) in Castelló d'Empúries
• Medieval village of  Besalú

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

- Costa Daurada beaches

• Barra del Trabucador beach in Delta de l'Ebre
• L'Ametlla de Mar
• Salou beach
• Miami Playa
• Beach beside the Castle of Tamarit
• Beach of Roc de Sant Gaietà

- Barcelona Beaches

• Barceloneta beach
• Castelldefels beach
• Sitges beach
• Sant Pol de Mar

- Spain and Portugal

• Mallorca
• Cádiz and Costa de la Luz
• Beaches in  Galicia
• Basque Country - Guipúzcoa and San Sebastián
• Cantabria and Santander
• Alicante

• Beaches in Algarve

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