Plaza Del Castell, Benidorm

Thanks to Rodrigo and Marina via Postcrossing

for the lovely art view of Benidorm.

Sent: 19 May 2016    Received: 10 June 2016   Travelled: 22 days

Leida meetup

Thanks to Antoni for the Meetup card!

love the colourful drawing of Lleida! and the amazing postmark!

Sent: 7 May 2016   Received: 20 May 2016    Travelled: 13 days

Aviles,Spain

Avilés is a city in Asturias, Spain. Avilés is with Oviedo and Gijón, one of the main towns in the Principality of Asturias.
The town occupies the flattest land in the municipality, in a land that belonged to the sea, surrounded by small promontories, all of them having an altitude of less than 140 metres. Situated in the Avilés estuary, in the Northern Central area of the Asturian coast, west of Peñas Cape, it has a national seaport and is an industrial city. It is close to popular beaches such as Salinas.
The area experiences an oceanic climate, warm summers with both overcast and sunny days. In winter the weather is moderate, with significant rains and wind, although sometimes the cold climate of Asturias results in snowfall at sea level. The temperature is rarely below zero or over 30 °C (86 °F). Summer highs are exceptionally low by Spanish standards due its heavy maritime features and northerly position in the country.
Source: Wikipedia

Thanks to Olga for this nice view of Aviles :)

Sent: 10 December 2015   Received: 26 January 2016   Travelled: 47 days

Andalucia

The Andalusia is a south-western European region established as an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain. It is the most populated and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities in Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Almería, Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Málaga and Seville. Its capital is the city of Seville (Spanish: Sevilla).

The name "Andalusia" is derived from the Arabic word Al-Andalus and this term derives in turn from an older word: Vandalusia or land of the Vandals. As well as Muslim and Romani influences, the region's history and culture have been influenced by the earlier Iberians, Carthaginians/Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Vandals, Visigoths, Byzantines, as well as the later Castilian and other Christian North Iberian nationalities who conquered and repopulated the area in the latter phases of the Reconquista.

Andalusia has been a traditionally agricultural region, compared to the rest of Spain and the rest of Europe. However, the growth of the community especially in the sectors of industry and services was above average in Spain and higher than many communities in the eurozone. The region has, however, a rich culture and a strong cultural identity. Many cultural phenomena that are seen internationally as distinctively Spanish are largely or entirely Andalusian in origin. These include flamenco, bullfighting, and certain Moorish-influenced architectural styles.
Source: Wikipedia

Sent by Merouan who was in Spain for a marathon.

Thanks for thinking of me and this map card ^_^

Received: 8 December 2015

Streetart: Sr-x

A rather cool street art of Pablo Picasso in Gijón, Spain by the 

Spanish street artist Sr-X. Thanks to Jolana from Czech Republic 

for this postcard! It was rather funny to imagine Pablo as a street artist 

but you can read Sr-X's interview here

Sent: 21 Oct   Received: 2 November 2015   Travelled: 12 days

María Luz , Oil by Julio Romero De Torres

He was born and died in Córdoba, Spain, where he lived most of his life. His father was the famous painter Rafael Romero Barros and his mother was Rosario de Torres Delgado. Julio learned about art from his father who was the director, curator and founder of Córdoba's Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes and an impressionist painter. He took an interest in art at a young age and started studying at the School of Fine Arts when he was 10. He went to Madrid to work and study in 1906. He also traveled all over Europe to study and he picked up a symbolist style, for which he is best known. A museum dedicated to the work of de Torres is situated at Plaza del Potro 1 Cordoba 14002.

He spent most of his life living in Córdoba and Madrid and both places had influences on his paintings. He combined many different styles when he painted because he had many different influences including realism, which was a popular style at that time and impressionism, which he picked up from living in Córdoba and from his father. While in Córdoba he became part of the late 19th century intellectual movement that was based on the Royal Academy of Science, Arts and Literature. Julio Romero also won many awards in his lifetime. In 1895 he won an honorable mention at the National Exhibition and later won third place in 1899 and 1904.

Thanks to Chris in Burgundy who was very kind to resend this card ,

the first card had gone missing since May. 

Sent: 5 October 2015   Received: 27 October   Travelled: 22 days

La Pedrera

Casa Milà , popularly known as La Pedrera (meaning the 'The Quarry'), is a modernist building in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was the last civil work designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, built between the years 1906 and 1910.

It was commissioned in 1906 by businessman Pere Milà i Camps and his wife Roser Segimon i Artells. At the time, it was controversial because of the undulating stone facade and twisting wrought iron balconies and windows designed by Josep Maria Jujol.

Architecturally it is considered structurally innovative, with a self-supporting stone front and columns, and floors free of load bearing walls. Also innovative is the underground garage.

In 1984 it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Currently, it is the headquarters of the Catalunya-La Pedrera Foundation, which manages the exhibitions, activities and public visits at Casa Mila.

Source:Wikipedia

 I was here in 2013 but didn't go in to see what it was like inside. I did go to Park Guell 

though and thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful park designed by Gaudi. Thanks to Nina for

this card and a trip down memory lane and the Palindrome date!

Sent: 5 October 2015   Received: 20 October 2015   Travelled: 15 days

Salvador Dali Museum

Anthropomorfic figure with stone on head at the entrance to the exhibition

"Antoni Pitxot" on the second floor of the Dali Theatre Museum 1974.

When I first saw this card I thought, wow here's a face at the stairs!

Thanks Tom for the laughs and the colourful stamps! :D

Sent:14 Sept 2015   Received: 5 Oct 2015   Travelled: 21 days

Figueres,Spain

The town is the birthplace of artist Salvador Dalí, and houses the Teatre-Museu Gala Salvador Dalí, a large museum designed by Dalí himself which attracts many visitors. It is also the birthplace of Narcís Monturiol i Estarriol, inventor of the first successful machine-powered submarine. Also born here was Mónica Naranjo, one of the best selling Spanish singers of the 1990s and 2000s.

Thank you Tom for this lovely map of Figueres!

Sent: 8 September 2015   Received: 23 September 2015   Travelled: 

Granada cathedral

Unlike most cathedrals in Spain, construction of this cathedral had to await the acquisition of the Nasrid kingdom of Granada from its Muslim rulers in 1492; while its very early plans had Gothic designs, such as are evident in the Royal Chapel of Granada by Enrique Egas, the construction of the church in the main occurred at a time when Spanish Renaissance designs were supplanting the Gothic regnant in Spanish architecture of prior centuries. Foundations for the church were laid by the architect Egas starting from 1518 to 1523 atop the site of the city's main mosque; by 1529, Egas was replaced by Diego de Siloé who labored for nearly four decades on the structure from ground to cornice, planning the triforium and five naves instead of the usual three. Most unusually, he created a circular capilla mayor rather than a semicircular apse, perhaps inspired by Italian ideas for circular 'perfect buildings' (e.g. in Alberti's works). Within its structure the cathedral combines other orders of architecture. It took 181 years for the cathedral to be built.

Thanks to Estibaliz for the amazing interior view of Granada Cathedral

Sent: 4 June 2015   Received:18 June 2015   Travelled: 14 days

Madrid,Spain

Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is almost 3.2 million and that of the Madrid metropolitan area, around 6.3 million. It is the third-largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan area is the third-largest in the European Union after Paris and London. The city spans a total of 604.3 km2 (233.3 sq mi).

While Madrid possesses a modern infrastructure, it has preserved the look and feel of many of its historic neighbourhoods and streets. Its landmarks include the Royal Palace of Madrid; the Royal Theatre with its restored 1850 Opera House; the Buen Retiro Park, founded in 1631; the 19th-century National Library building (founded in 1712) containing some of Spain's historical archives; a large number of national museums, and the Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado and comprising three art museums: Prado Museum, the Reina Sofía Museum, a museum of modern art, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, which completes the shortcomings of the other two museums.Cibeles Palace and Fountain have become the monument symbol of the city.

Madrid is home to two world-famous football clubs, Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid.

Thanks to Laura for this nice street view of Madrid!

Sent: 25 March 2015   Received: 17 April 2015   Travelled: 23 days

Alcalá de Henares

Alcalá de Henares meaning Citadel on the river Henares, is a Spanish city whose historical centre is one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. The city stands out for its rich archaeology and was one of the first bishoprics founded in Spain. Located in the Autonomous Community of Madrid, 35 kilometres (22 miles) northeast of the city of Madrid, at an altitude of 588 m (1,929 ft) above sea level, it has a population of around 200,000. Locally, the city is generally known simply as "Alcalá", but "de Henares" is appended when needed to differentiate it from a dozen Spanish cities sharing the name Alcalá (from the Arabic word al-qal'a القلعة for fortification or citadel). The Latin name, Complutum, is sometimes used. The city is capital of its namesake region, Comarca de Alcalá.

a beautiful medieval card from a Spanish postcrosser

Sent: 24 March 2015   Received: 7 April 2015   Travelled: 14 days

Map of the Camino Route

The Camino de Santiago, also known by the English names Way of St. James, St. James's Way, Route of Santiago de Compostela, and Road to Santiago,is the name of any of the pilgrimage routes (most commonly the Camino Francés or French route) to the shrine of the apostle St. James the Great in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the saint are buried. Many take up this route as a form of spiritual path or retreat, for their spiritual growth. Brazilian author Paulo Coelho wrote the book The Diary of a Magus (Magician) or The Pilgrimage based on his own experience along this way.

Special thanks to Michael of Starring You for sending this wonderful map card where

he completed his route of 780km! Also he met a friend of mine in Santiago, the

awesome Vero who has also sent me beautiful postcards of Santiago de Compostela .

Muchas gracias!

Sent:19 December 2014   Received: 23 January 2015   Travelled: 35 days

Greetings from Spain

Wow! a fantastic surprise from Starring You!

This is my second card from the Postallove series "Greetings from (country)" postcard. 

The first one I have was Poland, the designer of this card is from Poland too. 

Funny fact of Spain, Ispania means the Land of Rabbits haha

Very fun to try and collect the different cards from around the world. Can't wait

for the Malaysian version to come out. Thank you Michael!

Sent: 19 December 2014   Received: 23 January 2015   Travelled:  35 days

Figueres, Spain

Figueres, Catalan for fig trees, Spanish: Figueras) is the capital of the comarca of Alt Empordà, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain.

The town is the birthplace of artist Salvador Dalí, and houses the Teatre-Museu Gala Salvador Dalí, a large museum designed by Dalí himself which attracts many visitors. It is also the birthplace of Narcís Monturiol i Estarriol, inventor of the first successful machine-powered submarine. Also born here was Mónica Naranjo, one of the best selling Spanish singers of the 1990s and 2000s (decade).
The town's name derives from that of Ficaris, of Visigoth origins. In 1267, King James I of Aragon conceded it fuero rights, but four years later count Ponç IV of Empúries set the town on fire.

Thank you Ahmed for this card from your travels. Sent from KSA.

Received:25 September 2014

Madrid

Plaza Cibeles

A wonderful card I received for the One Postcard from One Country

on swapbot, thank you Milda for this gorgeous card of the 

former Post Office!

Sent: 12 February 2014,   Received: 4 March 2014,   Travelled: 20 days

Flamenco

Vintage poster of Flamenco dancer, Maria Albaicin

Thank you Milda for this beautiful vintage reprint :)

I once got the chance to watch a Flamenco show in Sevilla, it was really breathtaking!

Sent: 2 February 2014

Received: 12 February 2014

Travelled: 10 days

Donostia

 

San Sebastian Cathedral

 

San Sebastian or Donostia (in Basque) is a coastal city in the Basque region of Spain.

I visited this place briefly and saw mostly the beach (my companions love beaches) so I hardly saw the city but perhaps next time I can have a proper visit.

 

Thank you Conchi for this card!

 

Sent: 11 April 2013

Received: 25 April 2013

Travelled: 14 days

La Alhambra

Lion's Courtyard: detail of the archs

 

I love this postcard! I love it when I get a card of a place I've visited! After my trip in Europe, where I visited as many palaces or castles as I could, La Alhambra is simply breathtaking! I was only in Granada briefly but this is one of my favourite places.

Thank you Sofia for the superb card!

Sent: 11 November 2013
Received: 25 November 2013
Travelled: 14 days

Pamplona

 

San Fermines, Gigantes

 

Every day, during the morning, there is a parade of gigantes y cabezudos (in English giants and big-heads respectively), with the giants figures being more than 150 years old. The eight giants figures were built by the painter from Pamplona Tadeo Amorena in 1860, and represent four pairs of kings and queens of four different races and places (Europe, Asia, America and Africa). Their size is around 4 metres each and are carried by a dancer inside a wooden structure. During the parade giants dance following the rhythm of traditional music.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Fermin#Giants_and_big-heads_parade

 

Ever since I watched a travel documentary about Pamplona, I wished I could experience the festivities and see the Running of the Bulls. While in Barcelona, a fellow traveler in the hostel mentioned the festival had started, I had to go! It felt like a dream come true to be able to see it with my own eyes,something that I'd have watched on tv before but I didn't get to see the Giant parade

So thank you Sonia for this card!

 

Sent: 4 October 2013

Received: 28 October 2013

Travelled: 24 days