Tag Archives: spain

Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Spain, Photographs: Travel

Two Towers, Aljafería Palace

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Two Towers, Aljafería Palace
“Two Towers, Aljafería Palace” — Two round towers along the walls of the Aljafería Palace, Zaragoza, Spain.

When we were in Zaragoza, Spain last December, we understood that the Aljafería Palace was not to be missed. Its history is complicated and long, so I won’t make an attempt to relate the details, but it was originally established close to 1000 years ago, and it remains one of Spain’s most important examples of Islamic architecture. Over the centuries it was adapted by successive users, including royalty and later for more mundane purposes. It fell into disrepair, but was restored in the 1900s.

We walked over — a slightly long walk — from our accommodations in the old part of Zaragoza. This impressive structure sits on expansive grounds and is surrounded by a deep moat. Because much of it was reconstructed it doesn’t have the same worn look of many other old palaces. The photograph shows two towers along the outer walls.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

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Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Spain, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Churros Time

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Churros Time -- table with churros, a cup of chocolate, and coffee cups.
“Churros Time” — Churros, chocolate, and coffee, Madrid Spain.

Yes, this is at Madrid’s Chocolatería San Ginés, one of the better-known (and more touristy) churros shops. Even though it is located down a less-than-obvious side street, the place is often packed. They have come up to the challenge, with a unique (to me, anyway) method of taking orders and allocating tables. The churros and chocolate are the classic combo, with the coffee a nice accompaniment.

I am glad we visited this place, since it is an icon. But it isn’t my most favorite churros experience in Spain. That was in Zaragoza, where we heard that a particular place on an obscure back street is loved by locals. While Americans like us might expect this to be a morning thing, this place only opened at 4:00PM, and the locals were already lined up inside and at the outside walk-up window. And, even better, it seemed that no one spoke English, aside from a helpful customer who was willing to put her limited English to work helping a couple of confused Americans.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him.

G Dan Mitchell: Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email


All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Night, Photographs: Spain, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Street With Holiday Lights, Madrid

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Street With Holiday Lights, Madrid
“Street With Holiday Lights, Madrid” — Colorful holiday lights suspended above a busy Madrid street near Plaza Mayor.

Our December visit to Madrid coincided with holiday festivities in the city. Main streets were jammed with people walking from place to place, and crowds assembled for holiday events and displays. There were Christmas markets, and holiday lights were everywhere. We did not realize that the season was such a big deal in Madrid, but we enjoyed it and got into the spirit.

At one point we thought, “Oh, what the heck” and braved the walk through the Plaza Mayor — a popular tourist destination and the site of a large Christmas market — on our way to destinations on the other side. We exited the plaza and walked down this pedestrian street lined with busy restaurants and topped by very colorful lights.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” from Heyday Books, is available directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Spain, Photographs: The Southwest, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Street Art, Zaragoza

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Street Art, Zaragoza
“Street Art, Zaragoza’ – A fanciful female face, street art, Zaragoza, Spain.

I may be misconstruing things that I do not understand, but it seems like some places in Europe tolerate graffiti and/or street art more than in the USA, and perhaps that some of it is a bit more sophisticated than the “tagging” that we see so often here. (Indeed, there is tagging in Europe — even in this image — and there is some fascinating street art in America, too.)

I photographed this detail of a wall in Zaragoza, Spain. I don’t know the cultural reference of the figure, if there is one, but the image caught my attention. I get a kick out of how it is positioned as if the vertical pipe is almost irrelevant — yet the pipe covering that eye does affect how we regard the face.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him.

G Dan Mitchell: Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email


All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.