We Really Were in Spain Together

Rarely do we get a picture of the two of us.
Warming the fountain at Priego de Cordoba.















Riding the tourbus in Madrid.

Bob clowning around.

Jenny wondering if she has bought enough gifts to take back.

Bob and Ken make a new friend. Couldn't tell you who he was.

The Patio Festival at Cordoba

We arrived in Cordoba for the last day of the Festival d Los Patios. After walking through half the streets of old Cordoba, we finaly found throngs of people heading in the direction of our goal. It was worth every step. Some of the homeowners open their nondescript front doors so we can enter the center of their home, the patio. They were absolutely beautiful and we will never figure out how they water all those flowers.











Windows and walls draped with pots of blooming plants.

After the Dance Was Over

Some of the performers could not wait to remove their tap shoes and try out the moon bounce.

Future Flamenco Students

We saw many toddlers in strollers wearing flamenco outfits and these little gals are ready to dance. Look at those shoes.

Flamenco

Flamenco is a big deal in Andalucia and most of Spain as well it should be. It is beautiful. There is a Flamenco school in Fuente Tojar, near our house in the olive orchard. The students put on a flamenco show during the four day festival of St. Somebody. They were adorable. The students ranged from 5 or 6 to their late teens.


The Teacher

The Students

Another Commen Siting in Andalucia

Bob and Jerry conferring on just what to do or where to go.
Thank Goodness they figured it all out and we got around with ease,

The Black Bulls of Spain

We spotted a lot of black bulls along the highways of Spain, did a little research and this is what we learned.

The Osborne's black bull in Spain is a silhouetted image of a bull in semi-profile, and is regarded as the unofficial national symbol of Spain. Osborne's black bull was a commercial trade mark of Osborne (producers of sherry and other spirits) but the wide presence of [huge advertisements showing] the bull all across Spanish roads made it a very popular symbol in the Spanish countryside.
However, when Spain outlawed billboards on national roads in the early 1990's, the black bulls were to be taken down. The Spaniards protested, as the lone bull towering along the roadside had become a national symbol. The final resolution was that the black bulls could remain but with no words (Osborne) on them.
The image of the bull is now displayed in stickers and key rings. Also, at sport events where a Spanish team or individual is taking part
The bull has become so closely associated to Spain that Catalan nationalists started a campaign against the only one existing in Catalonia which was repeatedly vandalized and eventually not replaced.

Random Shots of Priego & Zagrilla

This is one of the beautiful children who stopped by to watch us paint in Priego

















Kay and Penny seem to bring out each other's inner children

Painters line the central calla lily pond in Zagrilla

Bob has found something interesting to photograph.

Andalucia May 3-9, 2009

Our rental house is in the midst of what seems like a thousand acres of olive trees. Spanish olive oil is shipped to Italy where it is labled Italian Olive oil so we Americans will consider it the good stuff....or so say the Andalucians. There are many ruins throughout the olive fields such as this one very close to our house. We (Bob, Kay, Janice & Jerry) have a four bedroom house that has a small patio that connects to a large patio and pool area. There are two other apartments where two other artists, Jenny and Ken and Janelle and Dewey are staying. Jenny & Janelle are artists.

This is another typical street in Priego de Cordoba.

The town below is one we found while looking for painting locations. This was a very nice scene, but there were no bathrooms nearby, so we bagged that idea and stuck to cities.

Toledo - May 1 & 2, 2009

We spent two days and nights in Toledo. Unfortunately, I stepped into a hole on our walk from the hotel to town, so my view of the town is a bit painful. It is very a very pretty ancient walled city surrounded by a river. This is the foot bridge we crossed to enter the city, then it was up-up and more up the winding streets to the center square. We caught a little tour train at the square and rode around the city.

View from our balcony at the hotel.

View through the entrance to the foot bridge.

Don Quixote's Windmills

We stopped to get a closer look as we drove from Toledo to Fuente Tojar.

Hola from Fuente Tojar

Photos of Priego de Cordoba

We are very happy with our hacienda. It is a four bedroom hacienda in an olive grove. Seems like this part of Spain is mostly olive groves with a few whitewashed villages nestled along the hillsides. The streets are very narrow and many are just for walking. We found some streets where the houses were decorated profusely with potted geraniums. Photos will follow.

Our computer access is thanks to the public library in Fuente Tojar.

The rest of our painting pals arrive this evening and classes begin on Friday.
K

Madrid May 1 2009

View from top of tour bus.














Botanical gardens exhibition hall.















Plaza Mayor

Plaza del Sol

Madrid 4/30/09

Bob & Kay on
Grand Via


















Ancient Doorway


















Janice & Kay


















Kay meets a new friend in Madrid















One of the Gates to Madrid






















Bob and Kay dancin in the streets of Plaza del Sol.