Day 1 Afternoon, Sept 26, 2024 Monreale Cathedral

Afternoon, still day 1 of our tour.  Our itinerary reads: This afternoon head to Monreale Cathedral, ascending on foot to see its majestic Byzantine mosaics.  Then, it's our choice!  Explore the cathedral's cloisters, taking in their serene atmosphere of the monastic complex - OR - ascend the southern tower to the panoramic terraces for a bird's -eye view over Palermo.

Once we were done with the guided tour, we could explore on our own.  This cathedral is considered to be the best example of Norman Architecture.  The building began in 1174 by William II of Sicily.

It was elevated to the Archdiocese of Monreale in 1183, and completed in 1267.  Since 2015 it's been part of the Arab-Norman Palermo and the Catholic churches of Cefalu' and Monreale UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There were two Sarcophagi, but I wasn't able to get a picture of the 2nd one. Both William the I and William II of Sicily are there.

It was quite colorful, with incredible detail everywhere you looked.

I opted for walking around the cloisters, while hubby climbed the southern tower.

Time to meet up with our traveling companions and board the coach to return to the hotel.  We were told no sleeveless tops, no shorts above the knee.  Our estimated time to arrive back at the hotel was 5:30 where we would have dinner on our own.

I tried to load the video hubby took of the birds eye view, but couldn't get blogger and the video to play nice.  Sorry folks.  Just a picture instead.

Day 6, Leaning Tower of Pisa

Day 6, Pisa, and Lake Maggiore.  Our itinerary for the day says  stop at Pisa for the Leaning Tower from which Galileo is said to have conducted experiments on velocity and gravity.  See the splendid cathedral and baptistery decorated with mosaics.  Journey past the marble quarries T Carrara, used since the time of Ancient Rome.  Travel through the Apennine Mountains to the fertile valley of the River Po. and continue to your lakeside resort on beautiful Lake Maggiore.

The town of Pisa is one of the areas where tour coaches aren't permitted.  We toured several areas where the coaches have to park some place outside the city, and tourist need to walk in, or find other transportation.  From memory, believe this was the 2nd time the coach had to leave us outside city limits.  Partially due to the distance, and perhaps because of our lady in the wheel chair, Vivian; arrangements were made to ride these little trains into the area where The Leaning Tower of Pisa,  and Cathedral were.  We weren't the only tour group here that morning, so the trains must be common place.

And even after you leave the train outside the walled area, you still must walk to your actual destination.  ERnie in right foreground.

As you approach, you see the Cathedral on your left and The Leaning Tower beyond.  They look connected in this picture, but they aren't.  It's just the distance.  But, comparing it to the building near it, you see better how much it's leaning.

A different view where were almost in front of the Cathedral, gives you a feel for the size.

We considered briefly doing the shot where you find the right spot and look like you're holding it up, but the line of younger folks waiting to do that...we moved on.  The Leaning tower is the bell tower for the Romanesque Marble Cathedral, built in 1372.  Even at the time it was built, it leaned.  Later due to it leaning so much Italians were afraid it would fall over, devices were used to secure it.  Over time it was beginning to straighten the tower......which would ruin the tourist attraction, so alterations had to be made to allow it to continue to lean.

The Cathedral was beautiful even from the outside, and as you can see the line to enter was long, so was the line to buy the ticket to enter.  Knowing our time table here, we elected to walk around the community instead.  I don't believe anyone in our group made it inside the Cathedral.  There was also a long line to use the bathroom, which was one of the many paid public toilets we encountered during our travels. (more on bathrooms in a later post)

One of the side streets with shops and places to eat.  We were there early enough, many weren't yet open for the day.

This was gorgeous.  Look at the wooden wheels!  I couldn't read the sign posted with it, but we assume it's for hire to site see from.

 Some views out the window of the coach.

We're approaching Lake Maggiore.  We did pass the marble areas mentioned in the itinerary for the day.  It was visible from the coach, but not such that a picture was obtained.  A very steep hillside where marble was selected and the difficulty of getting the marble to the artist/builder etc was discussed.  We could see very primitive roads off in the distance.

**Pop back in for Lake Maggiore.

Day 4, Medieval City Siena, Tuscany

Siena, depending on your route from Rome it's a 2.75 hours to 3.5 hours.  Day 4, our itinerary indicates we'll be traveling north to medieval Siena, and stroll through the winding stone-paved street to the vast Piazza del Camp, where the Palio takes place.

Ok, so far we are indeed winding our way you can see the cobblestone (sure played havoc with Vivien's wheelchair).  Up and down hills, and around and around and through.........be ware of traffic.  As you see it's tight.  Siena was named after Senius, the son of Remus.  You might remember Remus and Romulus are said to be the brothers that founded Rome.  You'll see lots of statues and emblems, a she-wolf who suckled Remus and Romulus.

La Alhambra, Granada Spain

 Palace of Charles V.  Which we did not get to see when we visited La Alhambra in Granada, Andalusia Spain.  Purchasing tickets for La Alhambra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Spains major tourist attractions is a bit of a feat.  Though we had pickets for the whole area, entrance into Nasrid Palace is time stamped.  Nasrid Palace is the main attraction there so you're told to make sure you're there on time, then view the other areas.  We had been told by multiple people if you show up 5 minutes late, you will not get in.  So, we passed by Palace of Charles V.

 We had arrived a good hour ahead of time, but the queue to pick up our tickets (even though we had purchased them almost a year ahead of time) was HUGE.  You walk from one of the many parking areas, to get in line to either purchase your tickets or pick them up at will call.  The line for will call didn't move much faster then the line to purchase.  However, they only sell a certain number of tickets each day, so you risk being turned away by not purchasing ahead.  Once through that line, we headed to the area to buy (you must in addition to the ticket price), our audio tours.

 La Alhambra is a medival complex, a fortress, and a palace and amazing Islamic Architecture.  It's a Royal Complex that's been around in part from 889 ...the 9th century when Sawwar ben Hamdun built a small fortress there on the hill top.  This is a view out one of the windows of The Nasrid Palace at one of the surrounding Palaces.

 You can see it was pretty cold the day we toured, and then it got colder and rained which hampered our seeing much after existing the Nasrid Palace.  This is the view of Granada below in the valley.  Off to the right you can see part of fortress, the walls and walk area.

 Thankfully the Marriott Concierge told us it would be 10-20 degrees colder there even in nice weather due to the altitude so we did dress warmer.  Seeing me just in front of one of the doors gives you a feel for the enormity of The Palace.  Look at the awesome detail and colorful tiles of the Moorish Architecture.  The small fortress that Sawwar ben Hamdun built was for protection and ultimately it became not much more then ruins.  Then in the 11th century,the Moorish King  Mohammed ben Al-Almar rebuilt and renovated it.  This was The Kingdom of Granada.

 A close up of some of the beautiful details.  We were told there are both Christian and Muslim tributes in the carvings throughout the Palace.  At times the Moors were here, and times Christians.

 I imagine this is quite beautiful in summer when the bushes are out and the flowers blooming.  Many areas opened onto this beautiful courtyard.  More building, additions and renovations took place when Yusuf I, Sultan of Granada made this his royal palace in 1333.  He was responsible for the most of the additions.

 In 1492 after The Reconquista, Catholic Monarchs were in control of the area.  Though Christian symbols were added and some changes made, they didn't destroy and rebuilt.  They thought it too beautiful and so Cathedrals were often built inside, or on top of Mosques throughout Spain.

Notice this large door, the door has a door within the door.  The brass bar you see is a more normal size door to let people in and out vs opening this large very imposing door.  Perhaps it was to attempt to keep out the elements?  It's high on the hill in area more mountainous then other parts of Spain and so by nature is colder.  There were no heat sources.  I posted about the 1 and only fireplace, take a look HERE

 One of the beautiful rooms..so much color and detail.  Truly is hard to take it all in.

 In 1527 Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor lived here and built his castle within the Alhambra.

 This is a ceiling that was particularly colorful.

 Looking up at the color and detail again...and the columns and arches.  Truly breathtaking.

 The Alhambra once again fell into disrepair and was virtually forgotten until it was rediscovered in the 19th century by European Scholars.  Restorations began and continue.  This is The Court of the Lions.  Water, fresh water came out of their mouths, and notice the trough of water in the center of the marble floor.  Water was pumped up the hill.

 The Court of the Lions was a favorite photo spot.  Our Dear Friend Jane, and Hubby.

 More color, and more color and through the arch windows

 one of the many beautiful gardens.

 There are examples of The Roman language in areas also.

Looking skyward to try to show you more of this incredible structure.

Alhambra means Red Walls or Red Castle, and though some has faded over time, the walls must have looked very red long ago.  There are many areas: The Royal complex, Court of the Myrtles, Hal of Ambassadors, The Court of the Lions, Hall of the Abencerrajes, General Life and many other features.

It's suggested that you allow about 3 hours to tour, however we spent well over that and didn't see much of the outside areas (those we did weren't photographed due to the downpour), The Gardens, or The Palace of Charles V.

• Allow yourself lots of time
• Don't be late
• Buy tickets ahead and print them before hand if possible.  There are only a few places you can print them, but it would have saved time.
• Dress Warm
• Wear substantial shoes.  Even in summer do NOT wear flip flops or sandals.  Even with good shoes on, we all had a hard time walkinig.  Very un-even surfaces that were really slippery when wet, AND the rough cobblestone hurt the bottom of your feet...even with substantial shoes.
• Beware of the Gypsies.  They very very aggressive and expect to be paid about 5 Euro's for giving you a sprig of Rosemary and telling you a fortune even though you don't understand their language.  The descend on you the minute you get out of your car.
• Leave the kids at home, this is a very difficult area for children and you can not push a stroller in The Palace.

Blogging a-z in May, my focus is Spain Click the drop down box to leave your name and url of your blog post, not profile page.

Gaudi's Güell Park in Barcelona, Spain

 WOW, even on a cloudy morning, what a view.  We're high up on the hill at Güell Park in Barcelona, Spain.  You can see how densely populated the city is.  Güell Park named for Euseb Güell, a friend a benefactor of Antoni Gaudi'.  In early 1900 there were a half million people in Barcelona and growing.  The world's fair was held there in 1888 which showed the world what a metropolis it was.  Antoni Gaudi' a visionary who believed art should model nature, and in nature there are no straight lines.......nature flows.  The two men were friends and people who wanted to solve a problem.

 The problem, a fast growing Barcelona with noise, pollution and sanitation problems that caused heath problems.  Barcelona was a city of art, of modern new ideas.  They decided to build a housing development.  Well, perhaps the term housing development isn't quite right.  They wanted to build a planned community with 60 triangle shape plots, space for community to gather.  A space that couldn't be more then 1/6th development for the wealthy folks in Barcelona.  Gaudi' the talent and Güell the money behind it all.

 So up on a hill away from the hustle and bustle that was Barcelona the development started.  Lots of tile work, walking paths, gardens, trees, planned viaducts, water collections systems...truly a marvel for it's time.  However,

 Only 1 lot sold and in 1914 Güell discontinued work on the project.  After his death, his family offered the vast lands to the city.

 In 1922 the city acquired the beautiful space and 4 years later opened it as a public park.  Even on an overcast day you can see how brilliant the colors are, how interesting the art work, how unique the buildings are.

 Why didn't it sell?  Transportation.  Even the wealthy had no decent transportation to get from the city to the planned development and then to climb the hill.

 Our fabulous tour guide, Patrick Ducher, whom I've mentioned before, but am again living the link to the wonderful reviews......HERE, knew all the best spots to place Hubby and I for photo's that he took for us.  Thank you Patrick.  Patrick and his group have a superb rating with travel advisor, check it out HERE

 All the pictures you see taken from the top are up these steps, where a large open space exited for parades, festivals and community to gather.  Further up the hillsides was the area were the houses were to be located.

 Mosaics with every possible color of the rainbow.

 One such house, were Gaudi' lived until his death.

 Purposeful art, incorporated into a bench.

Do put this on your list of must things to see when you visit Barcelona, and be sure and arrange a private tour, you'll learn so much more then trying to do this on your own...ask for Patrick, he's awesome!

**REMINDER, please leave the url to your actual blog post, NOT your google+ page, NOT your blogger profile/dashboard page. Use the name and url option, or leave a hyperlink. **After the close of April's A-Z, I plan to continue to write a post a day in the month of May using again the A-B-C's as my guide. My focus for the month of May will be Spain.