It’s that time of year when many of us reflect over the past year and begin to look forward to whatever the coming year will bring.  I’ve always enjoyed reflection – both the looking back kind, as well as the distorted or alternate view of something realistic.

Within Málaga’s La Concepción Botanical Gardens lies this Alhambra-inspired pool, which beautifully reflects the nearby pagoda.  Even on a hot summer´s day, it´s a pleasure to  enjoy the cool green shade and occasional sprinklers of the Gardens, which may catch you by surprise as they irrigate the surrounding plants.

In the Basque Country capital city of Bilbao, in northern Spain, lies the amazing Guggenheim Museum.  Located alongside the Nervión River in downtown Bilbao, the museum is a glass and titanium structure resembling a ship, filled with modern and contemporary art.  For me though, the exterior was the most impressive, with a series of outdoor exhibits including a giant spider structure, the famous giant puppy monument fashioned out of bedding plants which are renewed each spring, and this huge mirrored bunch of balloons reflecting the pool beyond.

I just had to include a photo of one of the spectacular sunsets reflected in my swimming pool.  This is a sight I never tire of seeing.  Can you make out the tail of the dolphin I had tiled into the floor of the pool (towards the bottom right of the photo)?  This was to remind me of the time I swam with dolphins on the Caribbean island of Curacao.

Visitors to the eastern Costa del Sol might not anticipate that there is a beautiful Buddhist Stupa within easy reach of the Mediterranean coast.   The first Buddhist Kalachakra stupa built in the western hemisphere can be visited about 40 kilometres east of Málaga, just north of the town of Vélez-Málaga.  Here you can see the golden dome of the Stupa reflecting the sunlight against an impossibly blue sky.

“El Día de los Muertos” or the “Day of the Dead” is a celebration of life held each year throughout Spain on November 1st.  Cemeteries are packed with families paying homage to their dead, as family members tend the gravestones of their loved ones by painting, weeding and cleaning them, and by placing fresh flowers and candles.  It’s a time of quiet reflection – though I couldn’t help but also notice the blue sky and palm tree reflected in the polished marble of the headstone.

In addition to a physical reflection, you might want to explore emotional reflection through an image.  Whatever you decide, share a photo that means REFLECTION to you.

This month´s CBBH Featured Blogs:

** Tom at The Palladian Traveler describes his blog as an ”eclectic site devoted to the pursuit of happiness from within the borders of Italy and, occasionally, beyond.”  I particularly enjoyed learning about the impressive and ancient hill town of Sutri, noted for its precious archeological finds covering the Bronze, Etruscan, Roman and Middle Ages.

Tom packs his posts with lots of information and history, punctuated with beautiful photographs.  I love Italy, and have very fond memories of visits there, so  The Palladian Traveler is somewhere I enjoy lingering for a while.  Why not pop over there right away, and say HELLO? 

** If you want a recipe with a Spanish twist, Tanya at Chica Andaluza is your girl!  Her recipes are always easy to follow and I especially loved her Lamb Shanks with Borlotti Beans – the most delicious comfort food you could imagine!  You are sure to find something on her blog to tickle your taste buds.

Tanya is a passionate cook, aspiring writer and City Slicka turned Spanish Chica who shares the highs and lows of what she gets up to in her Andalucián mountain hideaway.

So that´s the CBBH Photo Challenge for January, folks!

Remember, all you have to do is post your entry by the end of the month,  link back to this blog and, most importantly,  don´t forget to share links to any two blogs that you´ve commented on during the past month, so that we can all HOP OVER and have a look.  Make sure you FOLLOW THIS BLOG so you don´t miss next month´s exciting challenge!

For more information on how the CBBH Photo Challenge works click here.

I hope everyone taking part enjoys the exposure the CBBH Photo Challenge offers to featured blogs and, who knows, you may end up finding a new favourite!  I´m looking forward to seeing your interpretations.

[CBBH logo Image credit: (cc) Mostly Dans]