Last week, it was my great pleasure to pay a return visit to the Mezquita in the UNESCO Historic Centre of Córdoba, where I was delighted to capture these dazzling sunbeams making their geometric patterns against the famous red and white arches.
Isn´t nature wonderful?
This post is my response to the WordPress Photo Challenge: GEOMETRIC ; Travel Theme: BRIGHT and this week´s Sunday Post: WONDERFUL.
Related posts from:
Customs and celebrations to honour the end of the harvest, the change of the seasons and the passage of life into death come together in many notable traditions at this time of the year.
The festival of Todos los Santos (All Saints´ day) is celebrated throughout Spain as a national holiday on November 1st each year.
Although the American-style “ghosts and ghouls” type of Halloween is now creeping into the Spanish calendar each year (sadly), traditionally this time is celebrated here in a different form, as “El Día de los Muertos” or the “Day of the Dead” .
The three-day event, beginning on the evening of October 31 and ending on November 2 (All Souls´ day) sees cemeteries packed with families paying homage to their dead. Family members tend the gravestones of their loved ones by painting, weeding and cleaning them, and by placing fresh flowers and candles.
We often visit our local cemetery on November 1st, and apart from the sheer number of people, the first thing that always strikes me is the overwhelming fragrance of fresh flowers.
Family members of all ages arrive carrying vases, buckets, bottles of water, cleaning items, candles and arms full of flowers. The atmosphere is not at all solemn and the sound of chatter is everywhere, with people greeting each other with kisses and hugs. Each member of the family plays their part in the cleaning and tending of the grave and, when they were finally satisfied, they wandered around the cemetery, looking at other graves to remember the dead, before leaving.
What I particularly like about this lovely Spanish tradition is that all of the frightening aspects of the afterlife are taken out of it. This is a commemoration for loved ones with nothing ghoulish or scary involved. Exactly as it should be, in my opinion.
How do you honour loved ones who have passed away, in your part of the world?
Here are some other posts that I hope you might enjoy:
The heart of Cómpeta: El Paseo de las Tradiciones
The Buddhist Stupa of the Eastern Costa del Sol
There are no foreign lands. It is the traveller only who is foreign. ~ Robert Louis Stevenson
This simple sculpture of a world map (mapa mundi) can be found within the grounds of Málaga´s Botanical Gardens.
Being an English expat living in Spain, many things that I once might have considered foreign, have now become the norm.
Besides, the concept of “foreign” is all relative, isn´t it?
So, here are some things that you might think are foreign, but which are now part of everyday life here in amazing Andalucía!
This young girl was wearing her Yo Soy Español (I am Spanish) tee shirt to watch the Spanish national team play football on TV during Euro 2012, at the La Noche de San Juan celebrations.
Sunshine, the blue Mediterranean Sea and palm trees off the Balcón de Europa in Nerja, Spain.
Stunning yellow blooms of a cactus plant.
Herbs and spices for sale at a Spanish street market.
Delicious paella, freshly-made each day over wooden fires.
Street sign in the village of Torrox, which claims to have the best climate in Europe (mejor clima de Europa).
This post is my response to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Foreign.
Other photo challenges you might enjoy:
CBBH monthly Photo challenge: Windows
Weekly Photo challenge: Near and Far
Especially in these times of austerity, everyone is searching for a bargain.
Open-air street markets offer a true cultural experience, where you can really get amongst the locals whilst trying to make your euros stretch that bit further. Prices may not always be clearly marked so you may be able to negotiate a lower price. It´s worth a try – you can always walk away.
The stalls are often covered with makeshift shades to protect the goods and customers from the fierce heat of the sun.
Spanish street markets are more informal than supermarkets, but bear in mind that the vendors are salespeople, not just cashiers, so they may approach you to sell goods you may or may not want. Keep smiling!
Click HERE to discover where and when there are street markets in the Axarquía area, east of Málaga.
This post is my response to the Travel Theme: On Display
Related posts:
Streetmarkets around the Axarquía – when and where
Cost of Living in Spain – east of Málaga
One of the unexpected delights of living east of Málaga, is coming across herds of goats whilst negotiating the picturesque, curvy mountain roads. The beauty and tranquility of the local landscape is enough to lift the spirits, even on the greyest of days, especially when you come face to face with a herd of ninety goats meandering along the road.
I love meeting the goats and always wind down my car window to say “hola” and pass the time of day with the goatherd, as well as telling the goats what good girls they are!
It´s amazing how even though some of the goats climb up the rocks above the road to nibble at whatever plants take their fancy, and some stray perilously close to the edge, they all stay pretty much together. I dread to think how many would be left in the herd if I was in charge of them!
The sight of a herd of goats never fails to make me smile – no matter how often I see them!
This post is my contribution to the WordPress Photo Challenge: Happy and to Travel Theme: Animals
Whilst you´re here, why not have a look at:
East of Málaga 