Today we revisit a month in Spain spent visiting churches◹ and castles◹ , wandering through villages◹ , and exploring mountain ranges◹ . In Barcelona◹ we enjoyed a view from our window of the famous Sagrada Familia Basilica◹ and in Tortosa◹ we stayed in a castle parador◹ .

We followed routes once taken by knights of the Reconquista◹ past fortress◹ crowed heights and river threaded◹ gorges◹ , then paused for a rest in an historic parador near the world heritage city of Cuenca◹ .  

Beyond Cuenca we traversed poppy◹ fringed wheat fields◹ across the high meseta◹ and stopped to contemplate the ruins◹ of Belchite◹ .  The inhabitants of this bombarded town moved to a new location and left their old home as an evocative memorial to the horrors of the Spanish Civil War.

Finally we crossed the Ebro River at Sastago◹ and headed northward to the stone villages and dramatic landscapes of the Pyrenees◹ .  These mountains form a rocky wall between Spain and France.

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AuthorMary Lee Nolan
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