Posada del Duratón, Spain

Posada del Duratón is located in a rural area approximately an hour’s drive from Segovia.

There are nearby hunting preserves and a natural park for the outdoor minded guest. It surely is quiet here. There is an on-site restaurant for supper and breakfast. I would go with the breakfast and skip the supper. Here’s a look at the dining room.

There are a number of pleasing outdoor spaces including these balconies and cloisters.

Once in your room, you’ll find plenty of amenities, too.

The toilet was located in a separate space with no sink, but coming out and to the other end of the room, you’ll find the sink…

and a shower/tub…

There was no curtain or glass door for the tub which made showering tricky. Someday, I’ll have to find someone to show me the proper way of using this type of installation without getting water on the floor. Anyway, my stay was comfortable and interesting as I used the posada as a base to explore nearby Segovia and some small spots along the way. You’ll also find some trinkets for sale in the lobby, ones that are actually made by local artisans. They are worth the time to check them out. As mentioned before, Spain is a wonderful country to explore, especially the places a little further afield.

Published in: on October 3, 2010 at 1:05 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Jerte Valley, Spain

Driving from the west, we entered the Jerte valley without realizing how steep and winding it’s path was. However, exiting to the east, you must climb a road of multiple switchbacks that will require the use of all the gears. Here’s a look from the top of the eastern edge, looking to the west.

The valley is well known for its cherry trees and small towns. We stayed at a marvelous place with a fine restaurant. More on them both in future posts. In the mean time, enjoy the beauty of this place.

Published in: on September 24, 2010 at 11:57 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Church of the Vera Cruz (again)

This is the second time I’ve visited the Church of the Vera Cruz in Segovia, Spain, and I was frustrated to find it closed… again!

In fact, I missed the opening hours by mere minutes. This is a Templar church and therefore mandatory on the itinerary. Nonetheless, I checked out some of the exterior detail such as theses capitals:

My understanding is that the interior is quite basic. Still, it’s worth a visit considering it’s place in history. Seeing sights like this goes a long way to contextualizing historical references and it is well worth the time seeking out the smaller, out of the way places as they were on the route followed by people in days gone by. It is a method of seeing what they saw, doing what they did. Enjoy the journey.

Published in: on September 21, 2010 at 5:28 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Not Impressed

The Guggenheim in Bilbao was on my list of stops during the recent visit to Spain. Sadly, I was not impressed. The building, well, an engineering achievement but sadly inadequate as it draws attention away from the works inside.

The works inside, disappointing. Of course, I’m not the best judge of these things. In fact, I’m completely unqualified. So go see it for yourself and let me know. There was this creation out front.

An achievement to be sure, but what kind? Help me out because I’ve missed it completely.

Published in: on September 20, 2010 at 11:04 am  Leave a Comment  
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