The Gaudi Barcelona

Sunday, January 17, 2010

-Park Güell-

Spain 5 28.-29.12.2009 - To close the trip, Barcelona became our target. We are very pleased to explore the city that is synonymous with Gaudi. There are many popular places in Barcelona. Hostel where we had to stay right in the street Rambla de Catalunya. The hostel is right in the middle of the city and located near the Plaza de Catalunya. Even more astonishing was about the hostel rates, we payed for only 8 euros per night. After checking in, we immediately walk to the Plaça de Catalunya.

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Alhambra – the last islamic emperor in Spain

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Spain 4 27.12.2009 - Our journey continued to the city of Granada. Alhambra is located here, the world heritage site by the UNESCO which was crowned since 1984. We arrived in the evening by bus from Cordoba. Then we took public transport No.33 to Cathedral stop and take minibus Alhambra No.30 or 32 from Plaza Isabel La Catolica to the main entrance of Alhambra.We stayed in the hostel "Posada Dona Lupe" just in front of Alhambra Gate. Therefore we can wake up early, then take the first line to buy the ticket, otherwise we can stuck on the long queue. The ticket cost 13 EUR, and you got a map of Alhambra complex.

-Nasrid Palace of Alhambra-

  -Alcazaba, former military complex-

Entering the Alhambra area seemed to be in paradise and brought us to feel the triumph of Islam in the past. Alhambra monument complex consists of several parts, which Charles V Palace, Medina, Alcazaba, Rauda, Nasrid Palace and Generalife, which covers an area of approximately 142,000 square meters. Before entering the Nasrid Palace, we have seen the building of Charles V Palace was built in 1533 after the city of Granada was taken by the Catholic King in 1492. In the opposite, there is Alcazaba fortress and royal military training camp. But to save time, we just continue directly to Nasrid Palace, as the favorite one, and also there is a time 

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Mezquita - the Church in the Mosque

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Spain 3 26.12.2009- We departed to Cordoba at 07.30 in the morning, and arrived around 10. We took bus directly In the Andalusia region of southern Spain, still can be found the remnants of the Islamic civilization that once ruled, for example in the Córdoba region.

In the eighth century, the Great Mosque of Córdoba (the Mezquita), which is now also known as the Roman Catholic Cathedral, the architectural pride of Muslims in western countries at that time. This mosque was built above ground after the church of St. Vincent's purchased from the local Christian community before destroyed. Being the most remarkable monuments of the Umayyad dynasty, where the capital of Al-Andalusia was in Cordoba.

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the beauty of Sevilla

Friday, January 1, 2010

Spain 2 25.-26.12.2009- We arrived in the midnight, therefore we shared taxi (for five peoples). Here we stay in Andi's apartment. Our friend who formerly study in Bremen. Sevilla (read: seβiʎa), which has more than 2000 years old is a city of art, culture, and financial which is located in southern Spain, and cleaved by the River Guadalquivir. Residents of the city known as Sevillanos (feminine form: Sevillanas) or Hispalenses.

-the Giralda-

 -Sevilla University-

This city was once a vital center of Muslims of Andalusia, under the rule of the Umayyad caliph. Fall into the hands of the Christian king Ferdinand III in 1248. Some important monument in Seville is the Cathedral of Seville was built in 1401-1519, which was once a mosque. Cathedral reused some columns and elements from the mosque, and most notably the Giralda, originally a minaret, converted into a bell tower.
Another monument is the tower of Torre del Oro, The University of Seville which has stood since the 18th century, the Plaza de España was built in 1929.

the Plaza de España

people who are in love bond themselves with this, at the bridge

From here also came from a typical Flamenco dance. There is also a bridge of El Puente de Isabel II on the river Guadalquivir and building the 'Adriatica' (1914-1922). The city is very comfortable and clean. Although not classified as a metropolitan city, the city is already built metro subway. Along the way there are citrus fruit crops and become an attraction itself.

in a sudden, we saw a man draw Giralda from this corner

Unfortunately, no opportunity to enter the Alcazar, because it coincided Date December 25 ..After walking and walking, we end up at Mama Terra, a Pakistan kebab restaurant, and its Halal. Then we continue our journey to photograph Sevilla by the night.

  - mama terra : halal food restaurant in Sevilla -

El toro by the night

After exploring Sevilla all day and night long, we were ready for Cordoba and Granada...

Facts:
Local Metro = 0.70 EUR per trip (use refilled card!)
mama terra food = about 3-5 EUR
Bus ALSA Sevilla - Cordoba = 10.36 EUR

Well, enjoy Sevilla trough my pictures!

The Metropolis - Madrid

Spain 1 23.-24.12.2009 - We were flying about 2.5 hours (13:05 - 15.25) with the cheapest flight "Ryan Air" from Bremen to Girona Barcelona. Once we arrived in Girona, we directly go to shuttle bus and bought return ticket cost 20 euro. From Girona to Barcelona Nord station takes about 1.5 hours. Before continue our travel, we bought some food at Turkey shop. Then take a time to see La Sagranada Familia by walking. Take some photos and then back to the bus station.

We departed to Madrid on 23:00, and arrived in AVDA De America bus station Madrid on 07:00. Madrid also has a good transportation system. Well, Madrid became a city opening of the "long" journey  in Spain from 23 to 30 December 2009. Thank God, I've seen the Spanish capital. Frankly, one day will not be enough to explore the city of Madrid. Therefore not much I can tell. We only had about 5-7 hours at the time, because we must continue our journey to Seville. But, armed with detailed maps and tourist attraction to visit in Madrid, then we can still see numbers of the main monuments there, although we can not stay for long.

Sol is the main station, and it is hub with almost all metro. Here we can also start to walk to see many touristic building. But, we were less fortunate because the weather was not supported. The rain was very heavy, restricting our exploration. Like many other metropolitan city, Madrid is full of high buildings.

At 13:00, we take metro no.1 from Sol with direction Valdecarros, we stop at Pacifico and take metro No.6 stop at Mendez Alvaro. Here is the bus station, the bus will take us to Sevilla.

Facts:
Bus Girona - Barcelona = 20EUR for return
Metro ticket in Madrid = 1 day 5.2 EUR (special for tourist)
Bus ALSA Barcelona - Madrid = 28.18 EUR
Bus Socibus Madrid - Seville = 19.4 EUR

See the pictures here.