Several days ago one of my friends made the following comment:

"You see, I was thinking 2012 was a horrible year, but actually 2013 was even worse...Let's keep our positive spirit and hope 2014 finally will turn the tide !"

So, to those, who need some radical change and to those who, happily, don't,

My best wishes and

Merry Christmas

and

Happy and  Prosperous New 2014  !

¡Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año 2014!

Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année !

Честита Нова Година !

Gott Nytt År !

كل عام وأنتم بخير

  

Pedraza - Four Seasons

Pedraza is probably one of the most filmed villages in Spain, if not in Europe. Since it still keeps its medieval fortress, structure, buildings and spirit it is no wonder that numerous film companies have turned it as a movie-stage. 

Visitors from nearby Madrid, the Peninsula and even abroad never miss a trip to this authentic jewel in the Segovia province. Artists, movie stars and jet-set socialites open their week-end houses and mingle with the "native" Pedraza population, quite experienced as movie stunts. Restaurants, cafes and lovely arts and crafts shops add even more charm to the place.

I haven't remained indifferent either. Below, some photos taken along the last year : winter, spring, summer and autumn.

View from the Castle (December 2012)

and the Castle from inside (below)

The spring and the stork on the city-hall tower

Summer heat

Autumn view from the murals

Le Nord

Dans un film français, très connu et très aimé, Bienvenu chez les Cht'is, on trouve une conversation très significative: le personnage principal cherche des renseignements sur "Le Nord" et lui explique un panorama déplorable....que termine par la phrase "C'est le Nord, mon fils...Le Nord!"

 

Cet été, au lieu de continuer de supporter la chaleur de l'Espagne méditerranéenne, nous avons fait un voyage "au Nord". Oui, il pleuvait, il faisait 17 C, mais c'était tellement beau. En bas, certaines images de cette expérience inoubliable...

Et bien sûr, on va retourner, plus tôt que prévu.

 

There is a lovely French movie, "Welcome to the country of the Cht'is" (apparently a dialect in Northern France). The main character is posted to a small town on the North and before leaving, he visits a close relative who paints him a desperate picture of the life there. The conversation ends with the self-explanatory phrase: "This is the North, my son....The North !"

This summer, instead of prolonging the continued Spanish Mediterranean "self-barbeque", we decided to head off to "the North". Yes, it was raining and sometimes it was 17C ( in August in Spain!!!), but it was lovely ! Below, some short glimpses from this unforgettable experience...

With the promise to return whenever we can....

 

Gijon, the port

 

Gijon, the beach

 

 

It's not Ireland, no ! It's Spain, old city of Gijon !

 

 

 

 



 

Santillana del Mar, the castle

 

 

 

 

 

Plaza Mayor, Santillana del Mar

 

 

 

Burgos

 

 

 

apparently it's pink....

 

 

 

The Cathedral of Burgos

 

a real jewel !

 

 

 

How nice is to have five minutes for the morning news !

La Granja de San Ildefonso

The Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso (Palacio Real de La Granja de San Ildefonso) was built in the 18th-century by the Spanish king Philip V (Felipe V) as his summer residence in the small town of San Ildefonso, 80 km north of Madrid. The hills of San Ildefonso had been favorite hunting grounds for the Castilian kings for centuries and near the loggings existed a small shrine dedicated to San Ildefonso and a farm (granja) belonging to a religious order from Segovia.  

The site was purchased from the monks in 1718 by Philip V, after his summer palace nearby at Valsaín burned to a shell. At the beginning, the king was considering a modest place as a hunting residence, but afterwards, inspired by the gardens of Versailles, where he was raised by his grandfather Luis XIV of France, the project evolved to a baroque palace with impressive surrounding gardens. Like Versailles, La Granja began as a retreat from the court but became a center of royal government. Military barracks and courtier houses were built in the surroundings, as well as the famous Flemish Tapestry factory and La Granja Crystal Factory (glass of Venetian type), the last functioning even today.

Extending over 1500 acres, the surrounding park and gardens are one of the best, still existing and well preserved examples of the 18-th century European garden design. The natural slope of the mountains and the diversity of the landscape were used by its French designers Robert de Cotte and Rene Carlier to produce an impressive visual perspective. The 26 sculptural fountains, inspired by the Greek and Roman mythology are by themselves a special attraction for tourists. From May to October, several days a week, different groups of fountains are put in motion.

I was looking for a long time to have the chance to see all this marvel functioning..and below, you can enjoy (or not) the graphic result of my visit. I strongly recommend Madrid summer visitors to consider a short trip to La Granja; of course, after checking the opening dates and hours of the fountains at the web of Patrimonio Nacional (www.patrimonionacional.es). Hopefully nobody would repeat the famous Phillip V' phrase “It costs me three million and amused me three minutes…”

If not, you can always visit my blog to see my photos again and again…

The French Garden

Greek classics 

The "famous" Diana's  Baths...

...and another handsome Greek guy...

....and another Cupid..

Still view...

.....in motion

before...

...and after....

A lovely goddess..

...and her Mistress before..

and after...

...some more pics from this amazing experience..

...with the Neptune fountains in perspective...

Qatar - II part.

If you don't like sweets, don't go to any Arab country ! But if you like - Qatar is the perfect place to get fat ! Once you are invited by locals, they offer you sweets, then at least!!!! a three course meal and then sweets again! Finally, in case you haven't had enough, you are offered tea and coffee with chocolate...!!!

No wonder diabetes is a huge problem in the country.. but the chocolate is really good.

Qatar has various faces:

here some more city and sand, what actually you find there in abundance...

a gate in the middle of nowhere

sunset over the construction

the Doha skyline seen from the desert 

a Hammer in its peculiar version.... I was just wondering who needs a limousine Hammer?

Such a personal attitude to the Porsche Cayenne - black, gold and "The Godfather" !

Coca - Cola Middle East

Souq Wakif



and... the Emiri Guard passing by...,

though I really liked watching them on the grounds around the Emiri Divan

(the Palace where HH the Emir actually works !)

 The ATP World Tournament and my personal hero - Rafa Nadal !

The Arab Games 2012 Opening,

view from the VIP Area