The Art of Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain

As months go by since my return from Spain, I've been recounting my wanderings around El Puerto de Santa Maria, named after The Santa Maria which Columbus set sale upon from this quaint port city. One not-so-bustling day I meandered down Calle Virgen de los Milagros to Palacios which led to the tranquil Plaza Espana. There I visited the Museo Arqueológico Municipal for free! In addition to their archaeological display which included an impressive mammoth tusk and sacrificial human remains, I had the pleasure of seeing beautiful pastels and engravings by Ricardo Serny, modernist paintings by Eulogio Varela and Enrique Ochoa, romantic paintings by Fransisco Lamayer, and a collection of erotic medals by Manolo Prieto. In my wanderlust I quietly and curiously took the  elegant stairway to the second floor unnoticed and overlooked the square. I ambled up to the art studios on the third floor and got a full sense of the building. Upon my descent the maid informed me that these were private quarters. "Lo Siento,"  I replied with a smile. People are so relaxed in Spain. Had I intruded on a private area in a stateside museum, I most likely would have at least been detained by security. Yet, before I knew it siesta had creeped up on the day again. I snapped photos of some wonderful works of Spanish art as well as the second and third floor areas of the museum to share with you!

Student Art

Portals of Andalucia, Part II

From Seville to Cadiz, and little frontier towns in-between, here is an eclectic array of Spanish doors that I was drawn to capture...

Portals of Andalucia, Part I

From the doors of gardens and residences to derelict structures once grand, the similarities of style abound in this region of the world. Enjoy this visual foray into the texture, palette, geometry, complexity and simplicity of these portals of southern Spain...

Baelo Claudia, Bolonia, Spain

I swam topless in the ocean off the Costa de la Luz against a backdrop of the Roman ruins of Baelo Claudia, watched a Corpus Christi Procession from Iglesia Mayor Prioral, and finished the evening by witnessing a breathtaking performance of Flamenco at the Hotel Monasterio in El Puerto de Santa Maria!!! Life is beautiful...




Aquaduct of Baelo Claudia  

Temple Ruins

Amphitheater

Museum of the Archaeological Ensemble of Baelo Claudia...  

Designed by architect Guillermo Vázquez Consuegra

Corpus Christ Procession, El Puerto de Santa Maria
c/o  http://ariashwagspain.wordpress.com/ 

Here's a beautiful bit of Flamenco and a lovely song!

An Afternoon in Cadiz

It is a scenic drive from El Puerto de Santa Maria to Cadiz flanked by vibrant unending rows of golden sunflowers. Possibly the oldest city in Europe, Cadiz was originally inhabited by Phoenicians then traded hands between the Romans, Byzantium, Visigoths, and the Moors until the 13th century when they were conquered by King Alfonso X. It is home to an extraordinarily stunning coastline from which Columbus set sail on several voyages. It was my first weekend in Spain and I wasn't staying indoors. Unfortunately, after spending virtually 2 days in the air, flying across four time zones and racing through airports with tight connections, my body wasn't as cooperative with the agenda I had laid out for Cadiz.
The busy yet placid Plaza de la Catedral was beautiful. I took a seat at Bar Terraza, where I soaked in a marvelous view and attempted to avoid fainting. Yet the waiters were incredibly rude despite my attempts in espanol. I was served a plate of patatas dowsed in olive oil with canned tuna atop it, yuck! Amongst the array of amazing seafood available in southern Spain I am puzzled by their affinity for canned tuna. As my senses gradually recovered I passed by the Puertas de Tierra. Constructed in the 16th century, it was formerly the only land entrance to historic Cadiz.

...sort of like a modern Venus of  Willendorf

I strolled further down the Avenida Andalucia and wandered into a zapateria where I discovered my European shoe size, 36. I bookended my tour with a sassy new pair of zapatos. This picturesque city definitely beckons a return trip! It is certainly not complete without a visit to The Museo de Cadiz notable for its collection of paintings by Murillo, Rubens, and Zurbaran as well as many archaeological artifacts. Adios, for now...

Hola, Espana!

A room with a view in El Puerto de Santa Maria.

After catching all three flight connections by sheer luck I arrived in Spain last weekend. The southwestern region, known as Andalucia, is where the famous Rioja wine originates and, of course, flamenco. The lovely town of Puerto de Santa Maria in the province of Cadiz is where I shall spend the next few weeks. Last night a friend and I took an evening stroll to the restaurant Casa Flores on Ribera del Marisco for dinner. Our reservation was for 9:00pm, slightly early by Spanish standards, but we were greeted with a smile. The restaurant has a classic and refined interior with wood paneling and vibrant Spanish tiled walls. Original seascape paintings and framed nautical photographs of the region hung about the rear dining room. Plants in hand-painted clay vases decorated window sills, and antique furnishings created an old world atmosphere. We enjoyed succulent local swordfish and a fantastic bottle of red wine from Arcos de la Frontera, a nearby gem of a town...

Our day trip there a few days earlier was dreamy and picturesque. Arcos is a beacon of white that sparkles atop a sandstone cliff. We headed up the Calle Corredera and were delighted as our eyes took in the breathtaking sight of Iglesia de Santa Maria, the town's principle church, which was actually constructed atop an old Arab Mosque. Arcos marks the frontier where Spain battled the Moors in the 13th century. Here one will find three glorious churches that blend Baroque, Gothic, & Renaissance styles. The castle dates to the 15th century and is currently a private residence. But the view of distant hills, fields of chartreuse, and the Guadalete River below is most spectacular.

Iglesia de San Miguel 

Placard at Iglesia de Santa Maria

Flying buttresses of Iglesia de Santa Maria



Clay pots brim with fresh lavender