- Alcazar
It was time for another fabulous castle, so we toured the Alcazar and its gardens and marveled at the intricate tilework. - Aqueduct
We were greeted by the remarkably restored Roman aqueduct as soon as we entered Segovia. - Beaches
We headed out of town the next day by way of a whole string of gorgeous beaches. Bryan heads back after getting an up-close view of surfers. - Breakfast
We started our days in Barcelona off with the perfect breakfast: cafe con leche and a tiny bocadillo, rubbed with tomato and filled with potato and egg. We returned to "Tapa Tapa," around the corner from our hotel, for this breakfast every morning. - Carriage ride
A carriage ride was a great way to get the lay of the land and see the major sights of Seville. - Castile y Leon
We left wine country on our third road-tripping day and passed through central Spain to Segovia. Dramatic clouds, light, and occasional rain showers accompanied us. - Castle
The city also features an amazing Medieval castle. According to our guide book, Disney patterned Sleeping Beauty's castle after it, which may be why it looked familiar. - Churros
Sophie and Jeff took us out for churros in the morning, which we enjoyed thoroughly. - Conference-goer
Bryan was (technically) attending a conference the entire week. Here he is just outside his meeting space. - Dinner
We enjoyed another excellent meal at Tapas 24. Pictured here are rice with squid ink, tiny squid in yet more ink, and a wedge of Catalonia's incomparable bread with tomato. - Dinner at the blacksmith's
We spent our first night on the road at a rural inn converted from a 17th-century ironworks. Delicious food and super-cool environment. - Familia
One of our first stops with Jeff, Sophie and Max was La Rambla and the Boqueria. - Flat Tire
Our road trip ended with both a bang and a whimper as we busted a tire navigating the tiny twisty streets (and sharp granite curbs) of old-town Cordoba. Here, Bryan puts on the spare to get us back to the rental company. - Giralda and group
As the sun set, we enjoyed a beverage on a rooftop bar overlooking the cathedral. We also pulled off our one group shot of the trip with the help of an accommodating Spaniard. - GPS screenshot
GPS on our phones and a dedicated device prevented us from getting lost forever in the Euskadi wilderness. - Grapes
Leslie appreciates some wine grapes. We may have also sampled them. - Hill view
Vineyards gave way to olive orchards as we crossed the mountains. - IMG_0020
Leslie enjoys what she doesn't realize will be her last decent beer for a spell, at the TGI Fridays in the Atlanta airport. Goodbye, USA! - IMG_0021
Leslie does some planning on the airplane. - IMG_0023
We arrived in Barcelona at about 8am. Even though we managed to sleep on the airplane, with an assist from Advil PM, we are not in great shape for our first day in Spain. At least the hotel is nice! - IMG_0025
It was quite difficult to find a restaurant open on Sunday. Also, it was raining. But we managed to stagger to this place for some nourishment on Sunday, El Dia Perdido. - IMG_0026
We attempted to find a fun bar airing the FC Barcelona soccer game, to help us stay awake until a reasonable hour. The Amsterdam bar was kind of a misfire. - IMG_0028
- IMG_0029
Boqueria counter - IMG_0030
Jeff, Sophie, and Max arrive; we meet them in an organic grocery store for a quick dinner. - IMG_0031
The next day, we meet up for another trip to the Boqueria, where else? - IMG_0032
The Boqueria, Sophie and Max - IMG_0034
Technically, Bryan was on this trip to attend a conference. - IMG_0035
Plaza España, site of Bryan's conference - IMG_0037
another excellent tapas dinner, at Tapas 24, where the menu is relentlessly in Catalan