Mauritshuis

 I need some remedial history lessons. I always thought The Hague was a building where the Nuremburg war crime trials happened, But no.... 

Cheese, Glorious Cheese!

 We are heading south to the home of one of my most favorite cheeses – Gouda. Fun Fact: The Dutch eat 17 kilos (37 pounds) per person per year. My type of people. 

Art, Art, Art, Canal Ride, Art, Art

I feel perhaps I should start off by mentioning this post will be mostly of pictures that I saw and liked. There probably won't be much else so feel free to go directly to the bottom and leave a comment. If you chose to stay, it will be mini masterclass in composition, light and feeling. Not really but it sounded good when I wrote it.

Culture Shock

 The Smithsonian has a travel program that is quite extensive. One of their offerings is a tour called “A Stay in Holland: An Art History Journey from Vermeer to Van Gogh”. 

Adios Espana!

 I think one of the major reasons people visit Granada is to see Alhambra and it is a very worthwhile sight to see. 

Granada - Might Have Been My Favorite?

 It's off to the one of the most famous cities in Spain – Granada. 

Horses And Mosques and Cathedrals - Oh My

 Cordoba did not just become famous in  the 1976 TV commercial when Ricardo Montalban touted the luxury Corinthian leather for the Chrysler Cordoba. Dare I say, it has a much richer history than Ricardo let on.

Let's Talk Biggest!

 The Seville Cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and the third largest temple in size after St. Peter's Basilica of the Vatican in Rome and St. Paul in London. Another UNESCO site. 

The Royal Alcazar

 We are visiting the Royal Alcazar of Seville. This palace is the oldest royal palace still in active use. While this is a UNESCO site, it is probably better know as the Water Gardens of Dorne in HBO's Game of Thrones. They filmed in the courtyards and pools right inside of the gate.

Party Time

 

Seville – the land of the Moors, Opulent, Baroque, Labyrinths and most of all FLAMENCO! 

The White Villages

 Today we visit the white villages in Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, a global UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The park is know for its deep gorges and green valleys. Unfortunately, it was a rather cloudy day and grand vistas were perhaps a little obscured. 

Bridges And Gorges

 

We leave Malaga and head out into the Andulucia countryside. For some reason, I guess I always thought southeastern Spain was flat, desert like, and beachy. I was definitely wrong. There were lots and lots of very big hills, perhaps we could even call them mountains. 

Malaga

 I'm off to visit Andalucia (said An da lou see ah) in southeastern Spain. This tour should be really interesting as it is going to emphasize Moorish architecture. The group consisted of 14 people, all of the Brits except for an Australian couple and myself. I rather like being the only American, I like meeting all of these people from different countries.

Dancing Queen

 The tour has given us the final afternoon to roam as we please. There is one sight in Stockholm that every visitor should see. It is definitely a must-see sight.

Swedish Landscape

 

Morning arrives and we head for the train station again. Traveling to Sweden combines a bridge, a tunnel and an artificial island.The Oresund Line is considered an engineering marvel, combining the two countries. Much excitement was had...that is until we starting traveling across southern Sweden.

One Day In Copenhagen

 After a hearty breakfast on the ferry/cruise ship, we debarked, checked into our hotel (Copenhagen Strand) and set off to explore Copenhagen. We had a free morning to explore on our own. What can we find?

Oslo, Clean and Quick

 

The train trip from Voss to Oslo is about six hours. It cuts right through the center of Norway, cuttng through mountain ranges and valleys. The nature in Norway is always stunning. 

This Day Just Got Better And Better

Today we are leaving the metropolis of Bergen and heading out to explore a little bit of the naturescape that is wild Norway. It was a twenty minute walk across town from our hotel to the train station. I was very excited because we were heading to Voss. When I was looking up things to do in Voss, I came across the Bordalsgjelet Gorge, a spectacular gorge and a short walk from the town center. In my mind, this was going to be one of the highlights of the whole trip. But, through a series of unfortunate incidents (due to my ineptitude), it was not to be. 

The Tour Begins

 

I finally met the fellow participants that were going to discover Scandinavia with me. There were nine of us, which is just about the most perfect size for a tour group. It made it easy for our tour guide, Paula, to keep track of us all. She was constantly counting to make sure nobody got lost. I was the only American, there were three people from New Zealand, three from the U.K. and two Canadians. They were all solo travelers, with the exception of one couple from New Zealand. 

Scandinavia Here I Come!

I arrived in Bergen, Norway the day before the official tour started. When flying long distances, I like to get there a day early so that I can get over any jet lag or tiredness. I also can spend my extra day exploring on my own. I don't know why, but not too many people like to do some of the things I like to do.