Dear Family and Friends,
Chuck and I returned our Peugeot to the designated Madrid agency this morning. We have had a wonderful experience having the autonomy to pretty much plan our trip in route. Taking back roads or freeways depending on how we felt because we had a wonderful GPS built right into the dashboard. It was comforting to know that we were completely insured.
If you are interested in leasing a new car for travel in Europe, this is the website Chuck ordered the car through.
http://www.ideamerge.com
When we returned the car, the manager said he also had a site that you might be interested in.
https://www.autoturistica.com/uk/car-rental
After we said goodbye to the car....no, we didn't name it, we went to Madrid tourist area and enjoyed the bright sunny day.
Tomorrow we are going to do the double deck tourist bus here in Madrid. Hope this beautiful weather holds out.
Love,
Nancy
Monday, April 9, 2012
Easter Sunday in Cuenca, Spain
Dear Family and Friends,
Yesterday we woke up to the most spectacular day. The skies were clear and the sun was shining bright. We had been waiting for this weather all week.
We got up, had breakfast, packed our bags and checked out of our hotel. We loaded the car and then went to watch the Easter procession before we headed to Madrid.
The only difference that I could see in the Easter procession and the Good Friday procession besides the glorious weather, is that the participants did not have their heads covered. The costumes were beautiful. They carried a resurrected Jesus and a Mary through the streets.
Of course I have to add a picture or two of children.
After the procession we hoped in the car and drove to Madrid.
We will be here in Madrid for a few days before we say goodbye to Spain and leave for Ecuador.
Love,
Nancy
Yesterday we woke up to the most spectacular day. The skies were clear and the sun was shining bright. We had been waiting for this weather all week.
We got up, had breakfast, packed our bags and checked out of our hotel. We loaded the car and then went to watch the Easter procession before we headed to Madrid.
The only difference that I could see in the Easter procession and the Good Friday procession besides the glorious weather, is that the participants did not have their heads covered. The costumes were beautiful. They carried a resurrected Jesus and a Mary through the streets.
Of course I have to add a picture or two of children.
After the procession we hoped in the car and drove to Madrid.
We will be here in Madrid for a few days before we say goodbye to Spain and leave for Ecuador.
Love,
Nancy
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Semana Santa Procession...YES!
Dear Family and Friends,
When Chuck was mapping out this trip to Spain, he purposefully selected this week for us to be in Cuenca. Cuenca is one of the cities in Spain that has processions for Holy Week. They have them all during Holy Week, sometimes 2 or 3 a day. The weather has been so bad, not only in Cuenca, but all over Spain that most of them have been cancelled.
One of the startling things abut these processions is that the participants cover their heads...(hide their identity?) Actually, they look like members of the Klu Klux Klan. Some say their faces are covered in mourning, and also as a sign of shame for the sins they have committed throughout the year.
Different groups (brotherhoods) come together and make up a procession. In Cuenca, each group has a specific color of costume. The processions have themes. The one we saw yesterday (Good Friday) had the theme of the CROSS. Images were taken from churches and cathedrals all over the city and carried through the streets. These images (some very heavy) are placed on long polls, which the costumed men carry on their shoulders. This custom has been going on in Spain for hundreds of years. You might want to read a little more, if so click here .
Yesterday's parade started at noon and lasted for six or seven hours as the procession went from church to church in the historic part of Cuenca collecting more Images. Each Image had a different brotherhood responsible for it....so the procession got longer as it went along. The one we saw here in Cuenca seemed to be very family oriented. Children were included...we even saw babies being pushed along in strollers.
When we went to breakfast on Good Friday in our hotel, we were surprised to find that it was snowing. We were sure that, once again, the procession would be canceled. There had been one scheduled to start at 5:30 am that morning that was canceled because of the weather.
It's hard to see in the picture but it was coming down good.
Here we are feeling apprehensive as we watched the weather.
These are the hills behind the old town.
As the morning progressed the weather improved. It was bitterly cold, but it stopped raining and snowing. We put on every layer of clothing that we had and headed out.
We saw the procession where it began in the new part of Cuenca and after we had lunch we walked up to Plaza Mayor to see it come through the historic streets of the city.
The bands played very slow, somber music and the walking was done very slow.
I made tons of pictures, so I will just add some here and hope you enjoy.
Love,
Nancy
When Chuck was mapping out this trip to Spain, he purposefully selected this week for us to be in Cuenca. Cuenca is one of the cities in Spain that has processions for Holy Week. They have them all during Holy Week, sometimes 2 or 3 a day. The weather has been so bad, not only in Cuenca, but all over Spain that most of them have been cancelled.
One of the startling things abut these processions is that the participants cover their heads...(hide their identity?) Actually, they look like members of the Klu Klux Klan. Some say their faces are covered in mourning, and also as a sign of shame for the sins they have committed throughout the year.
Different groups (brotherhoods) come together and make up a procession. In Cuenca, each group has a specific color of costume. The processions have themes. The one we saw yesterday (Good Friday) had the theme of the CROSS. Images were taken from churches and cathedrals all over the city and carried through the streets. These images (some very heavy) are placed on long polls, which the costumed men carry on their shoulders. This custom has been going on in Spain for hundreds of years. You might want to read a little more, if so click here .
Yesterday's parade started at noon and lasted for six or seven hours as the procession went from church to church in the historic part of Cuenca collecting more Images. Each Image had a different brotherhood responsible for it....so the procession got longer as it went along. The one we saw here in Cuenca seemed to be very family oriented. Children were included...we even saw babies being pushed along in strollers.
When we went to breakfast on Good Friday in our hotel, we were surprised to find that it was snowing. We were sure that, once again, the procession would be canceled. There had been one scheduled to start at 5:30 am that morning that was canceled because of the weather.
It's hard to see in the picture but it was coming down good.
Here we are feeling apprehensive as we watched the weather.
These are the hills behind the old town.
As the morning progressed the weather improved. It was bitterly cold, but it stopped raining and snowing. We put on every layer of clothing that we had and headed out.
We saw the procession where it began in the new part of Cuenca and after we had lunch we walked up to Plaza Mayor to see it come through the historic streets of the city.
The bands played very slow, somber music and the walking was done very slow.
I made tons of pictures, so I will just add some here and hope you enjoy.
Love,
Nancy
Friday, April 6, 2012
Semana Santa Procession.......Almost!
Dear Family and Friends,
Yesterday afternoon Chuck and I made our way to the church where the afternoon procession was to start. Things were looking real good. A crowd was gathering, people were in costume, the band was there. We were so glad we would finally get to see this event.
People were hurrying along to be ready for the start.
The procession was to begin at 4:30 pm. But 4:30 came and went. The weather was "iffy." There was nothing to do but wait (and take pictures)....everyone waited to find out if the procession would take place.
After waiting for an hour, it started raining and we got the word that the procession was canceled.
There was nothing to do but to go back home.
We did get to see one today though. I will post pictures next time.
Love,
Nancy
Yesterday afternoon Chuck and I made our way to the church where the afternoon procession was to start. Things were looking real good. A crowd was gathering, people were in costume, the band was there. We were so glad we would finally get to see this event.
People were hurrying along to be ready for the start.
The procession was to begin at 4:30 pm. But 4:30 came and went. The weather was "iffy." There was nothing to do but wait (and take pictures)....everyone waited to find out if the procession would take place.
After waiting for an hour, it started raining and we got the word that the procession was canceled.
There was nothing to do but to go back home.
We did get to see one today though. I will post pictures next time.
Love,
Nancy
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Finally! Pictures of Cuenca, Spain (in the rain)
Dear Family and Friends,
Chuck and I woke up this morning to yet another day of rain. I received an email from my sister this morning. All it contained was the weather forecast for Cuenca, Spain for the next couple of days. It doesn't look good.
We have looked at the old part of Cuenca for days now from our hotel.
After breakfast, Chuck and I agreed to head out to see historic Cuenca. We decided that if we try and wait for good weather we may never see what we came to see. We put on our jackets and opened our umbrellas as we headed out.
Like our Cuenca in Ecuador, Cuenca, Spain is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The historic part of Cuenca is built on the side of a deep gorge. Looking up at the city is quite dramatic even on a rainy day.
Chuck and I walked all the way to the city on top. Being at a lower altitude made the trek much easier.
Like our Cuenca, this Cuenca is famous for it's hanging houses.
Here is another view.
Looking across the gorge at the old monastery.
Instead of adobe, the houses are all made of stone. They do have tile roofs however. The tiles are an assortment of colors and are really pretty.
This is Our Lady of Grace cathedral. It is on Plaza Mayor.
Here is a picture of the plaza and the three arches leading into it.
One of the many shops in the plaza.
Like a lot of the historic cities in Spain, the streets are narrow and beautiful.
There is a tourist train that goes from new Cuenca up into the historic district. I am so proud that we walked up there, as I sit here with aching muscles.
Here is Chuck checking out a wine and cheese shop. There are vineyards nearby and wine is available from this region.
More views of this lovely city.
Here is a gazebo in a park near our hotel. It has the multicolored clay tiles.
Chuck drinking from a unique water fountain. It is a boy holding a goose by the neck. The water comes from the goose's mouth.
It has been cloudy and overcast all day.
This is Semana Santa (Holy Week) and every day there are processions scheduled. The one scheduled for today at 4:30 pm seemed like it might happen. But unfortunately, at 4:30 pm the clouds opened up and it started to rain. The procession was called off by 5:30 pm. As unbelievable as it seems, one hour later the sun was out and the skies were blue.
The weather reminds us so much of our weather in Cuenca, Ecuador.
Tomorrow is Friday. We are hoping for better weather. There are three different processions taking place. I really want to be able to share them with you.
Love,
Nancy
Chuck and I woke up this morning to yet another day of rain. I received an email from my sister this morning. All it contained was the weather forecast for Cuenca, Spain for the next couple of days. It doesn't look good.
We have looked at the old part of Cuenca for days now from our hotel.
After breakfast, Chuck and I agreed to head out to see historic Cuenca. We decided that if we try and wait for good weather we may never see what we came to see. We put on our jackets and opened our umbrellas as we headed out.
Like our Cuenca in Ecuador, Cuenca, Spain is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The historic part of Cuenca is built on the side of a deep gorge. Looking up at the city is quite dramatic even on a rainy day.
Chuck and I walked all the way to the city on top. Being at a lower altitude made the trek much easier.
Like our Cuenca, this Cuenca is famous for it's hanging houses.
Here is another view.
Looking across the gorge at the old monastery.
Instead of adobe, the houses are all made of stone. They do have tile roofs however. The tiles are an assortment of colors and are really pretty.
This is Our Lady of Grace cathedral. It is on Plaza Mayor.
Here is a picture of the plaza and the three arches leading into it.
One of the many shops in the plaza.
Like a lot of the historic cities in Spain, the streets are narrow and beautiful.
There is a tourist train that goes from new Cuenca up into the historic district. I am so proud that we walked up there, as I sit here with aching muscles.
Here is Chuck checking out a wine and cheese shop. There are vineyards nearby and wine is available from this region.
More views of this lovely city.
Here is a gazebo in a park near our hotel. It has the multicolored clay tiles.
Chuck drinking from a unique water fountain. It is a boy holding a goose by the neck. The water comes from the goose's mouth.
It has been cloudy and overcast all day.
This is Semana Santa (Holy Week) and every day there are processions scheduled. The one scheduled for today at 4:30 pm seemed like it might happen. But unfortunately, at 4:30 pm the clouds opened up and it started to rain. The procession was called off by 5:30 pm. As unbelievable as it seems, one hour later the sun was out and the skies were blue.
The weather reminds us so much of our weather in Cuenca, Ecuador.
Tomorrow is Friday. We are hoping for better weather. There are three different processions taking place. I really want to be able to share them with you.
Love,
Nancy
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