by Charlie Leocha | Jul 31, 2008
My favorite times in Spain have been on backcountry drives of discovery. Madrid, Barcelona and Seville are modern, sleek and efficient. The Costa del Sol is packed with beachgoers and high-rises lining endless sand. But only a few kilometers away, around the knoll,...
by Charlie Leocha | May 18, 2008
My first planned visit to Ubeda never happened. I was staying at nearby Jaen ensconced in the Parador Santa Catalina built into the imposing castle when I started my trip. After a half day traveling to Guadix on the zigzagging roads to visit the cave dwellings, the...
by Charlie Leocha | May 16, 2008
Two sets of Arab baths in Granada offer two different points of view of the Moorish Hammams. One is the ruin of the oldest public bath in the city. The other is a functioning recreation of an Arab bath in which visitors can wallow in the enfolding warmth and soothing...
by Charlie Leocha | May 12, 2008
Sometimes plans don’t meet expectations. That was the story of today — filled with spectacular natural panoramas, ho-hum sights, too many tourists, changes to loved locations and disappointing restaurants. It was a simple straight shot out of Seville from the...
by Charlie Leocha | May 10, 2008
Once, I used to scramble from sight to sight trying to squeeze in as much experience as possible. Today, I move more slowly, take my time and soak in as much history and atmosphere as possible. Enjoying what I visit to the fullest is far more important than visiting...