The Roman Aqueduct of Peña Cortada near Cheiva. This is an engineering achievement being 28 KM in length over rugged terrain.We found the Hanging Bridges of Chulilla over the river Turia. These were originally built as shortcuts by workers building a dam upstream but is now a very scenic hike.This gives a new meaning to your daily commute!Our balcony is the lower on left overlooking this lovely Fuente Toran park in Teruel.We walked across this pedestrian bridge with great views of the valley to explore Old Town.There was an amazing modernist style Grand Staircase to a park in the valley.A lovely building in San Juan Square of Teruel.One of the Mudijar towers of Teruel – this on the Cathedral.A gorgeous modernist building on the Torino Square. Notice the very small bull on top of the fountain column. The famous Toro of Teruel.The nearby village of Albarracin was worth a visit.Albarracin’s buildings are made of a local pink stone which makes it unique.We walked to the castle on the hill for a great view.You can see the walls protecting the city of Albarracin.Nearby is a hike in the Pinares de Rodeno with this view of the landscape.There are alcoves with Levantine Petroglyphs like this horse, estimated to be 7,000 years old. Wonderful they are preserved for us to enjoy.Embassament de Arenos – this is a reservoir we enjoyed on our route back to the Mediterranean coast.
Another day trip to Valencia just for the Calatrava architecture and to explore the city of the arts. Pictures from our visit in 2020.Museu de les Ciences was first as we waited for the weather to warm a bit from the chilly January day.Loved the architectural model with the reflection of the window in the glass pond.Out of this world! Birth of Stars in the Rosette Nebula.In the music section Henry is the Maestro.Severo Ochoa was one of 3 Nobel Prize winners for Spain.This is an exhibit showing Severo Ochoa explaining his theories of DNA.There is a beautiful glass sculpture depicting our DNA. There is also a really good exhibit explaining each of our chromosomes and their characteristics.Let’s have a chat and a brew with my Neanderthal Ancestors – probably have some of their DNA.Ruta 99 is a fun play on Route 66. These are picturesque small towns in the Provence of Valencia with populations of 99 or less.The next building over is the Agora – as we remember that is Greek for the meeting place.Inside the Agora is a fun futuristic place to hang out. And sometimes you can see a concert or movie.Typical of Calatrava’s buildings, there are moving parts of the Agora that can open to let in more or less light.
L’Escala Apartment In Front of the Sea looked the same after we were gone for 996 days waiting for our return so we could continue our Spain vacation.Henry guarding the keep at Torre Montgo. He could see the Barbarian approaching for miles. Our previous pictures of L’escala.There is a beautiful cove and the Platja de Montgo on the other side of the tower. We decided to walk to the cliff on the other side.Looking back from Cala MongoBeautiful Bay of Roses from Punta Ventosa.What does the sea look like down there? From Punta Ventosa.The Seagulls look different with a black and white tail.We enjoyed a walk around the marina and especially the old fishing boats.Walking back along the shore and the Reilles beach is The Little Prince reminding us that what we tame is important to us.The city of Emporion on the Bay of Roses off the Mediterranean Sea is where the Greeks first landed on the Iberian peninsula.The Ruïnes d’Empúries shows many different centuries of Greek building.Asclepius is the god of medicine and this replica looks over his temple – and the Greek Ruïnes d’EmpúriesThe real marble carving is inside the museum with a 3D computer recreation movie of Empúries as it looked in the 2nd century BC.This incredible roman mosaic (each piece smaller than the end of your pinky) from the 1st century BC depicts the myth of the sacrifice of Ipigenia.So the Romans drove out the Greeks and built their larger city adjacent but inland to complete the archeology Ruïnes d’Empúries.This is part of the Roman city with baths, mansions, mosaic floors and all sorts of interesting architecture.This is a small Roman courtyard in one of the massive mansions.The edge of the city has a concrete wall which was one of the earliest examples of Roman concrete we had actually seen.Sunrise on the Mediterranean is a great way to celebrate the winter solstice.
A gorgeous Faro (Lighthouse) at Cap Sant Sebastia.Amazing pink cliffs from Parador L’Aiguablava.The Costa Brava has walkways for much of the coast – this at Platja de la Fosca.The vineyards in the Alta Empurada with sheep near Peralada.South of the French border we took a walk near La Jonquera through a cork forest.We went searching for this Menhir Circle, Bas Baleta I. Incredible.The Menhir Cirlce has a center stone but not sure if it is meant to be a sundial or what the significance is.Nearby is the Bas Baleta II, a Dolmen that has collapsed.A short walk took us to Dolmen Estanys II.There is also the Menhir dels Estanys II – we wonder what these meant.And then onto Dolmen del Querafumat.We had some more urban walks, this in the medieval city of Pals.And here with the Catalan Christmas Log in Peratallada.This tower in Peralada suggests it is time to head for wine o’clock!
Ullastret is the largest Iberian settlement discovered so far in Spain. Picture is from 3D movie recreation.The excavated 5th Century BC Ruins today. We used an audio wand (in English) which assisted with interpretation of what we were viewing.This is what it would be like to walk the streets as shown in the 3D recreation.Looking over a dry moat you could see the enemy approaching for a long ways.We were the only ones in the 3D movie shown on 3 walls, so realistic how it brings to life the old city.The stone work on the thick walls around the city is amazing.The interior spaces appeared to be comfortable.Nearby is Sant Sebastia de la Guarda, an interpretive Iberian park.This was very well explained and we learned a bit more about Iberic life.The storage cisterns were at both sites – one was 15 feet deep into the ground and shaped life a large vase.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways was the first National Park area to protect a river system.Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) would be responsible for reforesting public lands, building roads, trails, bridges, and buildings in state and national parks and other public lands across America during the 1930’s. Historic Big Springs has a CCC built lodge and cabins as well as several additional buildings like this.The Big Spring has a wonderful water color.The CCC also built an impressive flood control dike that is now part of a hiking trail from the campground.The CCC workers laid out a trail along the cliff to the back of the spring that blended in with the natural environment. They also built a stone ledge wall in the spring branch to stop animals from entering.
Crossing into Brunswick/St Simons Island on a beautiful crystal clear day.Looking over the salt marshes towards the Atlantic Ocean – very flat.Fort Frederica was established in 1736 by James Oglethorpe to protect the southern boundary of his new colony of Georgia from the Spanish in Florida. He had started Savannah in 1733 laid out with many park squares highlighting the grid layout.Now we move into the revolutionary wars visiting a few of these forts: Pulaski, and Sumter.Ft Pulaski National Monument: completion of an interesting “modern” brick fortress built in 1847 put it on the front lines in 1861 when S Carolina and Georgia seceded from the United States. The Union forces took control of Savannah harbor from here in the American Civil War.Now the huge shipping containers have full use of the harbor keeping our supply chain active.Skidaway Island State Park, near Savannah was another outstanding Georgia State Park. A short walk took us to this overlook over the inland Salt Marsh, or the renamed “Moon River” after the song.Archeological remains from the not so distance past history of prohibition.Enjoying the water front in Charleston after exploring Beaufort with is interesting history and the new Reconstruction Era National Historical Park.This is our turning point to head back West…How far is that?Chatting up a new friend…
After a few weeks of enjoying the comforts of home…We started a trip to Florida – glad for the dry roads near South Fork.Capulin Volcano National Monument (NM) was our first lunch stop.We walked the rim of the cauldera.We camped at Clayton Lakes State Park with these amazing dinosaur tracks.After a great dinner/camp with family, we paid our respects to Oklahoma City National Memorial honoring the lives lost April 19,1995.We spent the night at Chickasaw National Rec Area. We are going to follow the sad trail to Shiloh. Such tragic history to displace people from their home land.Historic Washington State Park in Arkansas had this magnolia tree planted in 1839.Bois D’Arc Lake near Hope after visiting President Clinton’s boyhood home.We enjoyed relaxing and watching the sunset on Bois D’Arc Lake.We walked around the grounds of President Clinton’s library in Little Rock on the Arkansas River.An interesting art exhibit of climate change globes like this on pollinators.We drove by the 1915 state capitol, a replica of the national capitol.Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site commemorated the bravery of black students that were our nation’s first to desegregate here in 1957.
Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site commemorated the bravery of black students that were our nation’s first to desegregate here in 1957.