Madrid, España and Lisboa, Portugal

While on my Study abroad, I was a short train ride away from Madrid.  I took full advantage of every chance I got to explore the city and fall in love with it.  One particular weekend we also took a trip to Portugal which also captured my heart with its beautiful architecture and language. 

What's more classic Spain that a good ole' Bullfighting match?

I must admit, I was extremely nervous to watch a bullfight.  

Although this was not my favorite part, the whole event was a worthwhile experience. 

Sunday afternoon in el parque del Retiro.  It's full of drum circles, slack lining, good food, and an amazingly calm atmosphere.  

I couldn't resist this adorable scene, that little girl LOVED the fountain. 

I literally became addicted to this park and the overall ambiance. 

Santa María la Real de La Almudena aka Madrid's Royal Cathedral, where all the Royal's get hitched.  

The edge of the Royal Palace and Cathedral courtyard provides break taking views of the city. 

Just in case you forgot how iconic bullfighting was for Spain, this street performer is there for you. 

On the odd chance that you don't know where you are going, don't worry, Portugal is that way. 

I love wandering around castle, this one was the Castelo de São Jorge in Lisboa, 

Super proud of their exploring and conquering past in their empirical days. 

The Carmo convent was destroyed by a massive Earthquake and the city left its beautiful structure up as a testament to it's strength and as an archaeological museum. 

Not very professional, but what an amazing Royal Throne! 

Córdoba, Andalusia, España

While on study abroad in Spain back in 2007, we had the opportunity to travel all over the country and experience more fully what is Spain.  One of these trips, we went to the south and got to be immersed in the rich history that surrounds Córdoba. 

La Mezquita, or the Great Mosque began as a Christian church in the 7th century A.D. and completed in the 10th as an Islamic Mosque. During la reconquista a cathedral was placed in the midst of the Mosque.  This blend of religions has led to an amazing beautiful structure, with mostly gorgeous Muslim architecture. 

The prayer hall of the Mosque.

I love how this beauty of the dome of the mosque forces you to look heavenward and be at awe of the creators of this place. 

I couldn't take my eyes off this amazing doorway. The Mihrab in La Mezquita. 

If you haven't noticed by now, I have a fixation with the skeleton, how death is represented, and how people treat their dead.  The accuracy and use crossed femur in this sculpture caught my eye.   

The light bursting in from the open windows seemed to hightight this hallway perfectly. 

Best decoration for an alleyway that I have ever seen in my life. 

Check out the symmetry of this window pane garden with the sun just over the building. 

Don't worry, the Burger King is not in la Mezquita...

I love deteriorating buildings. Albolafia Mill.

Archaeological site of Medina Azahara, just outside Cordoba was a medieval Muslim palace and town. 

Entryway to the house of Ya'far, seriously check out those engravings.

 I love being able to wander and walk the same streets that people walked  a thousand years ago. 

Alcala de Henares, España

In the Spring of 2007 I had the wonderful opportunity to do a two month study abroad in Spain.  I lived with an amazing spanish family in Alcala de Henares, a town about 30 minutes outside of Madrid. I absolutely fell in love with this country!

There are many birds getting cozy on the buildings around the town square.

I told you they like to get cozy!

I loved watching the old men argue in the town square!

Que?

Best water drains ever.

Image street.

The courtyard of one of the oldest Universities in Spain.

I had the most gorgeous walk to and from school.

Also part of the walk to school and this day the reflection caught my eye.

Loved this saying written into the path through the park.

If you look at the bottom right corner of this random wall mural.... you can tell the artist wasn't a fan of the U.S....

The Amazon and Lake Titicaca, Peru

Not only did we live in Peru for four months, but we also took vacations all over the southern half of the country.  Here are more pics from that 2004 trip with the 35mm film camera.

A portion of the Amazon river down in the Madre de Dios region in south eastern Peru.

The trees in the Amazon are amazingly intricate.

We stayed in a reserve resort in the middle of the jungle, by the river, and got to take amazing boat tours.

So much green.

Lake Titicaca and a reed island made by the Uros people who live in the middle of the lake.

An Aymara woman trying to make a little bit of change the best she can by tourists visiting ruins around the lake.

This is a Chulpa (tomb) at the Sillustani ruins on the coast of lake Titicaca.

One of the reed boats made and used by the Uros.

A pair of significantly older chulpas at Sillustani.

Arequipa and the Sacred Valley, Peru

When I was 17, I was blessed enough to have parents that supported and fed into my fascination with South American archaeology.  My daddy took his sabbatical in Arequipa, Peru so I could have the experience of a lifetime and become completely obsessed with this country.  All these fotos were taken with a 35mm film camera from the 90's! Not too shabby.  

El Misti is one of the three volcanos surrounding Arequipa, the second largest city in Peru.

The view leaving my gated neighborhood. It never got old.

I have never met an animal so ready for a photo shoot. So smug.

Vilcanota mountain range near the Maras salt flats.

This street in Cusco was part of the original Inca road.

Colca Canyon - from peak to bottom is almost twice as deep as the Grand Canyon...

Why not have a pet falcon?

Iconic Machu Picchu shot, with not a single person in it : )

Ranging Llamas at Machu Picchu. 

Could you imagine stumbling upon this place thanks to the locals who knew it well?

You know the happy place in your mind where you go when you need to escape and relax? This is one of the views from mine.