On the Road again

Grand Via, Madrid
After the countryside, life feels a bit like a metropolis of transportation.
Bus stations, Metro stops, feet.

Cathedrals
Religion, in all forms, has created some of the most intricate, intense, and complex structures. For me, I have found that the narrow hall ways and loose tiles, the scripture, the depictions, the details, create a common and symbolic appreciation for the unknown - for heaven, hell, for God. It is almost terrifying, sometimes, the eerie quiet, the chipped marble, the Latin. One of my favourite aspects of Spain is the visible transition of religious influence from one time period to the next. The majority of Cathedrals, throughout the entire country, were once Mosques, and still, to this day, have delicate stone work, eight-pointed stars, and calligraphy. In Cordoba’s Mezquita you can stand beside a pillar, look to your left and see the Qur’an, the colours - Islam, and turn every so slightly right, to see candles and Christ. It’s amazing. In Toledo, the San Juan de Los Reynes Cathedral completely changed my understanding of Christianity. It was as though the Bible were translated into architecture, gardens, grey skies. Standing beneath the bells, in this particular Cathedral, is like being on the Pacific Coast - tragic, curious, elegant. Every day I am more and more educated on history and people by merely opening my eyes and seeing the past in every direction I turn.


Water
We walked across a Roman Bridge, just above a river south of town.
Here, rosemary grows in bushes, and even though it’s brisk like Autumn, it feels like Christmas.
Hot sugar coated walnuts make up for the lack of snow, and at night Merida is foggy.
Sometimes it feels like we’re in this gigantic cloud, and then, out of the mist, appears pillars and statues, Roman figures. Every corner is so well preserved, authentic in their lack of perfection.
You know how they say, “you learn something new every day!”
Well, today I learned two things: 1. December is freezing 2. There are, in fact, great blue herons in Spain.
After a six hour ominous bus ride, full rucksacks, and hungry belly’s, we couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful destination.