CUENCA, SPAIN || Semana Santa 2015: Domingo de Ramos

La Semana Santa de Cuenca is probably the most precious festivity that this beautiful town has. It was declared a Fiesta of International Tourist Interest in Spain in 1980, being one of the 22 most important Semana Santa festivities in the country. 

La Semana Santa de Cuenca is an incredibly beautiful tradition that is part of every single 'conquense', during a week, it doesn´t matter your religious beliefs, every 'conquense' will share the same thoights about our Semana Santa. For us, Semana Santa is TRADITION, is CULTURE, is the REUNION with our loved ones, is FESTIVITY, and of course is the representation of our BELIEFS (at a low or high level, of course). Our beloved Semana Santa is just part of our spirit and it is probably an innate feature that we, conquenses, were born with. 

 This year I really want to enjoy this week as ever since, as you know, I'm living far from my people and culture. So, I will only be able to share some photos every day (Maybe next year, I can do something bigger! Who knows!) not a whole report. Anyway, tomorrow I will write about our Semana Santa in detail so that you become familiar. But, for now, enjoy Domingo de Ramos!

VIGO & SANTIAGO, SPAIN || Postcards

As you saw in my last posts about Vigo (here and here) and Santiago, Galicia is a magical place due to its green landscape and mountains. Vigo, as well as Santiago, as part of Galicia, are magical too.

Enjoy some of my 'postcards'!

xx

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, SPAIN || At First Sight

 If you read my last posts about Vigo you already know that I spent some days in the North of Spain just a few weeks ago. Predictably, being in Galicia for a week I absolutely needed to go to Santiago de Compostela at least for a day. El Camino de Santiago is probably one of the best known Christian pilgrimage routes in the world and in Spain. If thousands of people  make a pilgrimage to Santiago´s Cathedral then, there must be something really special going on there... 

Santiago de Compostela is the capital city of Galicia (in the North West of Spain) and it belongs to the province of La Coruña. This place is far from Madrid and far from Barcelona, but still, you can take a direct railway service from central Spain or take a direct plane from other European cities to Santigo de Compostela´s airport.
The city is especially known by its Cathedral dedicated to Santiago the Apostol. It was in the 1st century when the rests of the apostol were presumbly found in the old Roman village. Since then, the figure of the apostol took great importance in the city and in the XVII century Santiago the Apostol became the patron saint of Spain. The city is also known by its old university, founded in 1495 by López Gómez de Marzoa.
What's more, the streets and buildings of Santiago are worthy of being one of the World Heritage places by the UNESCO since 1985. However, this is not the only recognition that Santiago has being awarded with; the Camino de Santiago is also part of the World Heritage routes appointed by the famous world organisation.

Enough reasons to recommend  this wonderful old town. Definetely. However, make sure they are not doing any works in the front entrance of the cathedral. Yes, it happened to me...you will the picture bellow, ups. Moral? I need to go again! Not that bad, right? ;)

For more info, click here

Now it's time to see a bit of this enchanting town.

Enjoy!

xx

THE SECRET LIES IN DETAILS || Winter in the UK

I don't know if winter is over in the UK by now, but, we have had two wonderful (and spring-like) weeks around here! To be sincere, I haven't felt that dreaded "English weather" in my 7 months here. In fact I will be honest if I say that I've felt more cold in central Spain (let's say Cuenca, Guadalajara and Madrid) and I have probably opened my umbrella more times there too! It may sound incredible but it is as true as it sounds. Maybe is just Birmingham: a singular city in all its sense!

I have a theory though. It rains when I'm sleeping and when I'm working! Because streets are always wet during winter but there aren't signs of rain, and I don't believe in magic so...

Anyway, to celebrate that winter seems to be over for now, I wanted to share some photos I've been taking during this dsiconcerting season. 

Don't expect heavy snow or rain, by the way! Just nude trees, ice, green landscapes and lots of sun. Lovely anyway.

Bye winter!

xx

VIGO, SPAIN || 3 Things To Love about Vigo

I'm back on track with my trips and my posts and my everything after several crazy weeks! 

Two weeks prior to feel the Spanish sun again, nothing feels better than evoke good memories from my last trip to Galicia.  

Having lived in a small city for entire life (want to discover more about it? Click here!) and having spent my four years of university in two fantastic and, again, small, cities, I am a "small-city" person. Peace is what we need to lead a happy life, and small cities are a source of this peacefullness without any doubt. 

Now, I can also add to my "small-but-incredibly-beautiful-cities" list Vigo (Pontevedra, Spain). Its coast, its harbour, its boats, its decimonomical and french inspired buildings, and its nature (and its clean streets, I was surprised by its impolute tideness!) made me falling in love with this city. 

Today, I wanted to share these impressions with you and also share some recommendations to take the most of this place. 

Enjoy!

xx