As with Gothic cathedrals of old, he knew it would require many generations to complete. Standing on the main square of Santiago de Compostela, in front of the towering and gleaming granite facade of its cathedral, a giddy old man whose cuffs are as frayed as his walking stick lays down on the stony pavement and waves his arms and legs — as if making a snow angel. The energy continues to build. The eye unconsciously follows the receding lines of the wall on the right to the far wall, and the painting’s vanishing point — the lighted doorway. ▲ Salamanca Spain's quintessential university town, with the country's finest main square. But he also encouraged his successors to follow their own muses. see our FAQ. From the stirring communal sardana dance in Barcelona to the sizzling rat-a-tat-tat of flamenco in Sevilla, this country creates its own beat amid the heat. The Nativity Facade, dedicated to Christ’s birth, features statues of Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus — the “Holy Family” (or Sagrada Família) for whom the church is named. Rick Steves ; contributor, Gene Openshaw. Or maybe you’ve come to honor the wish of a dying relative…or to be forgiven for your sins. Rick Steves' Andalucía: The Best of Southern Spain - YouTube Hemingway, who first came to the festival in 1923, understood. A good run lasts only 15 or 20 seconds. I’m thinking this is early…but for the mob scene craning their necks for the view behind me, it’s late. Everyone I meet (except for the one pissed-off guy) is having a richly rewarding time. The painting’s world stretches from there all the way back to the imaginary space where the king and queen (and the viewer) would be standing. For this reason, a few steer — castrated bulls that are calmer and slower — are released with the bulls. This seemingly simple painting was revolutionary in many ways. Considering how St. James is depicted taking such joy in butchering Muslims and the importance of Santiago for Christians, it’s no wonder police guard the square. The figures are almost life-size, and the frame extends the viewer’s reality. Buy a cheap copy of Rick Steves Spanish Phrase Book and... by Rick Steves. The bulls rush through, creating pandemonium — a freak wave of humanity pummels the barrier. With St. James — a.k.a. Please support local businesses in your community by picking up a copy from your favorite bookstore, or you can find it at our online Travel Store. He's researched and written 24 travel guidebooks and hosts the public television series Rick Steves' Europe, now in its seventh season. Embracing him from behind while gazing thankfully out over the cathedral, you have completed the Camino de Santiago. After the last bulls run, the rollicking festival concludes at midnight on July 14. They will be able to take notes on important key terms and dates about specific cities and regions in Rick Steves Published 8 :00 a.m. In this idyllic corner, pilgrims are eager to share their experiences. Dominating it all, a creature with a broken eggshell body and tree-trunk legs stares out — it’s the face of Bosch himself. For coronavirus (COVID-19) travel information, But today, they stay together and make the fastest run of the nine-day festival: 2 minutes and 11 seconds. Whatever the reason, you know the pope promised that any person who walked to Santiago in a Holy Year, confessed their sins, and took communion here would be forgiven. Everyone wants to run — but not too early. And, if you need an excuse to be thankful, consider that — unlike your medieval counterpart — you don’t need to hike back to Paris. Along with their rucksacks, the group carries an old boom box, various statues, and a 10-foot-tall cross. The video will be divided into two segments and provided a notes template sheet for each segment. Respected author and travel guru, specializing in Eurpean Travel, fellow American Rick Steves does, in fact, recommend MadridMan.com in his “Rick Steves’ Spain 2012” book. Sante Blog . Today I'm going way back to 2010 and our trip to Spain! The central panel depicts the Garden of Earthly Delights (that gives the whole work its name). Velázquez (1599–1660) was a master of candid snapshots. We decided to do a Spain getaway at the last minute and then added on Portugal at even later minute and found it helpful to read Rick Steves, Lonely Planet, forums and blogs to ultimately decide which cities to linger in and which to skip altogether. Here, he catches the maids in an unguarded moment. Rick Steves, Blog Gone Europe, May 21, 2013. ▲ Spain's South Coast Spain's beach-resort zone, featuring a few charming towns (Nerja, Tarifa, and British-flavored Gibraltar) tucked away from the concrete and traffic jams of the Costa del Sol. Jackie Steves Goes to Spain, Leaving Mom and Dad Only a Blog to Read By rick_steves on June 26, 2009 at 5:23 PM When I was a young guy, my friends knew how well I cooked. Rick Steves first became my hero while studying abroad. So little is known about the Flemish painter Hieronymus Bosch (c. 1450–1516) that it’s hard to guess his intent. In recent years, the route has enjoyed a huge renaissance of interest, with nearly 100,000 pilgrims trekking to Santiago last year. ▲ Santiago de Compostela Moss-covered city that marks the end of the trail for pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago. Then the cleaning crew and their street-scrubbing truck make one last pass, gathering any garbage and clearing broken glass. ), ©2021 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy, Daily Dose of Europe: Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, Daily Dose of Europe: Velázquez’s Las Meninas, Daily Dose of Europe: Pamplona — Feeling the Breath of the Bull on Your Pants, Daily Dose of Europe: Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights, Daily Dose of Europe: The Camino de Santiago — A Medieval Pilgrimage in Modern Times, Learning the Joy of Giving in Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains, The Edmonds Theater — An Extra-Large Bag of Small-Town Memories. The world is fresh, everything is in its place, the animals behave virtuously, and even God looks young. Today, the triptych is a highlight of Madrid’s famous art gallery, El Prado. This livable city has an unsurpassed tapas scene, street markets, and flamenco shows. Even though we’re not visiting Europe right now, I believe a daily dose of travel dreaming can be good medicine. The only section finished by Gaudí himself is the Nativity Facade. You’ve just walked from Paris — about a thousand miles — to reach this holy spot. (13:45), The Pilgrimage to Santiago I For over a thousand years, this cathedral in the far northwest corner of Spain has been the ritualistic last stop for pilgrims who’ve hiked here from churches in Paris and all over Europe. Rounding Slea Head, the point in Europe closest to America, the jagged coastline offers smashing views of deadly black-rock cliffs and the distant Blasket Islands. Before posting, please read our Community Guidelines. Find more at blog.ricksteves.com. Other pilgrims are part of humbler, ragtag church groups from distant Catholic lands. Sante Blog . 2019 - rick Steves writes European guidebooks, hosts travel shows on public television and public radio monumental trip! This activity set, students will watch a video on rick Steves, bestselling author of travel guides find... Deeper into Europe local businesses in your community by picking up a copy from your favorite bookstore tomorrow July! Stand upon that shell in the mirror on the Sagrada Família began over a century after Gaudí s. Talents Gaudí, Picasso, and even God looks young the public television series rick Steves, eat enhance! Wear anything, nearly everyone is wearing the traditional white pants, white,... And Eve — naked and innocent — get married, with nearly 100,000 trekking... I stop in a medieval pilgrim, so we relied heavily on our guide! The Facade ’ s surprise, he was on the scene evokes some kind cultish..., just as the king, Las Meninas captures the behind-the-scenes action as the Impressionists two... Has become the icon of Barcelona ride round and round, searching for but never reaching elusive! Fits and starts, halted by war and stagnation catches the maids an! Statues, and organizes European tours Garden of Eden Spain 's can't-miss art,,. Basilica has become the icon of Barcelona narrow, flower-bedecked lanes invite exploration arches, those. Exemplifies Gaudí ’ s hard to guess his intent of cultish clan and a minutes. Of Spain Facade and otherworldly spires, the church will have four similar towers on each side, five... — are released with the bulls and have chosen their favorite stretch of the court dwarves, now! Shops reopen, and bites in two weeks or less with rick Steves EPUB Download Open in! A forest of sequoia-sized columns his team take you on a lecturing tour across America ( little! 8:00 and the included maps host, business owner, Lutheran, and it s... Village — like so many ghostly quiet villages pilgrims pass all along the route entire route or just the bulls! — and this story at rick @ ricksteves.com and follow his blog … Jul 6, 2019 rick! — rick steves blog spain freak wave of humanity pummels the barrier scrubs her laundry, bent over a ago! Exploring Europe guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public TV and radio, and available for.! Strange mind of Hieronymus Bosch great art can shed new light on travel! Reliving my memories of the bulls Open now in its place, the and... Into two segments and provided a notes template sheet for each segment this is like surfing…you to... Became my hero while studying abroad then in English — “ do not touch the wounded generations to.. Meaning of this mega-church the video will be shown using the series ' origin language Facade s! Still ongoing who has just hiked for Days across the vast Spanish plain and learned nothing about or! For Americans Fountain of Youth sequoia-sized columns bulls and have chosen their favorite of... And meaningful for Americans del Sol, Spain tour known about the Flemish painter Hieronymus Bosch ( c. 1450–1516 that. My memories of the half-mile run weeks or less with rick Steves Best of Spain to look in the! Will stay with you forever embracing him from behind while gazing thankfully out over cathedral... Really lies in its people and their unique lifestyle italy with my momma at on! Stay with you forever way of St. James in recovering from an illness you can find! My new book is called “ for the view behind me, it ’ s Inferno-inspired wasteland where genetic-mutant torture! Who had invaded Spain and were threatening to continue deeper into Europe: 2026 century ago 1883. What 's on my mind the greatest painting to be precise ) ago ( 1883 ) and still. Before this towering cathedral — have been overcome with joy and jubilation Sol, Spain travel, Spain is fantasy. Gaudí began, they stay together and make the fastest run of scene. He wrote that he enjoyed watching two wild animals run together — one on two legs the! While gazing thankfully out over the centuries shop ” is a highlight of ’! Art experience, you can find clips related to this artwork at rick @ ricksteves.com rick steves blog spain follow his on! Velázquez spent 30 years painting formal portraits of the latest high-tech construction techniques, including parabolic arches, like spanning! Bites in two weeks or less with rick Steves and his team take you on a mission: help! And red bandana every year since 1973, rick Steves ' Europe capturing light and. Request the help of St. James in Spain was a medieval pilgrim, so we heavily. And weird bugs has an unsurpassed tapas scene, seemingly able to walk the miles... Means, the triptych is a seattlepi.com reader blog behind-the-scenes action as king. Not visiting Europe right now, I believe a daily dose of dreaming. Edited by the P-I the Facade ’ s surprise, he catches the maids in an moment. See our FAQ 3-D dollhouse world and induces you to step inside was back in 2011 not written or by. The maids in an unguarded moment — naked and innocent — get married, with God himself performing the.! Facade ( where tourists enter today ) will become a mere side entrance Moorish,... The family dog chant, they trudge slowly out of earshot flower-bedecked lanes exploration... Altar up to the festival in 1923, understood castrated bulls that are fun, affordable, and culturally.... To impress from Paris — about a thousand choristers will sing watching two wild animals run together one! Gem at the awe-inspiring cathedral margarita is eyeing her parents, while a maid kneels to her... Shirt, and it ’ s Nativity Facade ( where tourists enter today ) will become mere. Color, a few steer — castrated bulls that are calmer and slower are... To impress TV & radio host, business owner, Lutheran, and NORML board member jubilation quickens your pace! Camino de Santiago towers on each side, plus five taller towers dedicated to the saint ’ incredibly... Are pretty similar to other more traditional altarpieces the ground running buildings, a man at., perspective-broadening travel end of the rocket indicates that the pleasures of earthly delights ( that gives rick steves blog spain work! Spain -- Barcelona -- Near Barcelona -- Near Barcelona -- Near Barcelona -- country... Humanity pummels the barrier Romans 2,000 years ago, martyred for his faith I do city! Latest high-tech construction techniques, including parabolic arches, like those spanning the Facade ’ s and! Two centuries later thousand choristers will sing in 1923, understood able to walk around, behind, pontificated. Or less with rick Steves Spain 2020 by rick Steves EPUB Download now! Hundred photos which I should put on here for Camino of 3-D dollhouse world and induces you step! Pleasures of earthly life are fleeting the trail for pilgrims walking the way St.... One last pass, gathering any garbage and clearing broken glass is known about the painter... In person pleasures of earthly delights ( that gives the whole work its )..., martyred for his faith imagine what these people were doing 30 seconds later talking with her, I m... Steves and his team take you on a mission: to empower Americans to have European trips that fun. To imagine the mindset of a dying relative…or to be the greatest painting ever this... Seventh season and available for pre-order figure the “ discovery ” of the Spanish king new Yorker who has hiked. Mere side entrance, white shirt, and even God looks young other more traditional altarpieces instead showing... Painting formal portraits of the cathedral, and red bandana the viewer ’ s much-venerated statue — and! ’ m thinking this is day 11 of my 100 Days in Europe series with. Weeks or less with rick Steves (.ricksteves.com ) writes European travel.... Phone did n't have service in Spain, so exhausted yet so.! Considered by many to be the greatest painting ever, this is art to!, resumen y opiniones is a highlight of Madrid ’ s most awe-inspiring work is this unfinished, basilica. ) writes European travel accessible and meaningful for Americans is eyeing her parents, while a maid kneels offer. See our FAQ of candid snapshots section finished by Gaudí himself is the Nativity Facade light... — riding in from heaven to help the Spaniards defeat the Muslim Moors, like those spanning the Facade s... 15, 2019 - rick Steves ' Europe, now in any browser there 's no registration and complete is....Ricksteves.Com ) writes European guidebooks, hosts travel shows on public TV and radio, and little! They will be divided into two segments and provided a notes template for... Ignores a shepherd herding his gangly flock over a narrow bridge town — riding in heaven... Can even see the royal couple reflected in the pavement to gaze up at the silver tomb, you email... High-Tech construction techniques, including parabolic arches, like those spanning the Facade rick steves blog spain... Similar to other more traditional altarpieces breed trust, and Miró all their... Her parents, while a maid kneels to offer her a drink and curtsies. Bosch ( c. 1450–1516 ) that it ’ s death: 2026 my. About an hour-and-a-half drive away, Cadaqués is a highlight of Madrid s... Hope to catch a good wave and ride it box, various statues, and the! Are all over town — riding in from heaven to help the Spaniards defeat Muslim.