Marbella – nine miles across the Strait of Gibraltar from Morocco (North Africa) but 180 degrees and decades of differences!!  It is one of Europe’s most exclusive resorts sitting on the Mediterranean. So one can imagine it is well presented and constructed with clean white marble buildings surrounded by greenery of every species in beautifully maintained parks and public area.  The welcome of Moroccan tea gives way to Cava/Prosecco and great non-a beer —

Welcome to Marbella!

Our home town for two and a half weeks sits on the Costa del Sol in the southern portion of Spain known as Andalucia.  Andalucia’s history goes back to 800,000 BC – but, not to be too boring, we can move forward to 1100BC when the Phoenicians arrived.  Relatively shortly after – in 200BC – the Romans arrived and took control.  In another thousand years (711AD) the Moors took control of the peninsula and ruled until the Spanish Inquisition in the mid-1400’s.  At the height of the Moor’s occupation, their territory even included part of what is now France.  They made great strides in the fields of mathematics, science, art and architecture and, therefore, made perhaps the greatest impact on the area leaving signs of all this behind for us today!

Great architectural sights to be seen include the Alhambra in Granada and Cordoba’s Mosque La Mezquita.  The hillsides of pueblos blancos can be seen dotting the mountains from every view and the scent of orange blossoms is ever present.  The area is also home to tapas and the flamboyant Flamenco!  It is also where Christopher Columbus sailed from to ‘discover’ America😂.  Lots to explore in a short time.

But first, an investigation of Marbella since it is the home base.  A well preserved, delightful Old Town beckons with charming plazas, draping Bougainvillea plants, old mosques turned cathedrals and wandering, clean alleyways.

A hidden gem is The Hospital of the Encarnacion, constructed on the foundations of an Islamic building and designed for the hospitalization of the poor.  It has served various purposes and is now home to the Museum of Contemporary Spanish art and includes many pieces of its native – Picasso!

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Many cathedrals exist within a very small area.  The moorish occupation for several hundred years means there is moorish influenced architecture and many mosques that have been turned into cathedrals as a result of the inquisition in the mid-1400’s.  Some completely eliminated the minaret components – other modifications turned the minaret into a bell tower.

Even the smallest cathedral is ornately decorated.

Beautiful bougainvillea everywhere;-)

A minaret modification.

Mosque modification.

A small chapel on the corner of the main square of the Old Town. It sits with a strange orientation – as originally a mosque, it faced Mecca.

Wonderful color everywhere!

Gorgeous, welcoming ‘streets’ throughout Old Town.

Europe has always been a favorite – and that feeling hasn’t changed.

E & G – loving being back in Europe and checking out Spain🙂👏