If only these streets could talk…

During a recent vacation, I found myself simply engrossed and enchanted by the cobblestone streets of southern Spain and Portugal. Hundreds of “snapped” photos found their way onto the camera roll of my iPhone 14 Pro Max. Each time I would try to imagine the lives of the people who lived on the streets where I was capturing these images. Were these people happy? Did this roadway have significance in history? How different were the lives of these residents than mine? If we somehow could do a “time traveler” experience – would we find our worlds to be similar or vastly different? Yes, I went “deep” with my thoughts. But, you only need to feel the cobblestone beneath your feet to let your imagination wander and wonder.

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When I returned home, I realized I had hundreds of photos that chronicled our vacation – a large majority were streets, doors, and windows. Here are some of my favorite “snaps” of the streets, It is shameful that I didn’t take the time to learn more about these regions before we landed in Madrid. But, I am determined to study these areas now. And by all means, if you have any information about these places – please let me know in the comments. (Historical or ancestry links welcome.)

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TOLEDO, MALAGA, MARBELLA, RONDA, and CADIZ

Toledo – A walk through a most important historical time for Spain

Toledo is a walled city where you can still walk through the doors that once welcomed carriages with royalty and soldiers protecting the area. It also is the home to the fictional, but in my mind very real, Don Quixote (a novel by Cervantes and the inspiration of the musical – Man of La Mancha). It is almost as if Cervantes’ words come alive as you walk from street to street. Toledo is an extraordinary place. Put it on your travel list. And wear shoes that are for walking on cobblestones! I would not recommend driving a car in this city. Take public transportation (e.g. Renfe train) or hire a car service, such as Daytrip.

Tip:

An empty street can be just as wonderful to photograph as one that is bustling with people.

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CADIZ, SPAIN

Cadiz is a town we knew nothing about until…we found out that Real Madrid and FC Cadiz were playing during the time we would be visiting. Whoosh! We were off to Cadiz and collectively, our family thought it was AMAZING! A very walkable city – this place is chocked full of history, great music, shopping, and sports! Plus, you feel like you are at the end of the world because of the way the sunset hits the Mediterranean Sea.

RONDA, SPAIN

When it comes to a town that must have stories to tell – I think of Ronda, Spain. Orson Wells once called this place home.

This small city/ large village is atop a mountain. It takes about an hour to drive from Marbella to Ronda – up a very, very, very windy road – but it is worth the effort. There is a train and you can hire a car service or Uber – but be warned. These roads can be treacherous in the fog, rain, or at night (if you don’t know where you are going.)

However, once you arrive in Ronda you will be glad you endured whatever inconvenience you had. The views go on for miles. Plus there are bridges and olive groves that make this city so picturesque and worth the 100+ photos I took. Even the oldest bullfighting ring is in the town center – and that too, had cobblestone and tile features.

Tip: Know that unexpected photography opportunities may be on top of steep mountains!

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MARBELLA – MALAGA

It is probably unfair to group Marbella and Malaga together. Each has their own unique vibe. Marbella is more quaint with a few attractions, but mainly shops, restaurants, and streets where families meet, children play, and couples walk hand in hand. Some celebrities do call Marbella their second home – but we didn’t spot anyone that we recognized. No biggie. We live in Los Angeles – the epicenter for celebrity spottings.

Marbella is famous for the “cute factor”, too – including the decorated bikes that adorn their streets. They share this “thing” with Malaga. I for one was in love with the idea of repurposing old bikes as art! ( Wouldn’t it be nice if we could adopt this trend in the United States!)

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Malaga has much more energy when compared to Marbella. When we visited Malaga it was almost frenetic. We figured out this was because the Christmas lighting festival was to begin that day. Thus, the streets were all aglow! Malaga also has numerous art galleries in its central district. The creativity spills out onto the streets with beautiful sculptures, fountains, gardens, and building designs.

TIP: Malaga is the birthplace of Picasso. The museum that was once his home is across from a lovely city square.

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NORTHERN PORTUGAL- PORTO, AVEIRO, COSTA NOVA, and NAZARE

PORTO-GAIA

Porto- Gaia are gorgeous! But be warned – this city is nothing but serious walking up and down hills that are STEEP. (Wheelchairs will have a challenge, for sure.) For those who do not want to walk these steep areas consider UBER (easily available) or staying closer to the river where the landscape is flatter. Also, note that “rules of the road” are loosely followed. So look before you walk across any streets! You also can use one of the numerous boats that travel around the city and between Porto and Gaia. Parking is INSANE, so don’t drive here. Really – use an alternate way to arrive and leave. You will thank me for this piece of advice later.

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AVEIRO – COSTA NOVA – NAZARE

One cannot help but make a comparison between Venice, Italy, and Aveiro, Portugal. That is because of the “barcos moliceiros” that line the rivers/canals that flow through this city. I can’t say enough positive about Aveiro and the nearby area of Costa Nova. Charming. Delightful. Safe. Quiet. And during December – heavenly! I understand that summertime is hot and wall-to-wall tourists – so I am glad we visited in December.

The ribbons on the streets below signify a university student having completed a course. The houses with stripes are from Costa Nova.

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NAZARE – Where 100 Foot Waves “Visit”

If you are a fan of the HBO documentary- The 100 FOOT WAVE – then you must put Nazare on your list of places to visit in Portugal. While there, don’t forget to take notice of the streets that hold so much history of this fishing village. These are proud people with deep religious roots and the church dedicated to fishermen is a very humbling reminder of the dangers of these seas.

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Obidos a medieval castle

Obidos is very pretty to photograph. And, we happened to visit on a day it was misty rain. The cobblestones were exceptionally wet, but I think the photos came out far more interesting than if it was a clear sunny day.

Tip: Your pictures don’t need to be perfect. Just meaningful to you. These are the moments that are important to you – capture them, enjoy them, and save them.

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LISBON

Last but not least I want to highlight the streets of glorious Lisbon. Here in southern Portugal, you find streets filled with motorcycles, tuk-tuks, people walking about, and artwork- including the iconic work of Arturo Boralo II .

This is another city that is hilly and hard to traverse – but worth it. We hired a driver and his covered tuk-tuk (good call as it started to rain) – to cover as much ground as we could in a short amount of time.

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A Life Lesson

When we travel we sometimes look at the grandness of our adventure. The well-known landmarks, museums, or restaurants. But, I want the intent of this blog to remind you to stop and enjoy the simplistic elements of your surroundings – including the streets that are filled with history and life lessons.

Tip: BACK UP YOUR PHOTOS – DAILY

Enough said.

About these photos.

The photos in the blog are unfiltered, not retouched (other than cropping), and my own. Please do not snatch them, borrow them, or think they would make a great addition to your content without expressed permission from me – Louise Sattler.

Comment:

Please feel free to comment, share your tips, and give me guidance about the history of this area. I am a lifelong learner – so go ahead and comment!

Thank you!