January 2, 2011. The day I wrote my first blog about being diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Little did I know then about what life would look like 13 years later.
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iPhone Photography of the Streets Of Southern Spain and Portugal
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.
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.)
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.
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!
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!)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
TRAVEL TIPS for VISITING SPAIN
I am asking for a special holiday favor…
Thank you, Jackie Z.
Jackie Zeman was a shining light. You couldn’t help but notice her when she came into a room. Sadly, the world gained her as an angel this past week. And, I am so thankful that our paths crossed.
I first learned about Jacklyn Zeman when she appeared in General Hospital (GH) as the popular character, Bobbie Spencer. This show was my “guilty pleasure” – faithfully watching it throughout high school and college. I loved her as “Bobbie”. She was feisty, fun, and a “ginger” – and you know- “gingers unite”!
As my life became too busy to watch “the soaps”, I would try to stay abreast of GH news by reading online stories or skimming the Soap Digest I bought at the local grocery store. But, then a funny twist of fate happened just a few years ago- I walked into a friend’s private event and literally found myself seated next to Jackie. We immediately hit it off! We talked about a variety of topics, including fashion and the reason we were there- to celebrate our friend Margaret McSweeney of Kitchen Chat TV and the recipient of special recognition at the March 2020 Taste Awards. And of course, there was a fair amount of chatting and showing of photos throughout the night of her family – she was a very proud grandmother.
I recall this event vividly as it was the last one I attended before the Covid pandemic put a lock on all of our lives. Jackie was one of the last people I saw before we were all “housebound.”
After the pandemic restrictions lifted, Jackie and I met up again – this time at the pre-event party for the 2022 Indie Series Awards. She had been starring in THE BAY – a show produced by Kira Reed Lorsch – a friend we both had in common. I was definitely the outsider – but was so honored and thankful that Jackie and Kira made me feel so comfortable at the party and introduced me to many others there. The night was full of laughter and a very messy pizza. In fact, the pizza became a bit of a running joke.
Sadly, in all the time we were together I never stopped to snap a “selfie” of us together. But, a few candids did make my camera roll. I love this one of Jackie who was simply engaged in great conversation with friends.
Life is made up of little moments. Snapshots in time. And if you are lucky- it will be filled with people who are clever, full of humor, and make you feel that you matter. Jackie was that person.
Jackie, I didn’t know you well – but I am so happy that our paths crossed and we shared some memorable moments. You were fun, funny, and kind. And you will be missed by many.
Mission POSSIBLE – How to help a child become more flexible with their daily routine ( From the “Both Sides of the Table” series)
Rock Painting
This is going to be one of the most random posts I have ever made. But writing about painting rocks seems far better than the reality of what is happening in our world. So, allow me a few minutes of fun and a chance to tell you about my new hobby.
The HOW? WHY? WHERE? WHAT?
During the Covid-19 Pandemic – when we were all “housebound” and staying miles away from each other, I discovered a group on Facebook – San Pedro Rocks. Apparently, this large-ish group of people were making a sport of hiding rocks around various fun locations in San Pedro, California. Especially near the waterfront, marina, and parks. It was a way to get fresh air without being around people who weren’t in your “safe pod”.
And as fate would have it, I found a few rocks just by happenstance – but didn’t pay much attention to the “sport” of rock painting and hiding.
Then one day I discovered I had some spare paint and a few flat rocks in my garden. What the heck! I had leftover transfers from my DIY furniture and some paint – I could make a few rocks! After more than a couple of tries (it is an art form, after all), I then hid them among some bushes in the “key areas” listed on the Facebook page and waited to see if anyone posted that they found them. And they did! Instant gratification that my rocks were now “Facebook page worthy!”
So, I decided to create a few more painted rocks – and then more and then more! And, as long as I was decorating rocks I might as well look for more myself. This time with purpose! And I did. And I found quite a few. I only kept the one pictured here (the fish) because it was too cute to hide again! (By the way, the rules of the club are that you keep it or hide it again- your choice!)
You may ask, Are there any substantial benefits to joining a rock club? Yes, there are!
For starters, looking for and hiding rocks gave me a reason to get out of my house, socialize, and walk a bunch of steps! I have met some very nice people along the way. I also was able to use my brain for something new – and that was refreshing!
And I learned that every rock I found seemed to tell a story. There are rocks made by the little kids in the neighborhood who want to participate alongside their parents and grandparents. They add cute stickers and make lots of rainbows! And then there are the retirees who love it when people find their rocks- they take this endeavor very seriously! A few people are actual “artists” and their designs are AMAZING!
And just in case you think this is a local fad – check out the over three thousand reviews of this SINGLE ROCK PAINTING project kit!
Here are some of the designs I created (again using paint and some transfers). I hope that if you have any rock painting tips you will throw them in the comments.
And, as always I wish you the very best. Plus, this week I am adding – may there be peace – worldwide.
MENTAL HEALTH POSTERS – free downloads
As a psychologist, I am dedicated to the mental health of children and their families. I created these posters and you are welcome to download them for personal use (not sales, not distribution).