by Tony Karp

A different view of Spain

 - Looking out of the window of our little house in Miraflores de la sierra - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
Looking out of the window of our little house in Miraflores de la sierra
In 2002, the Muse and I took a trip to Spain. Instead of staying in a hotel, we rented a little house in Miraflores de la Sierra, about 40 miles north of Madrid. It's a beautiful little mountain town that's set into the side of a hill, so everywhere you go is either uphill or downhill.

We had a car, so we were able to travel to the local attractions, and even went as far south as Toledo, where we saw el Greco. (Hint: not one of his paintings.)

Madrid is a great city, with lots of great museums and a spectacular royal palace.

I tried to stay away from the usual tourist shots and ended up with a slightly different view of Spain.

 - The birds of the castle in Manzanares - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
The birds of the castle in Manzanares
 - A story told in a tapestry in an old Spanish castle. - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
A story told in a tapestry in an old Spanish castle.
 - An ancient face at the National Archaeological Museum of Spain. - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
An ancient face at the National Archaeological Museum of Spain.
 - Through a window at el Escorial - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
Through a window at el Escorial
 - A bloody tale told in another tapestry. - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
A bloody tale told in another tapestry.
 - A colorful moth  alights in Guadalix - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
A colorful moth alights in Guadalix
 - A black and white view of the buildings on a Spanish hillside - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
A black and white view of the buildings on a Spanish hillside
 - Another face from the archeological museum. I think of him as the blue Madrileno - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
Another face from the archeological museum. I think of him as the blue Madrileno
 - Looking out from the city of Toledo, you can see the distant hills and the sky and clouds above them in this vertical panorama - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
Looking out from the city of Toledo, you can see the distant hills and the sky and clouds above them in this vertical panorama
 - A warrior's face from inside the Royal Palace - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
A warrior's face from inside the Royal Palace
 - We saw this cloud that looks like an ocean wave on our trip to Buitrago del Lozoya. - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
We saw this cloud that looks like an ocean wave on our trip to Buitrago del Lozoya.
 - The two main religions in Spain - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
The two main religions in Spain
 - A bird soars above the hills at El puerto de la Morcuera, a mountain pass north of Miraflores - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
A bird soars above the hills at El puerto de la Morcuera, a mountain pass north of Miraflores
 - Storm clouds seen from the wall at Avila - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
Storm clouds seen from the wall at Avila
 - In the courtyard of the Royal Palace, Madrid. - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
In the courtyard of the Royal Palace, Madrid.
 - The sun over the river in Buitrago del Lozoya, home of  the world's smallest Picasso museum - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
The sun over the river in Buitrago del Lozoya, home of the world's smallest Picasso museum
 - The ancient pharmacy at the Royal Palace in Madrid. - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
The ancient pharmacy at the Royal Palace in Madrid.
 - The trees in El Escorial. - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
The trees in El Escorial.
 - A lovely face from the National Archaeological Museum of Spain. - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
A lovely face from the National Archaeological Museum of Spain.
 - More storm clouds seen from the wall at Avila - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
More storm clouds seen from the wall at Avila
 - A lovely pair of Spanish knockers - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
A lovely pair of Spanish knockers
 - The ancient face of pain in the National Archaeological Museum of Spain. - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
The ancient face of pain in the National Archaeological Museum of Spain.
 - The trees in the forest along the way from Rascafria to Miraflores de la Sierra. - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
The trees in the forest along the way from Rascafria to Miraflores de la Sierra.
 - An unhappy old face in the National Archaeological Museum of Spain. - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
An unhappy old face in the National Archaeological Museum of Spain.
 - An angel calls from the ceiling of the Royal Palace in Madrid. - A trip to Spain by Tony Karp - Madrid -Toledo - Manzanares - Avila Manzanares - - - art  - photography - by Tony Karp
An angel calls from the ceiling of the Royal Palace in Madrid.

This was a real adventure, with little if any advance planning. So every day was full of surprises and events.

Copyright 1957-2023 Tony & Marilyn Karp