One Spanish City a Day: The Wander Iggy Challenge

Where does one go, on an Easter school break?
Out of Bilbao, perhaps?
West? Center? South?

Yes, we did. :)

The Becky and Wander Iggy embarked on their first ever woman-doll *solo* travel during the holy week break. They took the bus from Bilbao to Oviedo to Santiago de Compostela to Burgos to Granada to Sevilla to Salamanca, and back to Bilbao in six days. 

This covered the provinces of Asturias, Galicia, Castille y Leon and Andalucia. 5 words to sum it up: trip of a life time.

DAY1: Oviedo

Oviedo, which is the capital city of Asturias as charming. No wonder Woody Allen loved it here. It was a mixture of old and new, without losing that authentic Asturias flavour (simply means: sidras (or cider) abound, and glorious ). Wander Iggy with the sculpture called 'The Traveller'. 

DAY 2: Santiago de Compostela

Being the capital of Galicia, Santiago de Compostela is famous for being the final destination of the Camino de Santiago (St James' Way). Pilgrims arrive in hoards, all happy and excited. It's all positive energy everywhere, where you can  see a very diverse type of people hugging and chit chatting.

This archway leads to the square fronting the cathedral. Walking in you can hear Celtic music playing in the background, completing the whole magical experience. NB: It's been known that Galicia shares some of it's history with Ireland.

Being the foodie that she is, Wander Iggy made sure we tasted the Pulpo Gallego. 

Verdict: all worth the long bus ride.

We stayed in this hostal which has this view from the dining area. 

DAY3: Burgos

Short stop to Burgos on a Good Friday morning. Burgos is known for its many churches. 

and El Cid Compeador. :)

Wander Iggy's baby sister demanded to have pictures of herself taken. 

And that they must be solo pictures.

DAY4: Granada

Venturing towards the South, mainly Al andalus, it was a different Spain altogether. It was a very fascinating moment--all these striking differences sinking in, giving you a better picture of the country. 

Wander Iggy at the Mirador San Nicolas, overlooking the Alhambra. 

DAY 5: Sevilla

Sevillas was like a scene out of the movies, during the time of the Dons y Doñas. 

Wander Iggy checking out the Alcazar.

Our first Flamenco performance ever. Very memorable night.

DAY 6: Salamanca

On our way to Bilbao, we stopped by a few hours at Salamanca.
Okay, we had our regular Salamanca fare-- pinchos de planchadas. :)

Las Fallas Weekend in Valencia

Que divertido!

Fondly referred to as the place where Paella originated, Valencia is also known for its annual Las Fallas Festival. Miss Iggy partied day and night (and by the sound of mascletas (fireworks) at 2pm and 2am everyday, who wouldn't?  it's literally a whole 24 hour affair), sight seeing and going to the beach during day time and watching parades (and more fireworks) at night.

Cuidad de las artes y las ciencias, by Valencia's native son
 (and world renowed architect/ structural engineer/ sculptor) Santiago de Calatrava.

Miss Iggy inside La Lonja de la Seda, a UNESCO world heritage site

The streets of Valencia were filled by revelers and these bigger than life Ninots (pictured below are the adult category Ninots. there are also smaller Ninots, or Ninot le Petit  under the children's category).  Almost all districts participate in creating these different master pieces that will (wait for it...) have to be collected, displayed in Plaza de Ayuntamiento and burnt at the end of the festival (if it will make you feel better, one ninot from each category will be spared/preserved, to be kept in the Museo de Fallas). The burning process, called La Crema finalises the entire celebration, symbolising the end of winter and a start to a new beginning.

Ninot construction almost done at L'Antigua. 

ishdatyou, lolo? :)

the Falleras, young women and children from the community they represent, were like the 'muses' of the Ninots.
I think we've solved the Princess Leia mystery.

Paella country. 

We were walking around in this area, only to find out that we've chanced upon the Annual MTV Winter Festival. Miss Iggy's baby sister Mari (yes, that small child she's carrying has a name) almost jumped for joy (see picture) upon hearing the artist lineup: Sum 41, My Chemical Romance, Orbital, Groove Armada. Yay, we super love Valencia na. :)

Feeling a bit of Fallas--er mascleta burn out, Miss Iggy thought a little sun at the beach wouldn't hurt.
Especially if it's the Mediterranean. 

Salamanca beckons

A few hours away from Madrid by train is Salamanca, of the province of Castille y Leon. 

On our way to this UNESCO world heritage site we passed by the famous medieval walls of Avila. 

It was like stepping into another world. And we've got pictures.

This magical city is prettiest at night. 

where the entire old town is all lit-up.

Miss Iggy at Plaza Mayor.

Come sundown the buildings all look golden.

Day time. Not bad, I'd say. :) 

and the cheapest and tastiest pinchos we've ever had in our entire life.

Hasta luego,

Wander Iggy

One Spanish city at a time: Madrid

Hola, amigos y amigas. 

Wander Iggy sends her love (and lotsa Pinchos/tapas/Pintxos--depends on which city we are referring here) from Spain's capital city of Madrid. 

We loved it there--it's very cosmopolitan and alive.

At the Palacio Patrimonio Nacional  (no TJ hotdog jokes here). 

Ventured into Plaza Mayor. Madrid has several plazas. Add up will all the other Spanish cities and you will understand the social vibe of the country. The plazas are where people have been congregating for the longest time. 

Like any Madridista, we had to come visit the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

 And say 'hola, mi hombre' to our crush number 3, Xavi Alonso.

And this sums up why we love Madrid.

Greetings from Pais Vasco

All jet-lagged from her East Coast trip a few days back, Wander Iggy's dainty feet started itching again. And it's not athlete's foot. :) Waking up on an early Saturday morning in Amsterdam, we trudged our heavy human-sized baggage and headed South er... North, in the land of pintxos, the Nervion river and Euskera.

Bilbao is the capital of the province of Biscay, an autonomous community in the Basque province. Formerly a heavy industrial town, this metropolitan area was transformed--revitalized, as they describe it. Usually associated with the 'Guggenheim Effect', the city delivered beyond the iconic structure's symbolic association by winning the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize (reads: the Pritzker of Urban Planning) at the World Cities Summit in May 2010.

More Pictures, hopefully soon. :)

XOXO
Wander Iggy and the Becky

This city will be Wander Iggy's home por seis meses. 

El Museo de Guggenheim. This makes for Miss Iggy's second Guggenheim museum 

and second Gehry sighting. This picture was taken from the other side of the river. 

Can you see the Maman as well? 

Just across the Guggenheim is our new hang out: the University of Deusto. 

Oh my, that's a very big gracht. :)

'Gee, he's not a puppy anymore.' :) Or, as the Spanish call it, el perro. 

Miss Iggy in D.C.

Formally known as Washington, District of Columbia, this historic city is also the capital of the United States. It is not part of any US state, therefore directly overseen by the Federal Government. With this heavy fact in mind, Miss Iggy just can't help but exclaim "IKR"--i know, right. D.C. is roughly 4 hours away from New Jersey (factor in a Chick-fil-A stop in Maryland), so imagine Wander Iggy's initial reaction when told that we're driving this very long to go to 'The Mall'. 

The National Mall of course is not your regular mall. It's a very large open area in the centre of the city. Walking around, at one end is the US Capitol. (above)

In the middle is this phallic symbol  the Washington Monument.

And in the other end is Lincoln Memorial, where Miss Iggy paid a visit to her good friend Abe.

Reminiscent of 'Night at the Museum 2', we visited some of the museums. 

Among them is a Miss Iggy favourite--the Air and Space Museum.

'Is this outta here or what?'

 Hamming it up with Panelomo at the Smithsonian

 Our last stop is at the White House. Miss Iggy had to make a courtesy call, of course.

Goodbye Singapore

 It has been a blast being with you. Singapurple Iggy will miss all the fun you had together.

 (National Museum of Singapore: Favourite hang out)

We'll definitely miss your 'first times'--like that night race you've held in your ever-clean streets, where our 'pambato' (bet) won albeit the controversy (wow, who knew it got this exciting?).

 

And all the friendships we fostered, despite our anti-social 'front'.

(Miss Iggy likes 'em boy bands)

'excuse me, but is there wifi here?'

And free, public wifi all you want.

We'll meet again, Singapore.

Love,

Wander Iggy (formerly known as Singapurple Iggy)