This publication, originally American, has been showing readers the rest of the world for decades, with fabulous photos and well-researched write-ups.
The Spanish version, "Viajes" has recently published its 306th edition.
I was attracted by the front cover which promised features on Munich and San Sebastian (Donostia), cities I used to know well.
So, I bought a copy!
[Front cover by Tienda RBA]
Pre-amble
Imagine my surprise when I flicked through the magazine, while I partook of Sunday morning breakfast in a café in Ronda.
There were also articles about Asturias, where I spent a week in 2003; Barcelona, which I had visited often in the past; Ibiza, where I spent my first honeymoon; Cantabria (Spain), where I have been quite a few times; Gran Canaria (a week's family holiday back in the late 1980s); Luxembourg, the Grand Duchy, which I have visited regularly over the years, the last time being a three-month sojourn in 2008, when I enjoyed a summer romance (I was divorced and single by then, and she was a widow, so it was legitimate).
Map of Asturias [Centro Asturiano de B A] Sagrada Familia, Barcelona [The Independent]
Ibiza Town [Club Villamar]
Santander [Turismo de Santander]
Colourful boats in Gran Canaria [Hostelworld] Luxembourg Ville [Outdooractive]
The magazine also had features on the Dolomites (Italy); Turkey; Japan; and Namibia. I have not been to any of these countries, but judging by the photos, I've missed out!
So, Italy and Turkey are now on my "bucket list". Namibia and Japan, probably not - I don't enjoy long-haul flights.
Donostia (San Sebastian)
This elegant Victorian seaside town was the first place I went to in Spain back in 1970.
I and some 20 other undergraduates studying for a degree in Spanish were sent to the Basque city for six months as part of our course.
Bahia de La Concha, San Sebastian [Civitatis]
I was smitten. I fell in love with the town straightaway. I loved the people, the lifestyle, the ambience, in short, I fell in love with Spain, despite the country still being a fascist dictatorship under General Franco. He was to live for five more years, dying of natural causes in November 1975.
You can read more about my San Sebastian story here:
The Top Dozen MIPs in My Life – Part 1
Munich, Germany
I was sent to Germany immediately after my six months in San Sebastian. I had a placement at Daimler-Benz AG in Stuttgart. My pal Roger also had a placement in Stuttgart at Bosch. We decided to go a bit earlier to take in the Munich Oktoberfest, the beer festival, which, despite its name, takes place in September.
[Photo: La Voz de Galicia]
What a culture shock (and a weather shock!).
I've been to Munich a couple of times since.
After I "hooked up" with Rita, a German "traffic warden" living in the Ronda area ("Lovely Rita, Meter Maid" by the Beatles), we went to Munich to visit her former sister-in-law, Ulrike, for a week.
I also visited briefly with Rita's daughter's family, following our marriage in 2010.
Here's the Beatles song:
youtube lovely rita - Búsqueda
Epilogue
So, I was very pleased with my Spanish National Geographic "Viajes" edition 306. It reminded me of some fabulous places I've been to and gave me a couple more, Italy and Turkey, for my "bucket list".
© The Spanish Fly
Links:
My Special Places in Spain
The Top Dozen MIPs in My Life – Part 1
Working for free? Why? Er… why not? Part 2.
youtube lovely rita - Búsqueda
Pictures:
Civitatis, Club Asturiano de B A, Hostelworld, La Voz de Galicia, Paul Whitelock, Tienda RBA,
Thanks:
Paul Whitelock, Wikipedia
Tags:
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