"Las Setas," (the mushrooms) is a giant sculpture in the middle of Sevilla.  For 1€ you can ride the elevator to the top and even drink a reasonably priced draught beer from the mushroom cafe, while looking out over the city.  When I heard there was a giant mushroom statue in Sevilla I knew it was going to be a cool city. 

On top of "Las Setas."

Chairs lined up for the holy week processions.

The mysterious neighbor.

If Obama were a bullfighter...

In these next two shots you see the Giralda, the belltower Sevilla's cathedral. It was built in 1184 and obviously without any modern technology.  Its 343 feet tall and amazingly straight.  It was built by the Moors, talented architects, there is an identical one in Marrakech.

The lively Spanish streets at night.

In all Spanish cities, even at 11pm on any given night people are out everywhere. Spanish people love to be out!

For the Sorianos reading this:

Soria is a small region in Northern Spain.  People from Soria are called Sorianos, and for some reason they all flocked to Southern Italy many years ago.  Now days it's a common Spanish, Italian and Dominican Republican last name.

My best guess is that sometime during the 14th and 15th century during the time of "The Crown of Aragon," which ruled parts of Spain and Italy, people left Soria and went to Italy possibly as sailors or soldiers and took a liking to the Italian women. 

And now, for the funny hats.  As a sign in a touristy souvenir shop said, "Not KKK."  They must have gotten tired of being asked by Americans what the hell these people are doing dressin up like this.  Actually, its traditional dress for holy week.

Still, I got a laugh seeing these guys everywhere, rushing to the processions with their outfits on.

A midnight procession, most of these shots are in Sevilla but this one was taken in Ubeda and is a good example of what a holy week procession looks like.

La Plaza de España, Sevilla.

Cadiz.

The crisis lane, yep thats right bicycle sales are up.

People from Cadiz, and Andalucía in general, are known for their way of speaking which is never quick and to the point. They like to talk and they are never in a hurry to finish.  In one word, they like to embellish.

So I took a short break from Spain this Winter, and it was a nice change of scenery.

The first three were taken Near Sarzeau, France.

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And the German Alps, near Schrobenhausen.

The small town of Schlersee, in Bavaria.

And into Munich.

For the feast day of Saint Thomas class was cancelled and the parents and students pooled their money for a giant Paella.  Instead of regular classes there are workshops such as ceramics.  In the first picture you see a Paellera (Paella pan) big enough to feed 1000 people.  It costs 2000€ so about 2€ per person. (Clicking on the pictures will resize them for your screen.)

On the same weekend in the tiny town of Barranda there is a traditional music festival that attracts 15,000 people.  Its called "La Fiesta de las Cuadrillas."  A Cuadrilla is like a group or a gang.  So local musicians take to the streets and on every block there is music and dancing.  The star of the party is "El Tío Juan Rita," a local singing legend who turned 102 on the Monday following the fiesta.  He is well known for his witty improvisations during the traditional songs where two singers "battle" each other with improvised words.  It's like a rap battle with folk music.  It reminded me a lot of the Vallenato music of Colombia which also makes use of improvised lyrical battles.

At night, the music moves indoors but never stops.  Above photo taken about 4:30am.

Below, for those who don't read Spanish or for those who do, but thought they read it wrong, they are selling cured meats from Ostrich, Horse, Bull, Wild Boar, Buck and good old cow.

Nearby Caravaca de la Cruz, perhaps one of the most beautiful small towns in Murcia.

Some friends needed help harvesting their almond trees in Andalucía. The pay? All the almonds we could carry.

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La Caravana, my posh lodgings for the weekend.

Almería, Andalucía where they filmed "Fistfull of Dollars" and "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly." Spain's old west.

How do you get almonds out of the tree? You whack 'em. Shaking helps too.

And they fall onto nets carefully placed below the tree.