"Travel Through Books"
 
In anticipation of a trip, many people read as much as they can about the area prior to their journey. I’m just the opposite. I like to read about foreign cities or countries after visiting them. I feel I can relate to the book more if I have seen the area first.

Last fall, my wife and I spent two weeks in Spain. Sure, I perused the travel books and I watched the Library’s videos on Spain prior to the trip, so I was somewhat prepared for what I saw. We concentrated our time in the cities of Madrid, Toledo and Barcelona. Since our visit, I have read two books on the history of Spain and one book on the Spanish painter, Goya.

I was overwhelmed by the country’s history and the incongruities that confronted us at every corner. While yet underground on a subway going from the airport to our hotel in downtown Madrid, we were accosted by a group of Gypsy men in search of my wallet and my wife’s purse. Fortunately, we were either smarter or luckier than the average tourist. It is thought that Gypsies migrated to Europe from India nearly 1,000 years ago and while they can be found throughout the continent, there are many in Spain, especially in the larger cities. They add to the color and excitement of the country, as long as they don’t get your valuables.

The Prado and the Thyssen-Bornemisza art galleries are spectacular in the richness and a in the breadth of their collections. A fan of the Janson’s “History of Art”, I marveled at all the art work included in that book that I was seeing for the first time. The works by Goya in the Prado captured my interest, so I had to read more about him and his relationship to the royal family.

While yet in Madrid, we took a commuter train to the Escorial which is about 30 miles north of Madrid. Built by Phillip II (1556-1598) with gold and silver plundered from the New World, this huge palace/church is a quandary. Built both as a monastery and a palace, this fortified structure is austere in furnishings and comforts for the living, but grandiose for the dead Hapsburg kings and queens who are buried in the royal crept under the magnificent church. I had to read more about Phillip II to learn why he would live such a simple life, yet nearly bankrupt his country on excesses for the church and his dead relatives.

From Madrid we traveled by train to Toledo, the old capital of Spain. This fortified city, about 40 miles south-west of Madrid, was the capital of Spain until 1561 when Phillip II moved the government to the newly made city of Madrid. With the exception of the rebuilt Alcazar, there is little evidence that the city was once a government seat. The huge gothic church in the heart of this hilly city is absolutely breathtaking in size and in decoration. Again, New World gold and silver was lavished on this building.

Barcelona is an international city with a history dating back to the Roman occupation. Las Rambas, the famous tree-lined avenue from the heart of the city to the harbor, is a joy to walk as long as you’re minding your wallet and other personal possessions. The central promenade is lined with flower and bird vendors and sidewalk cafes.

The architectural wonders of Antonio Gaudi in the “new” section of town draws millions of tourists from around the world. The sight that fascinated me was the replica of a galley that had fought in the Battle of Lepanto 1571. This 60-oar ship was built 30 years ago by the Spanish government to commemorate the 400th anniversary of this battle which brought an end to the Muslim incursion into Europe. The ship is housed in a huge naval warehouse originally constructed in the Middle Ages to store the galleys during the winter. The interior, with row after row of Romanesque arches, reminded me of the inside of our own Behlen Manufacturing plant, only the Spanish building was built 500 to 600 years ago of stone.

Books read after traveling to Spain included: “A Traveller’s History of Spain” by Juan LaLaguna, “The Kings of Spain” by Frederic V. Grunfeld, and “The Life and Times of Goya by Mario Lepore. A book I must read is “Empire, How Spain Became a World Power, 1492-1763” by Henry Kamen. Also, I must read more about Gaudi to better understand his concept of architecture.