Puerto de Roquetas de Mar
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| Puerto de Roquetas de Mar – Jan 2017 © Robert Bovington |
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| Puerto de Roquetas de Mar – Dec 2016 © Robert Bovington |
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| Puerto de Roquetas de Mar – Jan 2011 © Robert Bovington |
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| Puerto de Roquetas de Mar – Aug 2007 © Robert Bovington |
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| Puerto de Roquetas de Mar – April 2015 © Robert Bovington |
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| Puerto de Roquetas de Mar – Jan 2011 © Robert Bovington |
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| Puerto de Roquetas de Mar – Jan 2009 © Robert Bovington |
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| Puerto de Roquetas de Mar – Jan 2009 © Robert Bovington |
more blogs by Robert Bovington…
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“Spanish Impressions”
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“postcards from Spain”
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“you couldn’t make it up!”
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“a grumpy old man in Spain”
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“bits and bobs”
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“Spanish Expressions”
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“Spanish Art”
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“Books About Spain”
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Parque de María Luisa in Seville
by Robert Bovington
This lovely romantic garden was donated to the city by the Infanta Maria Luisa Fernand at the end of the nineteenth century. The famous landscape gardener, Jean Claude Nicolas Forestier, added further enhancements.
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Parque de María Luisa in Seville – Monument dedicated to Bécquer © Robert Bovington |
In 1929, the park became the centre of the Ibero American Exhibition. Adjacent to the park is the beautiful Plaza de España which was used to showcase Spain’s industry and technology exhibits.
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Seville – Plaza de España © Robert Bovington |
more blogs by Robert Bovington…
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“Spanish Impressions”
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“postcards from Spain”
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“you couldn’t make it up!”
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“a grumpy old man in Spain”
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“bits and bobs”
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“Spanish Expressions”
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“Spanish Art”
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“Books About Spain”
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Elche
The Moors formally laid out the ‘Palmeral of Elche’ in the 10th century. They installed elaborate irrigation systems and these are still functioning today as are the agricultural practices developed by these enterprising people. Elche is a World Heritage site because the palm forest is so impressive and important.
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| Basilica de Santa María |
Elche has a number of historic monuments and one in particular is worth a visit – the ‘Basilica of Santa María’, a spectacular building with a bell tower and an imposing blue dome. The present Basilica is the fourth religious building occupying the same site. It was the site of a Muslim mosque when Jaime I, King of Aragón, conquered the town in 1265. The present building was started in 1672 and finished in 1783. A visit to the bell tower is worth the effort. From the top, panoramic views of the city can be enjoyed – in particular, the groves of palm trees. On the different landings of the tower information is displayed about the building of the Basilica, its architectural styles and its importance in regards to Elche’s other claim to fame – the ‘Misteri’ or ‘Festa d’Elx’ – a medieval sacred play. This ‘Passion play’ is acted out in the Basilica every year on the 14th and 15th of August. It is listed as ‘World Heritage’ making Elche one of the few places in the World to have two ‘UNESCO World Heritage’ awards.
The ‘Huerto del Cura’ – the Priests Garden. It is known as ‘The Jewel of the Palm Park’ and rightly so – it is a calm relaxing place – a delightful garden of palm trees, tropical plants and cacti. It even has a pond with ducks!
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| Imperial Palm |
The tree got its name following the visit of the Empress Elisabeth of Austria in 1894. The spectacular tree clearly impressed her. She commented to the proprietor “…the date palm has the power and strength of an empire”. The Empress was just one of many prominent visitors to the ‘Palmeral’ of Elche.
I like the cacti garden – La Rocalla has many types of cactus ranging from small spherical specimens to tall pipe-shaped ones that almost matched the palm trees for height.
I would recommend anyone who visits the Costa Blanca to pay a visit to Elche and to the ‘Huerto del Cura’ in particular. Magic!
Badajoz
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| Badajoz – La Giraldilla |
Badajoz lies on a low range of hills crowned by a ruined Moorish castle and overlooks the Guadiana river.
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| Alcaza de Badajoz |
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| Badajoz – Plaza Alta |
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| Badajoz – Puerta Palmas |
more blogs by Robert Bovington…
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“Spanish Impressions”
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“postcards from Spain”
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“you couldn’t make it up!”
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“a grumpy old man in Spain”
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“bits and bobs”
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“Spanish Expressions”
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“Spanish Art”
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“Books About Spain”
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Cómpeta
Cómpeta is an attractive little town set amidst the beautiful Axarquía in the province of Málaga. I visited at the beginning of February 2013 and though it is only 18 kilometres from the coast (Torrox nr Nerjar), it took about half an hour to drive from Torrox to Cómpeta because of the steep twisting road. The town nestles on the southern slopes of the Sierra de Almijara.
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| Cómpeta |
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| Iglesia Ntra. Sra. Asunción |
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| view south from nr Cómpeta |
more blogs by Robert Bovington…
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“Spanish Impressions”
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“postcards from Spain”
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“you couldn’t make it up!”
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“a grumpy old man in Spain”
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“bits and bobs”
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“Spanish Expressions”
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“Spanish Art”
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“Books About Spain”
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Who says Spain is all sun and sangria!
snapshot of my ‘Who says Spain is all sun and sangria!’ pinboard on Pinterest
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Please click on the following link to see the entire board…
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Please click here
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more blogs…..
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“Spanish Impressions”
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“postcards from Spain”
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“you couldn’t make it up!”
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“a grumpy old man in Spain”
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“bits and bobs”
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“Spanish Expressions”
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“Spanish Art”
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“Books About Spain”
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La Rioja
snapshot of my ‘La Rioja’ pinboard on Pinterest
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Please click on the following link to see the entire board…
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Please click here
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more blogs…..
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“Spanish Impressions”
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“postcards from Spain”
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“you couldn’t make it up!”
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“a grumpy old man in Spain”
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“bits and bobs”
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“Spanish Expressions”
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“Spanish Art”
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“Books About Spain”
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Andalucía – Huelva province
snapshot of my ‘Andalucía – Huelva province’ pinboard on Pinterest
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Please click on the following link to see the entire board…
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Please click here
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more blogs…..
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“Spanish Impressions”
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“postcards from Spain”
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“you couldn’t make it up!”
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“a grumpy old man in Spain”
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“bits and bobs”
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“Spanish Expressions”
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“Spanish Art”
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“Books About Spain”
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Fiesta!
snapshot of my ‘Fiesta!’ pinboard on Pinterest
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Please click on the following link to see the entire board…
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Please click here
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more blogs…..
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“Spanish Impressions”
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“postcards from Spain”
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“you couldn’t make it up!”
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“a grumpy old man in Spain”
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“bits and bobs”
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“Spanish Expressions”
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“Spanish Art”
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“Books About Spain”
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Andalucía – Córdoba province
snapshot of my ‘Andalucía – Córdoba province’ pinboard on Pinterest
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Please click on the following link to see the entire board…
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Please click here
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more blogs…..
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“Spanish Impressions”
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“postcards from Spain”
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“you couldn’t make it up!”
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“a grumpy old man in Spain”
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“bits and bobs”
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“Spanish Expressions”
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“Spanish Art”
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“Books About Spain”
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Ceuta, Melilla & Gibraltar
snapshot of my ‘Ceuta, Melilla & Gibraltar’ pinboard on Pinterest…
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Please click on the following link to see the entire board…
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Please click here
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more blogs…..
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“Spanish Impressions”
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“postcards from Spain”
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“you couldn’t make it up!”
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“a grumpy old man in Spain”
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“bits and bobs”
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“Spanish Expressions”
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“Spanish Art”
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“Books About Spain”
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Asturias in pictures
snapshot of my ‘Asturias’ pinboard on Pinterest…
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Please click on the following link to see the entire board…
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Please click here
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more blogs…..
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“Spanish Impressions”
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“postcards from Spain”
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“you couldn’t make it up!”
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“a grumpy old man in Spain”
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“bits and bobs”
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“Spanish Expressions”
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“Spanish Art”
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“Books About Spain”
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Valenciana
snapshot of my ‘Valenciana’ pinboard on Pinterest…
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Please click on the following link to see the entire board…
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Please click here
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more blogs…..
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“Spanish Impressions”
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“postcards from Spain”
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“you couldn’t make it up!”
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“a grumpy old man in Spain”
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“bits and bobs”
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“Spanish Expressions”
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“Spanish Art”
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“Books About Spain”
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Andalucía – Sevilla province
snapshot of my ‘Andalucía – Sevilla province’ pinboard on Pinterest…
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Please click on the following link to see the entire board…
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Please click here
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more blogs…..
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“Spanish Impressions”
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“postcards from Spain”
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“you couldn’t make it up!”
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“a grumpy old man in Spain”
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“bits and bobs”
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“Spanish Expressions”
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“Spanish Art”
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“Books About Spain”
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snapshot of my ‘Navarra’ pinboard on Pinterest…
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Please click on the following link to see the entire board…
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Please click here
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more blogs…
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“Spanish Impressions”
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“postcards from Spain”
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“you couldn’t make it up!”
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“a grumpy old man in Spain”
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“bits and bobs”
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“Spanish Expressions”
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“Spanish Art”
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“Books About Spain”
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Región de Murcia
snapshot of my ‘Región de Murcia’ pinboard on Pinterest…
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Please click on the following link to see the entire board…
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Please click here
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more blogs…
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“Spanish Impressions” |
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“postcards from Spain”
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“you couldn’t make it up!”
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“a grumpy old man in Spain”
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“bits and bobs”
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“Spanish Expressions”
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“Spanish Art”
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“Books About Spain”
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Andalucía – Málaga province
snapshot of my ‘Andalucía – Málaga province’ pinboard on Pinterest…
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Please click on the following link to see the entire board…
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Please click here
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more blogs…
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“Spanish Impressions”
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“postcards from Spain”
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“you couldn’t make it up!”
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“a grumpy old man in Spain”
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“bits and bobs”
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“Spanish Expressions”
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“Spanish Art”
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“Books About Spain”
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Comunidad de Madrid
snapshot of my ‘Comunidad de Madrid’ pinboard on Pinterest…
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Please click on the following link to see the entire board…
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Please click here
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more blogs…
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“Spanish Impressions”
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“postcards from Spain”
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“you couldn’t make it up!”
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“a grumpy old man in Spain”
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“bits and bobs”
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“Spanish Expressions”
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“Spanish Art”
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“Books About Spain”
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Andalucía – Jaén province
snapshot of my ‘Andalucía – Jaén province’ pinboard on Pinterest…
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Please click on the following link to see the entire board…
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more blogs…
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“Spanish Impressions”
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“postcards from Spain”
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“you couldn’t make it up!”
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“a grumpy old man in Spain”
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“bits and bobs”
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“Spanish Expressions”
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“Spanish Art”
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“Books About Spain”
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Andalucía – Granada province
snapshot of my ‘Andalucía – Granada province’ pinboard on Pinterest…
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more blogs…
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“Spanish Impressions” |
http://bobbovington.blogspot.com/ |
“postcards from Spain” |
http://bovington-posts.blogspot.com/ |
“you couldn’t make it up!” |
http://bovingtonycmitup.blogspot.com/ |
“a grumpy old man in Spain” |
http://grumpybobbov.blogspot.com/ |
“bits and bobs” |
http://bovingtonbitsandblogs.blogspot.com/ |
“Spanish Expressions” |
http://spanishsayingsbovington.blogspot.com/ |
“Spanish Art” |
http://bovingtonspanishart.blogspot.com/ |
“Books About Spain” |
http://bovingtonbooks.blogspot.com/ |
Galicia
snapshot of my ‘Galicia’ pinboard on Pinterest…
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Please click on the following link to see the entire board…
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more blogs…
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“Spanish Impressions”
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“postcards from Spain”
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“you couldn’t make it up!”
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|
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“a grumpy old man in Spain”
|
|
|
“bits and bobs”
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“Spanish Expressions”
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“Spanish Art”
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“Books About Spain”
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Extremadura
snapshot of my ‘Extremadura’ pinboard on Pinterest…
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Please click on the following link to see the entire board…
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Please click here
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more blogs…
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“Spanish Impressions”
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“postcards from Spain”
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“you couldn’t make it up!”
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“a grumpy old man in Spain”
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“bits and bobs”
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“Spanish Expressions”
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“Spanish Art”
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“Books About Spain”
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Cantabria
snapshot of my ‘Cantabria’ pinboard on Pinterest…
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more blogs by Robert Bovington…
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“Spanish Impressions”
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“postcards from Spain”
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|
“you couldn’t make it up!”
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|
|
“a grumpy old man in Spain”
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|
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“bits and bobs”
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“Spanish Expressions”
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“Spanish Art”
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“Books About Spain”
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Catalonia
snapshot of my ‘Catalonia’ pinboard on Pinterest…
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Please click on the following link to see the entire board…
more blogs…
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“Spanish Impressions”
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“postcards from Spain”
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“you couldn’t make it up!”
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“a grumpy old man in Spain”
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“bits and bobs”
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“Spanish Expressions”
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“Spanish Art”
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“Books About Spain”
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Photographs of Spain 