Let’s go back in time about a year, give or take. Rather unexpectedly an invite arrives from Chris’ sister, a most seasoned world traveller…“Come spring, let’s go to Spain!” Tales of hiking and adventure, travelling the legendary “El Camino”, getting out, seeing the country, touching on what it’s all about and keeping the touristy stuff at a minimum…with a little pampering along the way in the cards. Come and make the most amazing memories.
Oh yeah! That’s how we like to roll and without so much as a moment’s hesitation, a big “yes please” from both of us. Sounds like the trip of a lifetime (and it was – you’ll see).
It’s now June 2018, all the details have been long finalized, arrangements made, bags packed, we’re in the air sipping champagne – which helps my “not-a-fan-of flying” slightly frazzled nerves – and we daydream about what’s in store for us in the coming weeks. Some eleven or twelve hours in the air, one big leap over the ocean and then a connecting flight, we’re on the ground in Madrid. Glad that’s behind us (then it hits me…in no time we’ll have to do it again – yikes).
Off The Beaten Path en España: a whole new world to explore. Fun ‘n’ crazy adventures with Chris Doering & Connie Biggart (BIGDoer/Synd)
Next it’s jump in a cab (scenes from the game Crazy Taxi), zipping through Madrid as though an Indy Car. Jump in this lane, then that. Into a tunnel. Traffic’s insane…yet, it seems to work. In spite of the congestion and down right chaos, it flows well, and interestingly no one here seems to use a horn.
Scroll down for photos and to comment.
Arrive at the Hotel – the Iberostar Las Letras Gran Vía if it means anything – what a dump. And sleep. That jet lag is an evil bastard. But before it all a couple quick photos out the balcony – can already see it…what a city! Yawn…more…more…tomorrow. Eyes close…zzzzzzzz. A few hours later, awaking, a couple more photos and it’s back to bed. Adventure awaits…but it’s for tomorrow. And the next day. And every one that follows till we head home. No beaches for us, no flip-flops, no zip lines, it’s getting to know a country with a genuine curiosity. The real side of Spain.
So watch this page. As each new “España” articles gets published, we’ll post the link. We’ll break it down by day (and did we kept busy – it was amazing!), publishing a new post perhaps once every two weeks or so. We don’t want to bore or overwhelm you. With that, you’ll be seeing these well into next year!
We’ll take in Madrid for a couple days, hit the El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage Trail for a good week, then hit the coast up near Spain’s most western edge, never sitting still. And along the way we’ll see ancient buildings, impressive cathedrals that tower to the sky going back eight or nine hundred years that took two centuries to build and many small county churches. And there’s castles, monasteries, fine old stone homes, farm houses, quiet back streets, remote villages, all of it simply spectacular. And most all of it old.
So stay tuned. And in the meantime, enjoy the first photo we ever shot in Spain and a couple that followed and take in that most amazing Spanish Vibe. It begins…
If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!
Date: June, 2018. Location: Madrid, plus the regions and provinces of Toledo, Leon & Galacia Spain. Article references and thanks: My sis & brother in law whom we owe a huge debt.
We used to do something called the "pointless challenge" 🤪 and miss those days. It was so much silly fun and often frustrating as heck. In these we'd invite people to send in random photos of obscure locations, but not give any information, and then we'd track where it was and shoot something similar.
Most of these came from old family collections, as was the case here. Anyone up to resurrecting the series?
In hindsight, why didn't we pose someone in our shot?
Pointless: “Devoid of meaning (or) senseless” Merriam-Webster.
If you like what we do and want to support this ongoing project (12 years now), go here: https://www.BIGDoer.com/help-the-society/ Thanks to Connie for making this post possible.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: ca1970 and 2014. Posted by Connie.
Captured on a cold, cold day many years ago. We've been passing this old house for decades and it's little changed in that time. At some point we expect to drive by and it'll be gone.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
When retired old railway cars usually get cut up for scrap. Sometimes, however, they find their way into the hands of the general public or whomever. Flat cars make good bridges, and boxcars can be transformed into storage buildings and the like. Case in point here. We see them used like this often enough and in this case, it's part of a corral.
Incidentally, this boxcar dates from 1950 and this was found by tracing the old road number, which is still visible.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
This central Alberta racetrack was never a commercial operation but instead just a fun place for car enthusiasts in the area to get together. Early '70s or thereabouts and it only lasted a few years. Even thought it's been abandoned for that long, there is no doubt what was here.
You know we like the the obscure stuff and this one fits the bill perfectly. Found by accident while backroad cruising and the history comes thanks to local car guy Mike.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2022. Posted by Connie.
On top of little Myrtle Mountain in the Kimberley (BC) Nature Park.
There's some good wilderness fun to be had here and nice views as you can see, but the real reason we came is mining history. The whole area near the ski hill was extensively worked over a century ago and we were looking for evidence of this. We didn't find much in the area searched, but it's a big chunk of property and we hope to return to cover more ground again soon. Of all the subjects we cover, mining related is a favourite.
Still, it was a good hike and that can't be bad. Look to the comments for more info 👇.
Exploring nature and history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2022. Posted by Connie.
It's a strange curiosity in south Kananaskis, there on a hillside and we have no idea who created it. We asked around and no one's completely sure about its history. In the past it showed the Canada 100 logo from 1967 but in 2017 someone changed it to reflect the country's 150th.
That's our friend Emily from DanOCan.com having a look.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
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What a beautiful place. Waiting for more!
There’s lots in the pipeline. Trust me!
Best thing I ever did the El Camino pilgrimage.
We both found it quite moving and will never forget it.
Thanks for all that you guys do!
We try hard! Thanks for dropping by.
Can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with!
There will be some amazing pics – I’ve been looking them over. Soon we’ll post more.
Was there, but can’t wait!
It seems so long ago now. God, that was an amazing trip.
Great photos! Thanks for sharing.
Any time!