Our travel of Spain starts from Ma Lajia, from south to north, via Sevilla and Madrid, to Barcelona. We flied to Spain from England at Friday evening and spent the first two nights in a tranquil block behind the Alameda Principal Avenue in downtown of Malaga.
Day 1: Malaga
Our first day of schedule is in urban district of Malaga. Malaga is a port city located in Andalusia, a province in south Spain and Mediterranean Sea sun seacoast. About ten centuries ago, the Phoenician established Malaka, it is said this name maybe origin from the Phoenicia language "salt", because fish nearby this harbor is all quite salty. After 7 centuries, Roman Empire conquered the Europe continent including Malaga. Starts from the A.D. 5 century, western Goth set Malaga under the rule. In A.D. 8 century, Moor conquered Spain. Malaga has been becoming an important trade center relying on its superior position as a seashore harbor.
Now, for the majority of tourists, Malaga is not famous for its trade, but the costa del sol. and the talent artist Picasso. At the end of the 19th century, Picasso was born here. He once said, person who had not experienced the sunshine of Malaga could not create the Cubism drawing art. So people in Malaga are all feel proud for the sunshine and sand beach. We took a map in the hotel and marked three recommendations routes on the map:
(Northwest) green line Malaga Traditional - Spain old style residential area construction and cathedral
(Middle) blue line Monumental Basic - Malaga imperial palace, castle ruins and so on
(Southeast) purple line – seashore
Our hotel is located at the end point of green line and we take it as our starting spot. Opposite the street, our first stop is the Central Atarazanas Market which has several hundred years’ history. The market is full of variety of fruits, melons, vegetables, fish and shrimp seafood. Walking along the green line on the narrow curving street in Ma Lajia, appreciating the fine balcony or the window on both sides, passing the cathedral, we arrives the Picasso museum. The museum looks just like a common residence. We may even not pay any attention on it in slack seasons when passing. Some Picasso works of different time are collected in the museum. We can see Picasso’s unusual thought, such as person or animal with horns blows the loudspeaker, strange faces have two eyes in one side, the distorted faces, portrait wears various types mask, big geometric figure, and exaggerating color. Some pictures probably are taken the Picasso’s girlfriend or the wife as the prototypes. But some pictures are only guessed Picasso’s intention. They acknowledged Picasso’s thought frequently beyond expectation, jumps. The new works discovered one after another often revise the experts’ thoughts of understanding of Picasso. But their understanding is too heavy for me. For layman who has not studies Picasso, just like me, looked lively is enough. The management of the museum is quite stern. Camera needs to check, each room of the exhibition hall is guarded. It’s impossible for guys like me to photograph surreptitiously. No photographing is reasonable, but what makes me feel inconvenient is that the illustrations nearby each picture are all in Spanish. Coming out from the museum, we are in the sunshine again and the sunshine increases our interest greatly. About 11 o’clock, we finished the green line and start the blue line. Few minutes later, we saw an ancient Rome amphitheater built at the A.D. 1 century. After the repair, open-air concert are hold here the every summer. Above the theater are the imperial palace ruins. In the imperial palace only the city wall, the garden and some repaired house are retained. The flowers, plants, fountain and the basin the garden in the garden brought several minute bright flowing. The imperial palace was built by Moors who comes from North Africa. They value water so much that even if today imperial palace is only little left, fountain and basin still everywhere obviously. Moorish style constructions are also clearly discernible between the surviving several houses. Leaving the imperial palace, we climb up Castillo de Gibralfaro Hill from the side road. We planted many big cacti along the way. Along with the high rising, we gets a panoramic view of the hill scenery - the deep blue bay, the orange bullring, the houses alternates with red and yellow… … The bullrings around bullring have already developed into real estate. The high buildings have encircled the bullring solidly. It’s should be so wonderful to watch bullfight through window, while drinking the coffee home.
The high point of the hill is an ancient castle. The castle occupies a commanding position which easy to defend and difficult to attack. There is an “official road” from the imperial palace to the castle. When enemy attack, the aristocrats may escape in the shortest time to the castle through the road. The road has been already abandoned now, but can still find the residual trace. There are many ancient buildings, like palace, city hall, university, customs building aside Avda de Cervantes at the foot of the hill. Not far along the road is the bullring. Watching in the ground was really inferior to watching on the mountain.
Enters the purple line, we arrived the seashore sand beach. Stepping on in the warm fine sand, taking a broad view looks of the blue sea and sky, and people lying in the sand beach who was not fearing tans, we really want to enjoy this genial sunlight well. The purple line terminus returns to nearby the hotel at the MARINA square. After a short rest in hotel, we went to the station to buy train tickets to Sevilla for second day. When we returned the MARINA square, the flag tells us, the 2006 sailing ships Challenge was holding in Malaga. We hurried to the competition place at the square. The tournament was just ended. The swarthy solid crews are washing the ship and inspecting components. The sailing ships character dispels, is matching the blue sky dark cloud, ha ha, pretty good!

Spain is a country originated in multicultural civilization. External culture has gradually rooted in Iberian island and formed its unique style for centuries. As a result of multicultural amalgamation, the historical heritage of Spain is rich and colorful. The history of Spain culture and art reveals the nation’s creation and its important position in the world. Spain has also bred many world renowned artists. When you traveling in Spain, you certainly should go to Iglesia de Santo Tomé in Toledo to appreciate Entierro del Conde de Orgaz which is the masterpiece of the 17th century artist El Greco. You also should go to Museo del Prado in Madrid for masterpieces of genius artist Francisco de Goya and the famous Las Meninas of Velasquez. The latter works inspired many many continuators. Picasso had reindited the work in other cubism syle.

At end of the 19^th century, modernism shows the perfect performance in hands of famous Catalonian architect Antonio Gaudi who designed Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell in Barcelona. Born in Andalusia, Picasso is one of the greatest representatives of modern art in the 20^th centenary. Coetaneous with Picasso, Salvador Dail and Joan Miró are the outstanding representatives of super realism and abstract art respectively.

Owning the multitudinous world-famous museums, Madrid, the capital of Spain, may be called capital the cultural art. Travelers who have opportunity to Madrid can not miss the two museums: Museo del Prado and Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. The former collects the majority works of Velasquez and Goya and the latter collects the famous Guernica of Picasso and other works of Dail and Miró which will attract tourists interesting in modern art.

What’s more, there are many old and unique national culture tradition and entertainment including the world famous bullfight, warm hearted Spanish dancing and various national festivals. Tourists from world can feel the unique Mediterranean character.

The area of Spain is 504,750 square kilometers, which located at the Iberian Peninsula, accounting for four-fifths of the peninsula area. Located at north latitude 36 - 44 degree, west longitude 9°18′ and east longitude 3°19′. The greatest distance of north-south is 840 kilometers, the distance of west-east is 1000 kilometers. Territory, including the Balearic Islands which located at the Mediterranean sea and Canary Islands which located at the ocean of northwest of Africa. Spain is the largest country in South-East Europe, it only inferior to France in Western Europe. Meseta is a occlusive plateau which is a surrounded by mountains, which accounts for about 60% of whole country area, the average altitude is 600-800 meters. Many mountains ranges in Spain, there are Pyrenees mountains and Kandabu mountains in the north area, which stretch in an unbroken chain from eastern to western; there is Andalusia mountains in the south area, the altitude of highest mountain is 3,478 meters, it is the highest point of Spain. Canary Islands are made up of volcanic eruption. There are 13 volcano islands, the total area is 7273 square kilometers. Mainland of Spain lacks of moisture, moderate drier, dry and windy are the characteristics of most parts of the Spain. Spain has various climates. Meseta plateau is continental climate, reached below 25 degree cold in winter and reached above 40 degree in summer. The average annual rainfall is about 500 mm in the highlands. It is maritime temperate climate in the north and north-west area, the difference in temperature is not clear, the average temperature is 9 degree in January, and is 19 degree in summer. The rainfall is above 1000 mm. it is subtropical climate in the south and south-east area, it is too hot in summer, and it is warm and rainy in winter. Forests cover is about 30% in Spain. Forest resources are mainly concentrated in the north coast, the total area of forests is 11.79 million hectares. Spain is the second largest country of cork productions in the world, it is a major exporter goods in Spain.
There are abundant fish culture resources. There are 450 species in the Mediterranean, tuna is the largest economic value. Atlantic and Biscay teem with sardines and cods, they are well-know. The population of Spain is smaller than that of Germany, Italy, Britain and France, which ranks the fifth in Europe. The distribution of population is uneven. The mainland which accounts for about two-thirds of the area, there is only one-third of residents. The Spanish population fluidity is very big. According to statistics, the total Spanish population that moved to other country is 1.5 million after the war. The Spanish who live in foreign country is more than 3.36 million, there are 2.207 million in Americas and 1.073 million in Europe. The population fluidity is also big in domestically. At present, there are approximately 30-50 thousands people in domestically to migrate every year. Mainly from rural to urban areas, from remote areas to move to economically developed areas or tourist spots. Spain is a multinational country, the main nation is Castilla people, also is Spanish, which accounts for 70% of the total population. Furthermore, Catalonian people, about 6.9 million, accounts for 18.8% of the total population; Galician people, about 3 million, accounts for 8.2% of the total population; Basque, about 850 thousands; there are also Romany, Portuguese, Americas and Cuban and so on. Spanish comes of ancient Latin, there is 1 thousands year of history so far. Spanish is an official language of Spain. In the minority areas, their respective national language also is official languages. Spanish is common language in some Latin American countries, Equatorial Guinea of Africa and several countries in North Africa. So also in part area of Philippines is. There are 230 million people to speak Spanish all over the world. Spanish is one of common languages in U.N. there are 94% of residents to believe in Catholicism.

Catholicism has a great influence for living of Spanish. In addition, there are 30 thousands Protestants and few followers who believe baptism.

The Capital Madrid’s in Peninsula Iberian of south West Mediterranean Continent. In the west it’s west Portugal and the northeast is France. It’s next to Andorra，and in the north it’s close to Bay of Biscay. It’s face to the southern strait of gibraltar and Morocco of African continental. It’s next to the southeast Mediterranean Sea. Its Shoreline is about 3904 Kilometer (excluding Balearic Islands and Canary Islands).Its Middle Tableland is continental climate and northwest and its northwest & near shore is marine climate .In 1492, after The of victory Recover Movement, the uniform Spain Feudalism dynasty is founded. In Oct. 12th of same year, Columbus arrived at West India Islands. Since then, Spain has gradually become Super power on the sea. It had colonies in Europe, the United States, Africa and Asia.1588 it defeated by British "no enemy ship" and started to decline. The First Republic is founded in 1873. The Second Republic is founded in Franco announced that Spain is monarchy in 1947, and he made himself as the lifetime monarch. Franco died in November 1975, Juan Carlos ascended the throne. In July 1976, the King appointed A • Soares, the former Secretary of National Movement, the Prime Minister. Spain began the transition to a Western parliamentary democracy. In October 1982, Socialist Workers Party won the election cabinet. Then Socialist Workers Party won the re-election in 1986, three in 1989 and 1993.

Spain also has colorful folk customs. "Honeymoon Island" in the Mediterranean Balearic Islands, Spain, the largest Mallorca, it’s a beautiful city with very pleasant weather. The mid-1950s, France has 100 pairs of young men and women married collectively. They loved Jiumu Mallorca enchanting scenery, so they got together here with friends to celebrate the honeymoon. Later, young men and women are married, as in many European countries the best place for a honeymoon. Over time, the island was known as the "Honeymoon Island."

Bullfighting. Bullfighting considered to be the "national essence" of Spain, the "technology" is known as "Bull Kingdom". Spain’s bullfighting has always been the public’s attention and appreciation in the world.

Martyrdom Day. Festival of Women in Power. Reportedly, in 1227 Samara Moors captured the castle in Segovia, helpless people in the occasion. St. Age Da and other women lead the men and women to fight with the enemy. They finally expelled the enemy and retook the castle. Many women sacrificed their lives heroically. For commemorating the martyrdom in the battle to defend women’s hometown, they decided spending two days in February as "Martyrs Day" by holding various activities. It’s also known as "Women in Power." In these two days, from the public affairs of the family, where men hold all the power to turn women. Women, "elected two mayors" fulfill the mayor’s power. On this day, women in the "mayors" command, defend the castle atop a giant statue of Santa agueda. The men were guarding the road map to the church. It symbolizes the winning Segovia Castle.

Spain has a superior tourist resources, the majority of its land and mild climate and grow, so that beautiful mountains, the sun was shining and the scenic city. The terrain over 3,000 km of coastline, many natural BEACH found, which of the three famous seaside tourism. Extending more than 100 kilometers in the south of Spain’s "Golden Coast" is a popular tourist destination countries sunbathing lovers unlimited admirers; and the "happy island" of the Canary Islands known. not only his magnificent volcanic landscape to attract countless visitors come to the more because of its tropical scenery, the sun was shining all year round, tourists yearning to "Mediterranean bath" and the world’s Balearic Islands Hongya, It also coincides with the sea and the sky is the exclusion of everything else.

Spain possesses many of the palaces, churches and castles. More than 10 monuments are protected by UNESCO as a cultural heritage. For example, the Santiago-De-Compostela City (Santiago)’ll Naliao St. Martin’s Cathedral, Jesco strategic monastery near Madrid, Avila’s ancient city wall, Segovia’s oldest water bridge, The Great Mosque in Cordoba, Granada’s Alhambra Palace, Barcelona Greig Park and artists Fajullah homes, which represent the heritage of ancient civilizations of Spain.

In Spain there are many ancient and unique cultures of the nation’s cultural traditions and unique entertainment, including the world-famous Spanish bullfighting, passionate Spanish dance, a variety of customs, ethnic festivals (such as Pigeons Festival in Madrid, Catalonia region Courmayeur Festival, the Valencia Law Jacques Festival and Pamplona City Customs Cattle Festival). They can make the different country guests feel Spain’s unique experience.

In Spain, tourism can be presented to the Spanish Balearic Islands tourist area, southeast of tourist areas, the Northeast tourist area Northwest tourist areas and tourist areas in central and western areas in the direction of five sightseeing.