Central Spain

Granite shapes, La Sierra de La Cabrera. This strange hanging rocky shape fell to the ground a year or two after I took this shot.

Miracle of Peru ( allamanda neriifolia ) aka Missouri primrose, golden butterfly, mirabilis jalapa. Also in red and white. A bright and cheerful plant in the garden .

Revolutionary for the early 1990s, these leaning towers were a noted landmark and perhaps still are, even if the nearby Cuatro Torres now steal their limelight. The main bus terminal for buses to the north lies underground here on many levels. I just missed my bus by seconds so had two hours to wait for the next one (a much reduced summer 'service'!). With time to kill I went for a walk and took this shot on a whim. This wikipedia entry may be of interest; es-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/Puerta_de_Europa?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc

Well, I haven't shown my favourite picnic table for quite some time and I'm not sure whether I've posted this exact same shot before but even I have, I feel it's worth another airing! Better maybe on full screen.

Why bats? Because I was attempting to capture at least one clear shot of the pipistrelle bats that come out to feeds at dusk! They simply move much too fast! Oh well, there is one fairly obvious bat here and maybe two. These bats roost in next door's eaves and are accepted happily for one very important reason and that is they help to keep the mosquito population way down and for that I am extremely grateful! The bat is easier to see on large!

I'm sure you all remember Punky! Well, he's pleased and incredibly proud to announce the birth of a little Punkette, straight out of his 'hair' of course! Take a bow, Punky! www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkUKY9ubUFo Sight and sound. Entirely sensible sentiments, expressed forcefuly and not necessarily all that musically! Nonetheless I include it at Punky's request!

A view from the upper (third tier) terrace down to the back garden and vegetable patch.

A new oleander sprouted here this year, beside the lower terrace.

The storm and storm cloud seen here had been above us about 15 minutes beforehand and with almost tornado-like gusts of wind! All the garden furniture was scattered around the neighbours' gardens and we acquired a fair sprinkling of theirs! Figs still not ripe.

My sister's shot from 3 years ago. Another dramatic sky! Best on full screen.

Well it's sufficiently different to the last one to merit another airing, I think!

Another missed bus (by seconds and a two hour wait), so another photo opportunity. The golden needle like structure was added to this site just before I came to live and work here. It doesn't seem to be liked much; hence the nickname you see in my title! (La Aguja hipodérmica in Spanish). I think the heat of the day comes through in this shot!

Same fig tree - looking towards the back of the house. Simply irrestible! Sight and Sound, I haven't heard this in decades. Here it is now; www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrGw_cOgwa8

The town of Maderuelo in Segovia Province is yet another town that has seen far better days. Now very run down due to de-population, it nevertheless retains enough interest for tourists and still has a few decent restaurants and bars. Perhaps marginally better on full screen.

Today was a relief in that the recent calima (Saharan dust cloud), and the smoke from the wild-fires in Portugal and Western Spain finally cleared, leaving a lovely view for the first time in about a week! Perhaps better on full screen. Added extra little titbit (I'm not American so it's titbit OK?); bottom left hand corner of the shot is the top of a pot of basil. Usually they last 1 to 2 weeks and then they expire and you buy another on your next shop (very cheap). But this hardy little bugger has been happily thriving for a couple of months now - almost to the point when I'll have to think up a name for it as it has almost become part of the family! Any suggestions for a name? Please let me know!!

Evening sky from the upper terrace. (The setting sun is behind me).

It opens its blooms when the sun goes in! This is an evening shot after the sun had gone down. Sight and Sound - I like this song, I haven't heard it in maybe 30 years but I think it's great and the guitarist was on fire. Terry Kath is underrated but Jimi Hendrix liked him so enough said! www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uAUoz7jimg

A street near me. (Algete street scene 1) These dramatic flowers are fairly common here. They look especially good against a granite wall and with a view to the distant Guadarrama mountains. A blue sky helps too! Also everything is as was! No editing at all, no cropping, no enhancements whatsoever. The light yesterday was so pure that I could have read the small print off a can of coke (if I had been so inclined) without my reading glasses! Sight and sound: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NR-hmFrR20 - by the late great Tim Buckley. Simply because it's a summery kind of song and with summer on the way out soon, I get a bit of a sadness creeping in. This song helps cheer me up. By the way, younger members might recognise the name of his talented son; Jeff Buckley. Sadly, both died young and both by drowning. Perhaps best on full screen.