Old buildings

A very old corner of Madrid. San Pedro El Viejo is the church on the left and one of the very oldest in Madrid. In fact, if we discount all those that burnt down and were rebuilt, then it most definitely is the oldest! My first week's immersion course students live a stone's throw from here but in different streets. Even though they work in the same company and knew each other vaguely (before their immersion course with me), they didn't know that they lived so close to each other! I was lucky with with my students .One week in an immersion course environment needs good class dynamics and good EI skills. It worked very well with the first grouop ... now for group 2!

Parroquia Santísimo Cristo de La Victoria, Chamberí, Madrid and too many pigeons for my liking!

One of the many royal palaces scattered around the centre of Spain but no longer used as such.

Garden in Saint Day, Cornwall. Having just trimmed the ceanothus, the chapel roof was visible for the first time in ages so I took a shot. The cotoneaster on top of the wall was next on the agenda for a haircut!.

Intriguing mural crossing the wall from just above the door.

Castle walls and gateway.

It's a touristy place but eerily empty midweek in September.

Convento Monasterio de San Julian y San Antonio, Sierra de La Cabrera. A brisk trot to the summit of Cancho Gordo from here should take no more than 45 minutes!

I don't feel comfortable taking photos of peoples' private property, distressed or not, but I couldn't help liking the stonework here!

Wheal Coates tin mine ruins, between St Agnes Head and Chapel Porth, Cornwall. Monbretia providing colour.

Seen from the grounds.

Capilla de Nuestra Señora del Rosario. Madrid Province.

Panteón des hombres ilustres (Mausoleum of famous men - sorry, no women)

Reputed to be the oldest surviving church in Madrid. (most burnt down eventually and were - often - rebuilt but not this one, it's the original building). Some say it started life as a mosque but it's in the wrong part of Madrid and it is thought very unlikely. The best masons and builders were the Moors though, hence the moorish influence.

It's near the 1905 water depository but I don't know its function. I might hazard a guess that it's the tower for a pumping engine house, as at Cornish tin mines. Very late autumn colour.

Where I used to stay in the summer as a teenager. I was very fortunate with my school French exchange partner!!! This was his family's summer holiday home here in Provence. (We are still in contact!). Look on the satellite map for an idea of its size

Saint-Léger-du-Ventoux

On the way to a class I spotted this through a railing / fence. Later checking on Google maps suggests this is the Real Basilica Nuestra Señora de Atocha. Be that as it may, and I have my doubts, I rather liked it!