Tag Archives: www.chaputfootprints.com

Spelunking in Alcafá del Jucar

April 3, 2019 chaput@live.com

We went caving outside of the town of Alcafá del Jucar, which is located in the province of Albacete Spain. We drove to the entrance of the cave which is actually just a small hole in the ground.

Our guide took us to the entrance and began setting up the rappelling gear required to enter the cave.

Rappelling gear set up at the entrance of the cave.

We took the opportunity to take a picture of the group while he was preparing the gear.

Our guide setting up the rappelling ropes for the entrance of the cave.

We each took a turn and rappelled down approximately 15 meters to the base of the cave.

Once we rappelled down to the floor of the cave, we began exploring the different caverns. The cave system was interesting with a lot of different features.

We even meet a few of the locals in the cave system.

We came to one area of the cave which was spectacular. When we shined our lights on the ceiling of the cave it looked like stars. The photo below does not do it justice.

Reflection of light on the drops of water on the ceiling of the cave

There were water drops clinging to the ceiling of the cave and our lights reflected off of them. It made it look like stars in space, truly an amazing sight.

We managed to get a group photo while exploring the cave caves.

We explored the cave system for an hour or so before heading back to the entrance of the cave. We then used a rope ladder and climbed up the 15 meters to the surface.

It was a great experience and very enjoyable.

“Hasta luego y que tengas a buen dia”

Spain

The Fallas of Valencia 2019

March 26, 2019 chaput@live.com

Las Fallas festival in Valencia is a celebration to welcome the coming of spring and an opportunity to say goodbye to winter. As part of the Fallas festival there are giant “ninots” which means dolls. They are built using paper machè, cardboard, wood and other combustible materials. The ninots have different themes and are sometimes political in nature.

We took a bus tour to Valencia and arrived early to explore the different ninots throughout the city.

We walked the crowded streets looking at the different fallas along the way.

The crowded streets of Valencia during the Fallas 2019

We came to some fallas, which were quite interesting and had specific messages.

Falla with naked Franco, Mussolini, Hitler and Trump with condom promoting no reproduction of these politicians.

Falla depicting the United Kingdom cutting ties from European union

Other fallas focused on the environment and in particular the issue of plastic in the oceans.

Falla depicting the dangers of plastics in the oceans.

Falla of a Turtle with plastics in its mouth.

We walked towards the “Plaza de Ayuntamiento” to see the “mascletàs” which is a pyrotechnic event that happens at 2 P.M. The mascletàs are focused on noise and rhythm rather than visual effects. As we got closer to the Plaza de Ayuntamiento the crowd became bigger and thicker.

View of the crowd in the streets at the Plaza de Ayuntamiento in Valencia waiting for the Mascletàs

The crowd was so large and big that we decided to go and find a place to have lunch instead of being in the centre of the crowd. We found a nice restaurant not too far away from the plaza. We enjoyed a nice meal and watched the mascletàs which were streamed live on the internet.

Watching the mascletàs live at the restaurant

After lunch we continued exploring and viewing the different fallas. We came to a parade and walked along with them for a while.

Ray walking along with the parade in Valencia

The parade had different traditional costumes, music and flowers. There were people of all ages participating in the parade.

After watching some of the parade we continued to explore the different fallas.

Shelley and Ray in front of a Falla in Valencia,

There are so many unique and different fallas that we created a small gallery of some of them.

During the evening the fallas and streets were lit up with decorated lighting. This made the fallas look completely different and they were quite beautiful.

We stopped at a bar for some tapas and a rest before heading back home after a full day of exploring the fallas. It was a very unique and enjoyable experience.

“Hasta luego y que tengas un buen dia”

Spain

The Mushrooms of Sevilla

March 8, 2019 chaput@live.com

We went exploring throughout the old quarter of Sevilla. We came across a very unique structure, called the Metropol Parasol. It is also known as “Las Setas de Sevilla” which translates as the mushrooms of Sevilla.

Las setas de Sevilla in the center of Sevilla, Spain

View from the base of the Metropol Parasol

We walked along the base of the Metropol Parasol exploring the large structure.

This project to create the Metropol Parasol was by the german architect Jürgen Mayer, and is the largest wooden structure in the world.

Shelley at the base of the Metropol Parasol, in Sevilla Spain

The Metropol Parasol has different levels, each one with interesting things to see. On the underground level we came across the Antiquarium Museum. It was created to allow people to visit the archaeological remains that were found during the early excavations for the Metropol Parasol.

Shelley in front of the museum in the lowest level of the Metropol Parasol in Sevilla

The Roman ruins on display are behind a large glass, which gives the appearance of an aquarium.

Roman ruins on display at the Antiquarium museum in the Metropol Parasol in Sevilla.

After checking out the Roman ruins we took the Elevator to the third level. On that level there is a restaurant with seating which provided great views of the city.

View from the sitting area of the restaurant

We walked around the restaurant and came to the 26-meter-high walkway which crossed over the top of the parasol.

Walkways on the top of the Metropol Parasol in Sevilla, Spain

We walked along the walkway enjoying the views of the skyline.

Ray and Shelley on the 26-meter high walkway of the Metropol Parasol in Sevilla

Shelley on the 28-meter high walkway of the Metropol Parasol

The parasol is quite interesting and you were able to look down through the structure to the ground below.

View of the people below through the structure of the parasol

We walked around the parasol enjoying the different views of the skyline. It is an impressive size 150 by 70 metres (490 by 230 ft) and an approximate height of 26 metres (85 ft).

Image of the Metropol parasol from the sky

The Metropol Parasol was a very unique wooded structure and we enjoyed exploring the different levels of it. It was one of the highlights of our trip to Sevilla.

“Adios y que tenga un gran dia”

Spain

Plaza del Ángel de Torres

February 26, 2019 chaput@live.com

We were in the city of Cordoba in Spain and came across a small plaza called “Plaza de Ángel de Torres”. The plaza was located in a quiet area in the old jewish quarter.

One of the ways into the Plaza de Ángel de Torres

The small plaza was secluded and was very pretty with orange trees, benches, and a fountain. We walked through the plaza admiring the ornate building which was one of the main features of the plaza.

The ornate building which was located at the plaza de Ángel de Torres.

We then noticed that the plaza floor was made to represent tiles using small individual stone. Upon a closer look each “tile” was actually a symbol or image. They were made using small smooth stones of different colours.

Some of the “tiles” were very interesting and creative. We saw religious images, creative designs, words and images of ordinary daily items.

Small stones used to made represent a tile with the word “PAZ” which means peace in Spanish.

A bike “tile” in the Plaza e Ángel de Torres.

A dove with an olive branch, which signifies peace.

A bottle of wine in the Plaza de Ángel de Torres

A key with heart shaped handle in the plaza

We spent time looking at the different “tiles” and admiring the creative work that was done in the plaza.

Ray looking at the different tiles in the plaza

The plaza also had some large orange trees which were full of oranges.

Orange trees in the plaza de Ángel de Torres

The plaza was very quaint and a very inviting spot to spend some relaxing time. We enjoyed finding this secluded plaza in the old quarter of Cordoba.

“Adios y que tenga un gran dia”

Spain

Los baños de fortuna

February 24, 2019 chaput@live.com

We went to the “Baños de Fortuna” which is spa resort located near the town of Fortuna. The spa complex has multiple pools with natural thermal springs which were popular with the Romans and used as Romans baths. Today these thermal baths have been transformed into a large spa complex with numerous thermal pools.