M. Ichiro Kitano, a class mate, sent me a report of his trip to Spain in this fall. The report with beautiful pictures he took is carried in this page through his kindness as shown in below:

In middle of October, I visited Spain. They said it was one of the best seasons for sightseeing in Spain (Trips in April and May are good too.) Originally this country was Islamic. But Christians began to expel Islamic since eleventh century. In the end of fifteenth century Christians conquered the most part of Iberia peninsula and established a Christian monarch. Once in 1930 Generalissimo Franco revolted to have a republic but the monarchy was restored in 1975. Therefore, in Madrid, a state capital, there is a magnificent palace. The palace guard shuft is exercised like Buckingham Palace in London.

The Prado Arts Museum can be said as one of the most exciting spots for sightseers. A religious picture by El Greco, war pictures by Velazquerz, Tiziano and Goya are overwhelming. But the most attractive ones are La Maja Vestida and La Maja Desnude by Goya.

Tredo is an ancient capital, an hour drive from Madrid. Its old city has kept the image of middle age. The Gothic appearance of great cathedral of Spanish Catholics and its Renaissance chapel inside the Cathedral are said to be ranked equal to Vatican in Rome.

From Madrid to Cordoba, I enjoyed a two hour ride on Super Express Train (ＡＶＥ.） The train is smaller than Shinkansen in Japan but has two comfortable seats at both sides of aisle. It runs as fast as two hundred kilometers per hour. Although it was not known in Japan like TGV in France, it has little vibration and noise. The passengers were served supper just like on airplane. The symbol of Cordoba is Mexquita, the second largest mosque in world, next to one in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The interior of Mosque was designed in Islamic as well as in Christian style. I felt some extraordinary atmosphere.

Sevillia: You are familiar with the name of this city from Rossini's opera "Barber in Sevillia." I enjoyed Flamenco dance but I was disappointed as I could not see bullfight. The bullring was closed because of off seasons. The big cathedral was reformed from Arabic style to Christian. I was impressed by beautifulness of altar in gold plated center of chapel. It was curved to show life of Christ and Maria.

At Granada, I visited La Alhambra Palace, a registered world heritage. Its outside look is not like palace as it was a fortress. But when I entered, luxurious marble pillars, arabesques made of ceramic, Arabian interiors in geometric pattern were more than beautiful. Carlos V built his palace next to La Alhambra in sixteenth century. But he did not satisfy with it because it looked rather poor compared with its neighbor. So he moved to La Alhambra and kept a few princesses here. El Generalife on east of palace is a beautiful garden with flowers and fountains.

Costa del Sol: When you get down to Mediterranean, going south form Gradana, you will see a beautiful seashore extending to 300km long. The shore is one of the most famous resorts in Europe. The view from a hotel at Mijes seashore was something like a view in Hawaii.

Barcelona: One hour and a half flight from Malaga airport near Costa del Sol brought me to Barcelona. Immediately I took a walk at Parque Guell in A'Gaudi. I had a only a vague impression of the church as it was designed too abstractly with unique sculptures in mosaic tone.

I left Barcelona and arrived at Kansan Airport on October 17 via Frankfurt. My nine day trip was finished.

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