I never like to have things hanging about in my ‘Drafts folder’. I’m not an organised, scheduling sort of person though, heaven knows, it would be an improvement! But this little side trip keeps smiling sadly at me from it’s lonely position in there. Unfinished, until now. So, with a flourish, let me present Ayamonte.
Remember my kings, strolling through the streets of Vila Real de S. Antonio on the Algarve’s eastern edge? They were smiling and throwing sweets to their loyal subjects, as any good king should at Epiphany. And then they boarded the ferry for Ayamonte, in Spain. Just 10 minutes on the ferry, but a lifetime apart culturally and in temperament.
Ayamonte, seen from the ferry, is a simple whitewashed Spanish town. At close quarters it reveals its medieval side in narrow streets and historical buildings. This is Huelva province, and there is no shortage of Andalucian flamboyance.
The approach, by ferry
Such pretty tiles around the fountain
Life is so colourful
Even under a cloudy January sky
The bronze dome pierces the clouds
I love the colour and the tiles yet it always surprises me how very different Ayamonte feels from Portugal, just a wave away, across the water. The road bridge over the River Guadiana now links the two, for speedy access, but I prefer a gentler approach to the culture change.
A canal runs away from the Guadiana, around the old side of town and past a park at which I don’t look too closely. There are animals caged there in an environment I would never choose for them. A new boardwalk has been laid and there is an air that the town is thriving. Not the case in much of Spain, nor Portugal, for that matter.
Beyond the canal, in the distance, the older side of town
And so I’ve had my little flirt with flamenco. Back on the ferry now, and home to Portugal (and those crazy, likeable kings).
restlessjo 
Oh, you’re making me miss Spain, Jo. I love those colorful tiles around the fountain and the seating areas. I keep dreaming of going back and reliving my trip all over again. 🙂
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Ah this is a beauty Jo! One of your best…..glad it escaped the drafts folder 🙂 The tower shot is particularly captivating.
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Thanks, Madhu 🙂 It photographs well- isn’t it strange that it’s not a place I’m especially fond of? Faithful to Portugal, I suppose.
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I guess our fondness for places aren’t necessarily based on their being photogenic 🙂
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There’s a link to one of my several Barcelona posts in the Glasgow walk, Sherri. If that isn’t a city to love, I don’t know what is! But then you shouldn’t miss Sevilla, Cordoba or Granada either. The list goes on 🙂 Many thanks for your time this morning. I should be out walking but the weather’s still dreary so I’m catching up on all kinds.
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What a great side-trip Jo! I’m just catching up now, hence the late response to it but would you believe that I have never been to mainland Spain? Not sure why, just one of those strange things. Even my boys have and my husband but not me (or my daughter but she is young!) It’s the only country in Europe, just about, that I’ve never visited and long to. I love the fountain and all the coloured tiles everywhere. Very Spanish, as I imagine it, and yes, another added to the ever-growing list! The architecture fascinates me – that, and the food! Thanks for sharing another great travel post Jo 🙂
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i mosaici Moreschi e modernizzazione della Spagna Sono davvero magnifici e tu ne hai Fatto Una bella Scelta, Quei colori Sono davvero Festosi, sembrano ONU inno alla Bellezza dell’arte e della vita!
Mosaici moreschi e Spagna moderna sono veramente belli e hai fatto una buona scelta, quei colori sono di festa, in realtà sembrano un inno alla bellezza dell’arte e della vita!
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Glad you had fun, Ventis! I don’t see you in the land of flamenco, somehow, but I know that you will love the jewel colours 🙂
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ha ha ha sorry! è uscitao fuori tutto della traduzione, se puoi cancella che riscrivo sotto per bene!
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i mosaici moreschi e moderni della Spagna sono davvero magnifici e tu ne hai fatto una bella scelta, quei colori sono davvero festosi, sembrano un inno alla bellezza dell’arte e della vita!
Moorish mosaics and modern Spain are really beautiful and you’ve made a good choice, those colors are festive, really seem to a hymn to the beauty of art and of life!
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It looks a lovely little town. Great selection of photos- you have a great eye for all the little details.
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Thanks, Colin 🙂 Quite some contrast with your own home town! I was in Glasgow yesterday and I loved it.
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I loved that fountain! All the tiles in the photos are beautiful. My favorite photo is the one of the canal…
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Yes, a couple of people have said that, Sue 🙂 I like the shot too. Many thanks!
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Regardless of weather and gray clouds above, Spain is smiling with colors that excites and make us wish we are there now. Awesome pictures!
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Thanks, Mr. B 🙂 It’s like a big icecream sundae, isn’t it? On a Sunday! Have a happy weekend.
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A beautiful sky in that last photo, Jo. And I do love those tiles!
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I love sky shots, Debbie. Yesterday I was out really early to go to Glasgow for the day and I still couldn’t resist some sky shots on my walk into town 🙂
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