Our visit to Spain was 3 full days plus the evening we arrived and the morning we had to leave for the airport in Madrid.

The bus ride and connection to the airport was without complications which is always a relief. We flew from Milan Bergamo arriving in Zaragoza a bit after 9pm.

I was not sure what to expect upon our arrival in Zaragoza. We were staying with Diana’s aunt for the duration of our trip. And I had never been to Spain nor did I know Diana’s family.

We were greeted by Pilar (Aunt) David (cousin) and Nacho (Pilar’s friend). They were all so friendly and welcoming, I instantly felt at home.

After multiple hugs, long stares and introductions, we left the airport. Nacho took our luggage to Pilar’s apartment and joined us later in a little spanish restaurant that was open late. We had beer, appetizers and patatas bravas which are fries with aioli sauce………..it’s delicious.

As the evening progressed, I starting feeling tired but somehow listening to the faint sound of laughter and cheerful spanish voices kept me going. I wondered what the next few days had in store. The Pilar festival was in full motion and Diana and I didn’t have an itinerary. Little did I know what I was experiencing at the restaurant was just a sample of what was to come.

The next morning we had coffee and pastry courtesy of our lovely host Pilar then headed out to meet with David and his family.

After leaving Pilar’s apartment, we walked many blocks to the main Plaza area near the festival. This city was alive! People come from all around to be a part of the Fiestas del Pilar every year in October.

In every direction there were crowds of people. It was difficult to take photos because I felt I would miss so much trying to view everything through a camera lens. Each day we walked for hours, each day we took a siesta. Then we headed back out to spend an evening hopping from one tapas bar to the next with yet more walking!

Most of the pictures below are photos I took as we walked in a zig-zag fashion through the Spanish streets. Along the way Pilar would point out doors after realizing how much I had a passion for old, gothic and uniquely designed ones.

The next day was October 12th, the height of the festival. This is when various groups in traditional costumes make a pilgrimage through the city streets to the Basilica and offer up flowers to the Blessed Virgin Mary. During this time we visited the La Seo de Zaragoza (Catedral del Salvador ) church. Unfortunately cameras are forbidden inside, but I soon got over that disappointment while taking in the array of overwhelming and magnificent details inside this elaborate Roman Catholic Cathedral with its Gothic altarpieces and romanesque styles.

We also toured the Cathedral-Basilica. Inside lies the star attraction, statue of Our Lady of the Pillar, located in the Holy Chapel.

We spent the evening in the streets of Zaragoza along with countless others, drinking eating and having a great time. Sadly tomorrows sunrise would be our last in Spain…………

The last 7 photos are from The Aljafería Palace. It is a fortified medieval Islamic palace with a combination of Spanish and Islamic architecture built during the second half of the 11th century in the Moorish taifa of Zaragoza of Al-Andalus. Pilar, David and I went on the tour of the palace while Diana rested at the entrance.