Spain's Hidden Cities

"Chess, Coffee, and a Sightseeing Cafe Do you enjoy any of the following: people watching, chess, great coffee, food and wine? Then SAVOY is the place you’ve been dreaming of. On the Plaza Orense in Pontevedra is the recently renovated two storied cafe. Everything about this spot is perfect; one of my favorites being the outdoor terrace that has weekly concerts and the floor to ceiling wall of windows in the upstairs lounge. Two tables are actually chessboards, and you can borrow the pieces from the bar downstairs. The coffee is always fresh and comes with a cookie or cakelike tapa, the wine is very well priced and offers a wide range of selections for even the most discriminating palate. Photo by juantiagues/Flickr ."

"Braving Heights on Ronda's Ancient Bridge Get ready for your pulse to quicken as you look over the edge of this nearly 400 ft drop into the chasm that is the valley of Ronda! This majestic city is divided into the old and new town, and this bridge brings both world together. Stay at the hotel Parador which overlooks this dramatic drop, but be sure to see the other sights, too! Charm is infused into every corner in Ronda and for this reason it is best explored on foot so you are able to savor the quiet corners and winding alleys. Stop for a tapa and spend the afternoon like a local, basking in the warm sunshine in the main square. Photo by the very honest man/Flickr ."

"The Hanging Houses of Cuenca Like something out of a storybook, the drive to Cuenca winds you up a steep hill upon which are resting a series of wooden houses, stacked like crooked books and precariously perched-- they beckon you. Cuenca’s elevation makes the views amazing and the sunsets are perfectly watched from the square behind the church. Make sure you enjoy lunch in the main square and listen to the toll of the bells which send birds scattering in every direction, adding an eery charm to the place. All of the restaurants in the main square will offer a menu del dia - menu of the day - which will include two courses, dessert and a drink and offer you several hours of relaxation an indulgence for a truly authentic Spanish experience. Take your pick! Photo by Gabriel Villena/Flickr ."

"Strolling Through Sacromonte, After the Alhambra The walk to Sacromonte is a bit nerve-wracking since the pedestrian lanes and sidewalks disappear from time to time, and there are several blind curves, but it is worth all the adventure. Walking alongside whitewashed houses with large succulent gardens while staring at the Alhambra, you really begin to understand what life is like in Andalucia. If you persist uphill to the church you will enjoy an incredible, breathtaking view; this is still one of my best memories of Granada. Be sure to check out a flamenco show in one of the caves at night - the atmosphere is incredible, passionate, and simply Spanish. Photo by Maximo Lopez/Flickr ."

"A Stop On the Way Through Cariño, Galicia, Spain. The wind carried us up and past Cariño to Cape Ortegal, where we looked out over the end of the world (and clung to the lighthouse like scarecrow on a stick in the middle of a Tornado). Experiencing the cape in a relentless storm was something I'll never forget - there were more than a few people unwilling to step out of their vehicles to brave the wind and rain that day - but it's this view of little Cariño that I'll never forget. I certainly won't forget falling down the hill after taking this photo. A tumble never hurt anyone permanently."

"Hike to the "Haunted" Village of Marmellar Would-be ghost-hunters will enjoy a tour of this abandoned village in Tarragona province a little over an hour's drive from Barcelona . Left completely deserted after the end of the Spanish Civil War, crumbling homes, a church in ruins, and empty tombs are overgrown with weeds and brush in this isolated village located a half hour hike from the nearest paved road. While there have been rumors of strange goings-on for years, after a dead body turned up on the scene in the early nineties, Marmellar became an urban legend of sorts."