old doors, windows, walls, etc.

Pastrana, Guadalajara Province. From 5 years ago and I remember it was my first trip out of Madrid after starting chemotherapy. I recall a bitterly cold day but we had a nice lunch and saw a few interesting places including this old town (I have posted some nice terracotta tile roofscape shots from here, one fairly recently). I hadn't posted it before as it is slightly unfocused (I think I can be forgiven in the circs!), but I now think it is quite in keeping with the historic feel.

One of many such doors here. The waggon-wheel ruts show centuries of use. (* Maybe not so old. Please see José Manuel Polo's comment below.)

The parish church (Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Carmen), Valdemanco, Madrid Province. The brooding hulk of Mondalindo lies behind. Better on full screen.

In need of a little TLC perhaps!

The town where I now live with my sister and her family. First posted on ipernity in 2018 and these were my notes at the time: I Googled 'Algete Church' to get the church's name and found this photo a little way in! I must have put it on Pano and forgot! I had thought this was it's first outing!

I've posted this before but couldn't resist another showing.

A very attractive village in the Sierra de Francia. You can see some of the 600 or so portraits on the walls. These were the residents in 1967 who were photogrphed for an album and who later agreed to have their images placed on the houses / flats where they lived at that time. Some say 'spooky!', others say 'what a great idea!' I am in two minds, but it IS different!

The water company, Canal de Isabel II, had to keep up with Madrid's expanding population and water needs and constructed reservoirs (in the Mountains of Madrid), canals and aqueducts throught the 19th century. The first main deposit was amost in the centre of the city and opened in 1858. This is the second and the third was opened in 1905 (I have posted shots of its water tower). Since the 1950s, the water system has expanded exponentially. Deposits I, II and III have long been defunct. This is being transformed into a park and could open soon, Covid-19 permitting.

An old fortified town, 40 miles north of Madrid. The walls are of Moorish origin (11th century), restored in the 15th. The town lies on a peninsula surrounded by the Lozoya river (Wikipedia).

Green door and window shutter, Maderuelo, Segovia Province. Night shot.

Well its obviously a bridge of some sort in Bellas Vistas, Madrid and I came across it on a walk today. It nagged me that I felt sure I had seen it before and that I knew what it was but had forgotten how, why or when! Well later today I remembered. I had seen it before but from up a tower block where I gave a few classes some years ago. From the student's window it was quite clearly used at one time for carrying a track of some kind but now all there was to see was grass growing there. I asked my student who explained it was part of Madrid's long defunct tramway system! I was pleased that my annoying mental itch earlier in the day had been gently scratched away! Having said all that, I have just seen from Google Maps that its called Aquaducto de Amaniel! So I am again none the wiser! A former guest member wrote; Thank you for showing this interesting bridge. I tried to find some information, and on structurae.net/de/bauwerke/amaniel-aquaedukt they say that it is an active aqueduct. The site has been updated a last time actually in 2018 and they show two photos. As I do not know so much spanish, I was not able to collect much information, but for example www.exclusivasimanara.com/blog/galeria/374-el-acueducto-de-amaniel-en-1857 seems to say something similar. I was not able to find information in connection with a tramway, but at www.iagua.es/noticias/ayuntamiento-madrid/ayuntamiento-madrid-recupera-tramo-historico-viaje-agua-amaniel the spanish word "tramo" is being used which might have been misunderstood. I would suppose, in this text, "tramo" stands for construction section (Bauabschnitt, in german) At commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Acueducto_de_Amaniel they show several photos of it, but I do not find a verbal explication at wikipedia sites. Best wishes and have a great day

Right in the heart of Madrid is this (very late dynasty) Ptolomean / Meroen Egyptian temple, built in 220 BC. A gift from Gamel Abdel Nasser, President of Egypt, to the Spanish nation in 1970 as a thank you for the help of Spanish archaeologists in the dismantling and rebuilding elsewhere of ancient sites. These would otherwise have become engulfed by the rising waters caused by the contruction of the Aswan Dam. This temple was one of those saved from the inundation. I went inside the main building today. A far cry from my previous visit some years ago when I was crushed between hordes of visitors and I couldn't study a thing from the artefacts and certainly couldn't get to read any notes. Thanks to Covid-19, entrance was restricted to three visitors at a time and I was able to read the notes by the exhibits and generally learn a few things, which was impossible before. It's an ill wind ...

Puerta lateral de la torre de los Lujanes. Mediados del siglo XV. www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HDdiz8MU8o Sight and sound, knocking on a door - seems reasonable!

A quiet corner. By the side of the church I think.

Colmenar de Oreja, Madrid Province

This could be one of several attractive villages we visited two or three summers ago on a two week touring holiday but since Google stole my notes as well as photos, I can't now remember so I will choose one and say it is La Alberca (and I think I'm right!)

Saint-Léger-du-Ventoux

Where I used to stay in the summer as a teenager. I was very fortunate with my school French exchange partner!!! This was his family's summer holiday home here in Provence. (We are still in contact!). Look on the satellite map for an idea of its size