the region the Moors loved the most, so this is where
you'll see many of their lovely stone buildings full of lacelike
carvings.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

It's like going into another world to journey from Andalusia into
western Spain. In Extremadura, the land where the Conquistadores lived,
and in Leon, there are great sweeping plains where the land is not very
fertile because there are long dry seasons. Raising sheep, fruit and
pigs are the main sources of making a living, and the people must work
very hard. They don't have time for as much fun as the Andalusians do.
These people are quiet but proud. They are especially proud of their
universities, libraries and cathedrals.

[Illustration]

Still another little world in this country of contrasts is found in the
eastern part of Spain, along the Mediterranean coast and in the region
inland from this coast. The coastal regions are called, from north to
south, Catalonia, Valencia and Murcia, all very pretty names. Catalonia
has a long seacoast which is cut by many bays and coves reaching back
right into the mountains, which rise straight from the sea. Many white
sand beaches, rimmed with pine trees, invite you to stop and swim and
sun. If you stopped, you could have fun climbing around the ruins of old
walls and watchtowers on the hills looking out to sea. Once upon a time
on these hills, lookouts used to give warning when pirates were sailing
up to plunder the villages. One of these Catalonian villages, called
Tossa de Mar, has a whole village built inside the walls on top of a
hill above the regular village. People used to gather in this hilltop
hideout for protection against pirates. The second largest city in
Spain, Barcelona, is in Catalonia, and it has a very busy harbor where
ships of all nations sail in and out every day.

Valencia, south of Catalonia, is a land of flowers. Carnations, roses,
jasmine, scarlet bougainvillea vines, and orange and lemon blossoms fill
the air with perfume. Every Spaniard loves flowers, and every window and
courtyard is full of blossoms. In the city of Valencia there's a Battle
of Flowers every year during one of their festivals. Great baskets of
rose petals and carnations line the streets and everyone dips out
handfuls to toss over his neighbors and friends. You can imagine that in
a very short time the whole city looks as if it were paved with flowers.

In Sitges, a small fishing village a few miles north of Valencia