About Me

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Troy Nahumko is an award-winning author based in Caceres, Spain. His recent work focuses on travels around the Mediterranean, from Tangier to Istanbul. As a writer and photographer he has contributed to newspapers and media such as Lonely Planet, The Globe and Mail, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Toronto Star, Couterpunch,The Irish World, The Straits Times, The Calgary Herald, Khaleej Times, DW-World, Rabble and El Pais. He also writes a bi-weekly op-ed column 'Camino a Ítaca' for the Spanish newspaper HOY. His book, Stories Left in Stone, Trails and Traces in Cáceres, Spain is published by the University of Alberta Press. As an ESL materials writer he has worked with publishers such as Macmillan and CUP.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

The views from the Alcazaba de Reina


The Sierra Morena wrinkles behind off into Andalusia while the patchwork plains of Badajoz merge with the sky in front. Depending on your perspective, this is either the beginning or end of Extremadura. The Romans would arrive at this crossroads (complete with amphitheater entertainment, good luck finding it open) while trying to catch a ride to either Merida or Cordoba. Centuries later, when the Muslim armies came storming northward, they knew a good thing when they saw it and built an enormous adobe castle to keep the sometimes unruly locals from their nasty habit of rebellion. Though an ocher shell of what it used to be, just the fact that you can see the castle from more than 20 miles away makes the detour worthwhile.

#archaeology #architecture #history #mountains #plains #views #historic #roadtrip #farms #castle #roadside #getaway #ruins #muslim #castles #romans #war #detour #offthebeatenpath #remote #forts #hills #amphitheater #crossroads #andalusia #moorish #rebellion #ancientrome #panoramic #battles #islamic #muslimspain #battlesites #conquest #sierramorena #muslims

Originally published on Trazzler

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