-
Mistreated Cars and Abandoned Tracks
The railway line between Ponferrada and Villablino (known as Ponfeblino) was once one of Spain’s most important freight routes for coal transport, especially during the era marked by World War I and energy scarcity. Today, the line lies abandoned, although there is an approved restoration plan scheduled for launch in August 2026. Honestly, looking at the current state of the infrastructure, it’s hard to believe, but considering the original line was built in just ten months, it could be viable, if bureaucracy and indifference allow it. When I arrived at this spot, I knew nothing about the Ponfeblino. In fact,…
-
Burgos and Its Pyramid
In the province of Burgos, on the border with Cantabria and at an altitude of around one thousand meters, stands one of the most unusual structures in the Spanish landscape. Known as “La Pirámide de los Italianos”, this curious monument was built as a mausoleum. It held the ashes of 384 Italian soldiers who died in the Battle of Santander. In 1975 their remains were exhumed, and since then the site has been left abandoned. The building is reached via the N-623 road, near the Puerto del Escudo mountain pass. Right across from it there is a rest area with…
-
Cinematic Photography
In 2024, I took a short road trip through the central-northern part of Spain. I made it all the way to the Monegros region and visited several spots I had long been wanting to explore. I took a ton of photos and discovered some absolutely breathtaking landscapes. I have to admit, I was truly surprised by the variety of scenery found in the Spanish interior, and I’ve only scratched the surface. There’s still so much more to explore. The truth is, we live in an absolutely spectacular country. The route began in the north and took me down to Cantabria,…
-
Running Through the Grasses
It had been many years since I last visited Benavente, so since I happened to be relatively nearby, I decided to stop by again and rediscover a city from which I barely retained any memories. After parking the car and wandering through town for a while, I came to the conclusion that, indeed, I didn’t remember a thing. I didn’t have much time, so I limited myself to strolling around the historic center for a bit. Just as I was about to leave, I came across a fairground, it turned out the town was celebrating its local festivities. Among all…
-
Aquatic Life
I’ve been an aquarium hobbyist for many years. I still remember my first “aquarium”, and I put that in quotation marks because neither the dimensions were adequate for a real tank, nor was the tiny filter capable of supporting aquatic life with even a shred of dignity. Back then, I didn’t have the slightest idea about aquarium keeping, water parameters, types of filtration, and so on. It’s a truly complex world that takes years of practice and experience to master. Although I first got into the hobby drawn by the charm of colorful little fish, over the years my focus…
-
Foreign Land
The afternoon I took this photo, I had already driven around six hundred kilometers. I started the morning tracing the northern coast, traveling through the Mariña Lucense. After passing Ribadeo, I entered Asturias on my way to Oviedo, where I immediately took the detour toward Mieres and began ascending into the mountains. At the summit, I crossed into Babia, and after several more kilometers, I linked up with Barrios de Luna. After exploring that area for a few hours, I descended to León and took a detour toward Astorga. It was a long day filled with landscapes, stops, photos, and…
-
In Deep with Photography
I’m a big fan of road trips and generally enjoy them a lot, especially the spontaneous ones that lead me to unknown places. But I must admit, they don’t always fill me with the same enthusiasm. It really depends on my mood and energy level that day. That’s exactly what happened on the day I took this photo. One Saturday afternoon, I left home without much motivation and no particular destination in mind. Little by little, just going with the flow, I ended up heading toward A Coruña. After passing through the city and continuing along secondary roads that hug…
-
A Patchwork of Vineyards
The first time I visited the area around Barco de Valdeorras, I didn’t like it. It struck me as arid, somber, too flat, nothing stood out enough to capture my attention. I left feeling a bit disappointed, with an unpleasant impression and no real desire to return. But not long after, I passed through that part of Ourense again, and my perception completely changed. That’s when I realized those negative feelings weren’t about the place, they were within me. Maybe I was tired or a bit down that day, and I projected those emotions onto the landscape. It’s never wise…
-
Porto-São Bento
When we form a mental image of the city of Porto, two things immediately come to mind: the impressive Dom Luís I iron bridge and the famous sweet wine (probably in reverse order). While both the wine and the bridge are foundational to the city’s identity, I think it’s unfair to overlook its stunning train station, one of the most beautiful in Europe, and even the world. I had the chance to visit it for the first time on my most recent trip, and I must admit, it’s a shame I waited so long to see it in person. Its…
-
Pre-Roman Photography
The photo that accompanies these lines was taken in one of the most picturesque, idyllic, and historically valuable places in Galicia. It’s Piornedo, a small pre-Roman village located in the municipality of Cervantes, right in the heart of the Ancares region. Its main attraction is the pallozas, traditional round stone and thatch-roofed dwellings, which are scattered throughout the village and preserved in remarkably good condition. Some, like the museum-palloza Casa do Sesto, are so well preserved they’ve been turned into proper museums. From a photographic standpoint, the place offers a lot. The number of preserved pallozas is so high that…
