A long cruise - Cartagena, Spain - part 4

9 years ago

Casino de Murcia. Let us begin with this "Oh, Wow!" photo.

Regretfully, we did not take a complete tour of this marvelous place. This is the Arab Patio, designed by Manuel Castanos. It is not a casino in the modern sense, but it was opened as a "gentleman's club", with construction begun in 1847 and continued until it was completed in 1901. There was much that needed to be redone and that was completed over a 3-year period ending in 2009.

Comments (11)

jim_1 (Zone 5B)
Original Author
9 years ago
This niche shows some of the Neonazai style influences. This style was also seen at The Alhambra, shows the Moorish influence on architecture in Spain.
jim_1 (Zone 5B)
Original Author
9 years ago
In the patio, 20,000 sheets of gold leaf were used. The writing that is evident multiple times can be loosely translated to read, Ã¢ÂÂNothing is bigger than Allah.Ã¢ÂÂ
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jim_1 (Zone 5B)
Original Author
9 years ago
There is a gallery to leads from the Arab Patio farther into the structure. This is one side of the gallery. There is a large ballroom, a billiard room and a fantastic ladies powder room (I have seen pictures, but did not see them in person).
jim_1 (Zone 5B)
Original Author
9 years ago
The light fixture and dome of the Patio.
jim_1 (Zone 5B)
Original Author
9 years ago
The Casino is still used as a private gentlemanÃ¢ÂÂs club, the library has more than 20,000 cataloged books. This is the front sitting room that is often used for receptions. My view was through glass as we departed.
jim_1 (Zone 5B)
Original Author
9 years ago
This is a BIG TIME Oops!
My travelogue is usually posted on Garden Web's The Garden Party, not The Kitchen Table. I have been posting information and photos about our 42-day cruise last Autumn.
Please excuse this intrusion.
matti5
9 years ago
Jim, I have been following your travel pics at the Garden Party, they are beautiful!! I am Sicilian and it was extra special looking through the pics of Sicily. Thank you for posting your travels!
sylviatexas1
9 years ago
Puhleeze do not apologize!

I (we) love it!

Post everything else here, too!

It's so opulent, so rich, so beautiful.

We sometimes forget that Spain has a rich heritage of gorgeous Moorish & Arab architecture.

too bad they didn't let you in the ladies' powder room...
grandma_bonnie
9 years ago
Don't stop - please!!! ...love the pictures and your dialogue.
glenda_al
9 years ago
You are certainly THE traveler!
jim_1 (Zone 5B)
Original Author
9 years ago
I took a 42-day cruise October - December of last year. I took thousands of photos and decided to share.

I began my travelog on May 9, and I am working my way through all the ports (Ft. Lauderdale to Caribbean to Africa to Europe, back to Africa to Bahamas and back to Ft. Lauderdale).

You can read my thoughts and see my photos beginning with the below link. It is on page 8 of the Garden Web's The Garden Party. You should be able to follow them without too much trouble. The cruise began on October 25 and I am up to November 22, still a long way to go. Many days were at sea and not much to show, however I do have some interesting posts about what to do when you have 6 days at sea in a row!

I will continue on The Garden Party until sometime in mid-August.

Here is a link that might be useful: The beginning of A Long Cruise