Help with our Spain trip (1 Viewer)

[rockaction]

time of year?

Also I saw your post in the thread. Lisbon train at night might be in the offing.  

 

[rockaction]

Bender, that was a great write-up. Learned a lot. Thanks for paying it back, or In this case, forward. 

 

[wikkidpissah]

Also I saw your post in the thread. Lisbon train at night might be in the offing.  

well, i'm just mad for the southwestern part of Iberia - the Algarve, the hill country, Jerez, Seville, Ronda - but that's just more for the lifestyle than the sightseeing. Barca's mindblowing, i think the moorish cities Grenada/Cordoba would be right up your alley. Madrid's too hot and not much except the Prado's the best museum ever, but Toledo's very charming (i could stare @ El Greco's painting in their cathedral forever). Then the north coast, Compostella, Basque country's a whole nuther world. And i havent even touched on their magnificent coastlines. Easily the most varied European country - really no bad choices unless you get caught in the heat. And Easter makes it even more awesome.

 

[rockaction]

well, i'm just mad for the southwestern part of Iberia - the Algarve, the hill country, Jerez, Seville, Ronda - but that's just more for the lifestyle than the sightseeing. Barca's mindblowing, i think the moorish cities Grenada/Cordoba would be right up your alley. Madrid's too hot and not much except the Prado's the best museum ever, but Toledo's very charming (i could stare @ El Greco's painting in their cathedral forever). Then the north coast, Compostella, Basque country's a whole nuther world. And i havent even touched on their magnificent coastlines. Easily the most varied European country - really no bad choices unless you get caught in the heat. And Easter makes it even more awesome.

Thanks, wikkid. The Sun Also Rises and some tour guides will be my guide. I'm really looking forward to it. 

If you can think of any strong recommendations, buildings to see, things to do, I'm all ears.  

 

[wikkidpissah]

Thanks, wikkid. The Sun Also Rises and some tour guides will be my guide. I'm really looking forward to it. 

If you can think of any strong recommendations, buildings to see, things to do, I'm all ears.  

well, the mosque in Cordoba is the one i think you'll get a kick out of. Moorish architecture is soooo cool and anything that makes one consider the pre-Islamic outlook for desert peoples is a treat. the Alhambra in Grenada is great (though i was disappointed that the "Queen's eyes" i'd read about are sealed off now). Heck, you might find the castles & aqueducts of the university towns N of Madrid most to your liking. But, next to the amazing Gaudi stuff in Barca, my favorite Iberian structure is the cathedral in Seville. the gold altar is ridiculously captivating. 

ETA: and, considering your tastes, it will be good for you to know that the titty bars are all also whorehouses

 

[rockaction]

well, the mosque in Cordoba is the one i think you'll get a kick out of. Moorish architecture is soooo cool and anything that makes one consider the pre-Islamic outlook for desert peoples is a treat. the Alhambra in Grenada is great (though i was disappointed that the "Queen's eyes" i'd read about are sealed off now). Heck, you might find the castles & aqueducts of the university towns N of Madrid most to your liking. But, next to the amazing Gaudi stuff in Barca, my favorite Iberian structure is the cathedral in Seville. the gold altar is ridiculously captivating. 

This thread really liked Seville. I think it's Barcelona, Madrid, Seville as a premlinary itinerary. The mosque in Cordoba, huh? I would appreciate the history of that. I love religious structures. There's something aspirant about them.  

 

[wikkidpissah]

This thread really liked Seville. I think it's Barcelona, Madrid, Seville as a premlinary itinerary. The mosque in Cordoba, huh? I would appreciate the history of that. I love religious structures. There's something aspirant about them.  

i'm a big cathedral head myself, but this is whole nuther. str8out of Arabian Nights - whimsical and almost wicked

ETA: i know the rail from Madrid to Seville used to be the fastest outside Japan, so that might be cool

 

[rockaction]

i'm a big cathedral head myself, but this is whole nuther. str8out of Arabian Nights - whimsical and almost wicked

ETA: i know the rail from Madrid to Seville used to be the fastest outside Japan, so that might be cool

Cool. Thanks again for the info. I just checked out pictures. Pretty daunting structure. It looks absolutely huge.  

 

[Scoresman]

Bumping this as I'm in the middle of planning a 17 day Spain trip in early May.  There are a couple of things that are not negotiable in terms of being on the itinerary. 

1. We got reservations at El Celler de Can Roca in Girona and essentially planned our travel dates around the day we got the reservation for.  This means flying into Barcelona, and touring there until the day of the reservation.  The cool thing is that while Girona wouldn't be on the itinerary if it weren't for the restaurant, apparently a ton of notable Game of Thrones scenes were filmed there, so I know what we'll be doing during the day.  

2. Taking a trip to the town my family is from hoping to find get some genealogy insight if possible.  It's between Ronda and Seville so it's not out of the way of our itinerary at all.  

Anyway, here is the tentative itinerary so far.  Would love any comments or ideas.  

Day 1 - Arrive in Barcelona
Day 2 - Barcelona
Day 3 - Barcelona
Day 4 - Barcelona
Day 5 - Girona / El Celler de Can Roca
Day 6 - Fly to Granada
Day 7 - Tour Granada/Alhambra
Day 8 - Drive to Ronda via Malaga
Day 9 - Tour Ronda
Day 10 - Drive to Montellano (family research) and Seville
Day 11 - Seville
Day 12 - Cordoba day trip/Mesquite
Day 13 - Train to Madrid
Day 14 - Tour Madrid
Day 15 - Toledo day trip
Day 16 - Segovia day trip
Day 17 - Tour Madrid
Day 18 - fly home
 

 

[wikkidpissah]

Bumping this as I'm in the middle of planning a 17 day Spain trip in early May.  There are a couple of things that are not negotiable in terms of being on the itinerary. 

1. We got reservations at El Celler de Can Roca in Girona and essentially planned our travel dates around the day we got the reservation for.  This means flying into Barcelona, and touring there until the day of the reservation.  The cool thing is that while Girona wouldn't be on the itinerary if it weren't for the restaurant, apparently a ton of notable Game of Thrones scenes were filmed there, so I know what we'll be doing during the day.  

2. Taking a trip to the town my family is from hoping to find get some genealogy insight if possible.  It's between Ronda and Seville so it's not out of the way of our itinerary at all.  

Anyway, here is the tentative itinerary so far.  Would love any comments or ideas.  

Day 1 - Arrive in Barcelona
Day 2 - Barcelona
Day 3 - Barcelona
Day 4 - Barcelona
Day 5 - Girona / El Celler de Can Roca
Day 6 - Fly to Granada
Day 7 - Tour Granada/Alhambra
Day 8 - Drive to Ronda via Malaga
Day 9 - Tour Ronda
Day 10 - Drive to Montellano (family research) and Seville
Day 11 - Seville
Day 12 - Cordoba day trip/Mesquite
Day 13 - Train to Madrid
Day 14 - Tour Madrid
Day 15 - Toledo day trip
Day 16 - Segovia day trip
Day 17 - Tour Madrid
Day 18 - fly home
 

I love the whole Segovia/Avila/Salamanca/El Escorial area NW of Madrid but I would excise that Segovia day and add it to the hill country/family research/Seville part of the trip. ambitious but comprehensive. you should have a ball.

 

[jon_mx]

Seville was my favorite city in Spain.  Madrid was ok.  Barcelona is pretty awesome.   

 

[The Dreaded Marco]

Seville was my favorite city in Spain.  

Same.  Although Granada is 1a. to Seville. 

 

[gianmarco]

I'd try to add Valencia in there. Some pretty awesome architecture there.

And DO NOT miss Montserrat while you are in Barcelona. Highlight of our trip. Words can't describe it.

 

[Sebowski]

I have a pretty packed week in Barcelona coming up with some people, but then I have two nights in Madrid to myself. I still need to book a room... And a ticket on the bullet train from Barcelona? 

Any suggestions on what part of town to stay in in Madrid? Low key bars/nightlife over clubs and touristy stuff. Walkable to day stuff. I like booze, music, and people. I'd say 70% fluent in Spanish at this point (way out of practice). 

Also, tips on airport/train station transportation for Madrid and Barcelona? 

CC @The Z Machine