Spain--April 2018

[HenryJames 66057]

I guess it is. Go to Cadiz then or at least Jerez.

[Mo Horn 8843]

1 hour ago, PenelopeWitherspoon said:

Isn't Cadiz in Andalusia?  I am confused.

It is. I was confused by that statement as well. 

[PenelopeWitherspoon 19101]

So I think I have a tentative plan, and that means no Madrid and Toledo this trip.  Just sticking to Andalusia.  My friend from London was originally supposed to do Seville with me, so she is game for that part as well.  So I would probably do something like this:

March 31 - Fly to London

April 1 - 4 - Seville

April 5-8 - Cadiz (can go to Jerez from Cadiz rather than splitting 2 and 2)

April 9-11 - Ronda

April 12-14 Malaga

April 15-18 Granada

April 19-20 Ubeda

April 21-23 - Cordoba

April 24 - Seville

April 25 Fly Home (Seville - London - NY)

Now, of course all of this is dependent on shit getting fixed related to COVID.  But it at least gives me something to look forward to and plan a bit.  

 

 

[gmr548 16580]

 

On 6/14/2020 at 5:41 PM, PenelopeWitherspoon said:

Ok, so fuck Coronavirus.  Tired of it.  Trying to replan the trip we had to cancel in April due to this shitshow.  What was original a 2 week trip is now turning into a 3.5-4 week trip since I have a shit load of vacation that I am going to carryover to next year because COVID.

We are hopeful that Easter 2021 will be a go, so this is all still up in the air.  But the current thinking is as follows:

5 nights Madrid

4-5 nights Seville during Easter (Wednesday or Thursday before Good Friday through Easter Monday/Tuesday)

Then looking to do some combo of:

Granada, Cordoba, Cadiz, Malaga and maybe some other small places.  Any recommendations on some really cool smaller places to visit for a night or two in Andalusia?

 

There is some really beautiful, unspoiled coastline south of Cadiz. If y'all would enjoy a day or two taking it easy on the coast I highly recommend Bolonia. Small beach town but it's got the essentials - a few restaurants, a market, etc. Incredible beach. There are also ruins of an ancient Roman town with an accompanying museum. Water's probably cold that time of year though.

[PenelopeWitherspoon 19101]

7 hours ago, gmr548 said:

 

There is some really beautiful, unspoiled coastline south of Cadiz. If y'all would enjoy a day or two taking it easy on the coast I highly recommend Bolonia. Small beach town but it's got the essentials - a few restaurants, a market, etc. Incredible beach. There are also ruins of an ancient Roman town with an accompanying museum. Water's probably cold that time of year though.

That is the nice thing about this.  I have enough vacation, that it would be no trouble to add a few extra days or stops.  

[Doug E. Fresh 452]

So Spain it is! 
 

I mentioned on another thread of a plan to go to Morocco, mainly Marrakech, in September. The government instituted a 9pm curfew, which originally turned me off to the idea, but I got back on board due to the quality of the hotels/resorts as we were mainly looking for some sun and pool time. It has been a crap summer in the UK so that is desperately needed. Now it looks like Morocco could be headed to the UK red list next week so that plan is dead. Will save Marrakech for 4 to 5 days at another time.

The plan is now 12 nights in Andalucia and am thinking the following:

4 Sevilla

1 Cordoba

2 Granada

5 Costa del Sol (Malaga/Marbella and likely a trip to Ronda)

I will likely pick up a car on the last day in Sevilla and drive the trip so there is plenty of flexibility to get around or stop off.

Anything I’m missing here?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Doug E. Fresh 452]

Up at 4am for the flight to Sevilla this morning. Wiped the fuck out so it’s a pool day.

 

[F250 28777]

14 hours ago, Doug E. Fresh said:

Up at 4am for the flight to Sevilla this morning. Wiped the fuck out so it’s a pool day.

 

Fly to Spain so you can hang out at the pool? Power nap during siesta then down some tapas and vino once the sun sets.

 

[Doug E. Fresh 452]

12 hours ago, F250 said:

Fly to Spain so you can hang out at the pool? Power nap during siesta then down some tapas and vino once the sun sets.

 

Why not both? Flying to Spain is 2 hours for me and it’s a 16 day trip. No need to rush things…

[956 Worldwide 34715]

I’m in Malaga right now (well, Torremolinos). So far food is fantastic, beach is just warm enough to enjoy and it’s definitely with the short flight. Traveling with kids so not going to do long nights out but the sangria and fish at the chiringuitos can’t be beat. 
 

Spent most of our time at the beach or pool but we will drift into town today or tomorrow. 

One thing that has surprised me— service has been not so awesome outside of restaurants. After a long time in Central Europe, I guess I’ve gotten used to outward brusqueness but everything getting done regardless. Here it’s more friendly but less competent.

Edited October 18, 2021 by 956 Worldwide

[Ag with kids 581]

4 hours ago, 956 Worldwide said:

I’m in Malaga right now (well, Torremolinos). So far food is fantastic, beach is just warm enough to enjoy and it’s definitely with the short flight. Traveling with kids so not going to do long nights out but the sangria and fish at the chiringuitos can’t be beat. 
 

Spent most of our time at the beach or pool but we will drift into town today or tomorrow. 

One thing that has surprised me— service has been not so awesome outside of restaurants. After a long time in Central Europe, I guess I’ve gotten used to outward brusqueness but everything getting done regardless. Here it’s more friendly but less competent.

I stayed in Benalmedina, the next town south, a few years ago.  It was AWESOME.

Take a day trip to the Rock of Gibraltar.  They kids will love the Macaques.

[956 Worldwide 34715]

7 minutes ago, Ag with kids said:

I stayed in Benalmedina, the next town south, a few years ago.  It was AWESOME.

Take a day trip to the Rock of Gibraltar.  They kids will love the Macaques.

We had planned that but from our scouting the combo of BREXIT and COVID has made crossing into a cluster, with a couple hours at customs. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

 

Its OK, I’ll suffer here. Side note, grilled sardines and shrimp al pil-pil (pepper and garlic) are now top ten food of all time.

 

[Mo Horn 8843]

55 minutes ago, 956 Worldwide said:

We had planned that but from our scouting the combo of BREXIT and COVID has made crossing into a cluster, with a couple hours at customs. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

 

Its OK, I’ll suffer here. Side note, grilled sardines and shrimp al pil-pil (pepper and garlic) are now top ten food of all time.

 

I gave you positive rep, but I really wanted to give you the finger because I'm so jealous. 

[VABuckeye 2472]

May of 2022.

Madrid>Seville>Malaga>Valencia>Mallorca>Barcelona>Madrid>home

The Spanish Grand Prix is in Barcelona on May 22nd so I have booked the trip around that weekend and the race.

[Bevo Num1 1011]

May of 2022.
Madrid>Seville>Malaga>Valencia>Mallorca>Barcelona>Madrid>home
The Spanish Grand Prix is in Barcelona on May 22nd so I have booked the trip around that weekend and the race.

Mallorca is awesome. If you have time, go check out Platja de Formentor. The drive out there is scary as fuck because it's along a cliff with a very narrow roadway, but totally worth it if you don't want to be at a crowded beach.

[VABuckeye 2472]

Thanks.  I think we're going to stay in Alcudia.  It looks like a cool town to spend a few days in.

[956 Worldwide 34715]

5 hours ago, Mo Horn said:

I gave you positive rep, but I really wanted to give you the finger because I'm so jealous. 

Glad to get a few more days…..

 

[956 Worldwide 34715]

More updates: Malaga is awesome as expected. My favorite part is the old Moro fortress that overlooks the Roman amphitheater. At a tapas place I had a super crispy, thin sandwich with one piece of jamon iberico, some cheese, and then a bit of truffle butter. That and the shrimp al pil pil changed my life.

Something kinda funny: there were some actual breakers and there were grown up Spanish men boogie boarding like boogie boarding is Serious Business. Funny shit for someone who used to head to SPI when the surf report was good growing up. 
 

[VABuckeye 2472]

The trip for May is booked.  

May 6th - Madrid

May 7-10th - Seville

May 10-12th Malaga

May 12-17th Mallorca (both coasts)

May 17-20th - Valencia

May 20-24th - Barcelona

May 24-26th - Toledo

May 26-27th Madrid

We have tickets to the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona the 21st-23rd so those days will be F1 based.  I've booked a private driver for a day trip to Ronda from Seville.  I've also booked a private driver for Seville to Malaga and Toledo to Madrid.  We have one train ride from Madrid to Seville and the rest of the travel will be by air.

I'm looking for dining recommendations.  Tapas will be part of our dining as will the local mercado in each city.  What I'm looking for are any restaurants that are must eats.  TIA.

[52-80 19159]

Madrid: L'Albufera; Pulperia Mila for octopus (since you're not heading to galicia); I already wrote Pelotari for steaks, but really any nice restauraunt, get the steak - my vote for the most underrated steaks in the world

[Mo Horn 8843]

So jealous of that trip. Not really a meal recommendation, but stop by here in Madrid

[choripan 790]

S/O to search function.

Going to be based in Madrid for the next few months with our flight leaving this afternoon, with my wife and 4 and 3yo kids. Kids will be in daycare/camp during the weekdays while we explore the city in between a little bit of research and writing, Spanish lessons, and the gym. Fourth time in Madrid and we've done the highlights (Prado, Botin, Retiro, etc.) multiple times over, so we're looking for recommendations like the chocolateria above. Wife is between A2/B1 and I'm a solid B1, so we can get around and have basic conversations, but can't speak philosophy or anything like that. We'll be HQ'd in Malasana so we'll have pretty good Metro access to most of the city. Current plans include side trips to Paris, Pamplona, Toledo, Costa del Sol and, perhaps, 4-5 days down in Andalucia. No strong plans for Madrid other than exploring via foot, dicking around at Retiro and some playgrounds, and eating/drinking.

Any recs appreciated.

[As for the obvious "why Madrid when it's hot as shit?" question. We needed a city large enough to have a full-time private daycare/camp close to a cool neighborhood/city core and that took expat/ferner kids, which basically left Madrid and Barcelona. We love Barcelona, but have spent a lot of time there and, given that one of our core goals is to improve our Spanish. had some concerns about how quickly the barceloní switch to English when they hear your accent.]

[PenelopeWitherspoon 19101]

Ok, so was thinking France in May, but have turned my eyes back to Andalusia.  Just now starting to look, but yeah.

[elfenix 34243]

On 6/15/2020 at 11:14 PM, gmr548 said:

There is some really beautiful, unspoiled coastline south of Cadiz.

spent a night in tarifa (at the convento, nice place). roll in, sleepy little town without anyone around, kinda sick from eating british food in gibraltar.  thought it was going to suck.  went for a nap, then went out a bit after sunset, walked toward the town square and found myself in marymas (i think) going on at the church, with young women in spanish dresses and wreathed with flowers.  then found the bars were packed and had a great time bullshitting and drinking all night.  guess everyone had been out windsurfing on that miles-long beach west of tarifa during the day. 

 

[PenelopeWitherspoon 19101]

I was thinking of hitting the Féria in Cordoba and then 2-4 other towns.  My mom might come with, so would prefer not to move around as much.

[PenelopeWitherspoon 19101]

Looking like Seville, Malaga, Granada, and Cordoba would be the best route.

[Mo Horn 8843]

1 hour ago, PenelopeWitherspoon said:

Looking like Seville, Malaga, Granada, and Cordoba would be the best route.

I've been to all those places and they are great. Day trip to Africa is something to consider.  Can't wait to move to Spain, when we retire. 

[PenelopeWitherspoon 19101]

Or, and maybe I am overthinking this, we do Valencia and Alicante.  Flights are much easier and cheaper (business) to Valencia.  Can get some good beach time too.

[Hate 20108]

Alicante is fantastic! Or was 15 years ago. I could walk up and down the esplanade all day and not get tired of it. It’s just a charming beachfront town.  There is/was a bar called Austin just a couple of blocks off of the beach.  It owned by a guy that had lived in Houston and Austin for many years before returning to Spain. 

Edited November 2, 2022 by Hate

[Mo Horn 8843]

27 minutes ago, PenelopeWitherspoon said:

Or, and maybe I am overthinking this, we do Valencia and Alicante.  Flights are much easier and cheaper (business) to Valencia.  Can get some good beach time too.

Valencia is where we plan to live. Big enough to have everything we want, but much cheaper than Madrid or Barcelona. I've been there once, and read a lot about it since. 

[PenelopeWitherspoon 19101]

1 hour ago, Hate said:

Alicante is fantastic! Or was 15 years ago. I could walk up and down the esplanade all day and not get tired of it. It’s just a charming beachfront town.  There is/was a bar called Austin just a couple of blocks off of the beach.  It owned by a guy that had lived in Houston and Austin for many years before returning to Spain. 

 

54 minutes ago, Mo Horn said:

Valencia is where we plan to live. Big enough to have everything we want, but much cheaper than Madrid or Barcelona. I've been there once, and read a lot about it since. 

I was studying the map, and I could add a few days in Mallorca too.  Hmmmm.

[VABuckeye 2472]

1 hour ago, PenelopeWitherspoon said:

Or, and maybe I am overthinking this, we do Valencia and Alicante.  Flights are much easier and cheaper (business) to Valencia.  Can get some good beach time too.

The beaches in Valencia aren't great.  Instead I'd head to the east cost of Mallorca and stay around Alcudia.  Palma on the west side is great as well.  Nixe Palace seems right up your alley.

[Hate 20108]

The beach in Alicante is fantastic.

[Mo Horn 8843]

3 hours ago, PenelopeWitherspoon said:

 

I was studying the map, and I could add a few days in Mallorca too.  Hmmmm.

Or Ibiza. I haven't been, but I hear it's gorgeous

[PenelopeWitherspoon 19101]

I am set, and provided flights remain good, this is the rough plan.  Fly in and out of Valencia.  Then 4 nights in Alicante, 6/7 nights in Fornalutx on Mallorca (As our base), and then, 4/5 nights in Valencia.  Might do 4,7,4, but yeah, something like that.  The nice thing is, Alicante and Valencia are on the cheaper end compared to France, so we can go big in Mallorca.  Which is nice.  

[Player 4575]

Penelope - if you’re going big in Mallorca, please consider going to Deia and staying a couple of nights at La Residencia.

https://www.belmond.com/hotels/europe/mallorca/deia/belmond-la-residencia/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9u6w0s6Q-wIV03NvBB0gbQnDEAAYASAAEgKblvD_BwE

About 30-45 minutes from Palma, and an all around fantastic place to stay.

[PenelopeWitherspoon 19101]

31 minutes ago, Player said:

Penelope - if you’re going big in Mallorca, please consider going to Deia and staying a couple of nights at La Residencia.

https://www.belmond.com/hotels/europe/mallorca/deia/belmond-la-residencia/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9u6w0s6Q-wIV03NvBB0gbQnDEAAYASAAEgKblvD_BwE

About 30-45 minutes from Palma, and an all around fantastic place to stay.

So, I looked.  Almost 2k a night.  We are looking renting a house for the whole time and having some friends from the UK join.  Thinking about Fornalutx.

[Grimas 669]

First post-Covid trip back to Madrid for work.  Several of my favorite hole in the wall places didn't survive but this one did...  Getting 2 plates per beer so may skip actual dinner... (fried eggs, fries, melted cheese and jamon)

 

Edited February 15, 2023 by Grimas

[Grimas 669]

No mas… (boiled eggs, potatoes, onions, peppers and tuna).  Had pulpo, olive plate, jamon plates earlier…

Edited February 15, 2023 by Grimas

[ATXhorn17 1617]

Headed to Spain in a few weeks. I've booked 3 nights in Sevilla, 3 nights in Granada and 3 nights in Madrid:

Day 1: Land in Sevilla (~9am)

Day 2: Sevilla (visit the Royal Alcazar)

Day 3: Sevilla (Ronda day trip?)

Day 4: Sevilla --> Cordoba for the day --> Granada for the night

Day 5: Granada (visit the Alhambra)

Day 6: Granada

Day 7: Granada --> Madrid

Day 8: Madrid

Day 9: Madrid

Day 10: Fly out of Madrid in the AM

For those who have been -- is it worth doing a day trip on Day 3 to see Ronda and some of the other white villages? We'll have access to a car in Sevilla (just for this portion of the trip, using high speed rail for the rest), but I've heard such great things about the city itself that I'm worried about sacrificing a day there (when our time is already limited). Also, wondering whether we should use one of the days in Madrid to see Toledo and El Escorial. Curious to hear y'alls thoughts!

Edited February 22, 2023 by ATXhorn17

[po elvis 2070]

2 hours ago, ATXhorn17 said:

Headed to Spain in a few weeks. I've booked 3 nights in Sevilla, 3 nights in Granada and 3 nights in Madrid:

Day 1: Land in Sevilla (~9am)

Day 2: Sevilla (visit the Royal Alcazar)

Day 3: Sevilla (Ronda day trip?)

Day 4: Sevilla --> Cordoba for the day --> Granada for the night

Day 5: Granada (visit the Alhambra)

Day 6: Granada

Day 7: Granada --> Madrid

Day 8: Madrid

Day 9: Madrid

Day 10: Fly out of Madrid in the AM

For those who have been -- is it worth doing a day trip on Day 3 to see Ronda and some of the other white villages? We'll have access to a car in Sevilla (just for this portion of the trip, using high speed rail for the rest), but I've heard such great things about the city itself that I'm worried about sacrificing a day there (when our time is already limited). Also, wondering whether we should use one of the days in Madrid to see Toledo and El Escorial. Curious to hear y'alls thoughts!

We loved Ronda. It is stunning. But that’s a tough call with that little time in Sevilla. Personally I would take a day away from Granada than Sevilla.

[Spoosner 86]

10 hours ago, po elvis said:

We loved Ronda. It is stunning. But that’s a tough call with that little time in Sevilla. Personally I would take a day away from Granada than Sevilla.

Completely agree with po elvis. I would add that if you can stay the night in Ronda, you won't regret it. The tourist buses all leave, and there are some bad ass hotels on the cliffside. We stayed here.

I haven't been to Cordoba, so can't comment on that.

[ATXhorn17 1617]

Ronda it is -- thanks y'all! Sadly, Day 3 is our main opportunity to visit (we're tagging along with friends who are road tripping). Otherwise, we definitely would sacrifice a day in Granada instead... Oh well. Guess we're just gonna have to visit Sevilla again in the future haha!

[Grimas 669]

I've done Toledo and it's a neat little town but my Madrid crew said Segovia is a better day-trip.  Aquaducts and one of the castles that inspired the Disney Castle.

[rage-a-holic 4399]

42 minutes ago, Grimas said:

I've done Toledo and it's a neat little town but my Madrid crew said Segovia is a better day-trip.  Aquaducts and one of the castles that inspired the Disney Castle.

The queen's castle in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was inspired by the Alcazar castle.

The Disneyland/Sleeping Beauty/Cinderella castle was based on Neuschwanstein.

[Grimas 669]

That's an open argument depending on what website you visit...  Both Alcazar and Neuschwanstein are claimed to have inspired the Disneyland/Sleeping Beauty/Cinderella castle:

 https://www.travelandleisure.com/culture-design/architecture-design/walt-disney-castle-alcazar-de-segovia 

https://mappingspain.com/the-alcazar-of-segovia-one-of-spains-most-beautiful-castles/

I've seen both and I could see where either/both would have been the inspiration... (I sat between a German and Spaniard last week who were arguing this...)

Edited February 22, 2023 by Grimas

[rage-a-holic 4399]

51 minutes ago, Grimas said:

That's an open argument depending on what website you visit...  Both Alcazar and Neuschwanstein are claimed to have inspired the Disneyland/Sleeping Beauty/Cinderella castle:

 https://www.travelandleisure.com/culture-design/architecture-design/walt-disney-castle-alcazar-de-segovia 

https://mappingspain.com/the-alcazar-of-segovia-one-of-spains-most-beautiful-castles/

I've seen both and I could see where either/both would have been the inspiration... (I sat between a German and Spaniard last week who were arguing this...)

Wiki and Disney seem to agree, so that's what I went with.

Quote

"Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland was inspired by the Neuschwanstein Castle in Southern Germany........" —Tony Baxter, executive designer Walt Disney Imagineering[10]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleeping_Beauty_Castle

[Grimas 669]

Not my dog in the fight but another wiki says this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinderella_Castle

Cinderella Castle was inspired by a variety of real and fictional palaces. These included Château d'Ussé, Fontainebleau, Versailles and the châteaux of Chenonceau, Pierrefonds, Chambord, Chaumont, Alcázar of Segovia, Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria and Craigievar Castle in Scotland.^[2] Other sources of inspiration include the spire of Notre-Dame de Paris, the Moszna Castle in Poland, built in the 18th century, and the Tyn Church in Prague, Czech Republic, built in the 14th century. The chief designer of the castle, Herbert Ryman, also referenced the original design for the castle in the film franchise Cinderella and his own well-known creation — the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland in California^[

^{2 different castles in Disney:} Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella castle

Edited February 23, 2023 by Grimas

[rage-a-holic 4399]

30 minutes ago, Grimas said:

Not my dog in the fight but another wiki says this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinderella_Castle

Cinderella Castle was inspired by a variety of real and fictional palaces. These included Château d'Ussé, Fontainebleau, Versailles and the châteaux of Chenonceau, Pierrefonds, Chambord, Chaumont, Alcázar of Segovia, Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria and Craigievar Castle in Scotland.^[2] Other sources of inspiration include the spire of Notre-Dame de Paris, the Moszna Castle in Poland, built in the 18th century, and the Tyn Church in Prague, Czech Republic, built in the 14th century. The chief designer of the castle, Herbert Ryman, also referenced the original design for the castle in the film franchise Cinderella and his own well-known creation — the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland in California^[

^{2 different castles in Disney:} Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella castle

You'll notice the section right above your quote....none of that is reliably sourced.

I can go in and add The Alamo and Trump Tower as "inspirations".

Walt Disney did a grand tour of Europe with his brother in 1935....they toured several countries extensively, including Germany. On their return, he discussed the Disney castle design with Herb Rymar and used Neuschwanstein as the inspiration. There is no evidence either of those 2 ever visited Spain or saw pics of Segovia prior to the Disney castle design.

All that is sourced from a book...https://www.amazon.com/Disneys-Grand-Tour-European-Vacation/dp/1941500102/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1588468667&sr=1-1&linkCode=sl1&tag=thegermawayandmo&linkId=e6fd7e48500480f307eec27bd43d2fb9&language=en_US

 

I'm currently booking tickets to Neuschwanstein and an airbnb in Madrid (possibly Segovia also)...that plus my rabid Disney fanatic girlfriend caused me to go down the castle rabbit hole. 

[Tailgate 3021]

Headed to Barcelona end of April. Family member studying abroad we are meeting and flying back with.

Have ~14 days. Thinking Barcelona for five or so….then what’s the must see city in Spain? Would be great to be near water and potentially do a dive. But view is fine also.

Maybe Portugal for a few days?