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Spain-Would appreciate input on itinerary

Spain-Would appreciate input on itinerary

Old Oct 19th, 2014, 06:50 PM
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Spain-Would appreciate input on itinerary

We are in the beginning stages of planning a trip to Spain to occur in mid September through mid October 2015. So far our itinerary is as follows:

Fly into Granada three night
Bus to Nerja via Malaga two nights (or would staying in Malaga be a better choice?)
Bus or train to Ronda two nights
Bus to Jerez three nights day trips to Rota and Cadiz
Train to Sevilla five nights
Train to Cordoba two nights
Train to Toledo via Madrid two night
Train to Segovia via Madrid two nights
Madrid two nights
Barcelona seven nights
Fly out of Barcelona

My husband was stationed in Rota about 40 years ago and loved Andalusia. We tend to like to see the art, some museums, but basically like to get to know the traditions history, and love to wander. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.
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Old Oct 19th, 2014, 07:20 PM
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More time is needed in Madrid.
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Old Oct 19th, 2014, 07:23 PM
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Madrid has three world class museums. The history and culture of Spain vary substantially from region to region.

You would be better off using Madrid as a base and visit Toledo and Segovia from there.
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Old Oct 19th, 2014, 07:48 PM
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Thanks. What would you think would be a good amount of time to allocate for Madrid?
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Old Oct 19th, 2014, 07:58 PM
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We like to go a museum and then not go to one the following day. So with day trips to Segovia and Toledo, about a week. There are many daily buses and trains between Madrid and those towns.
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Old Oct 19th, 2014, 09:30 PM
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I like your plan a lot, but agree that if you like art, you might want more time in Madrid -- at least 4 days. You might consider taking that time from Barcelona or perhaps take one night from Ronda and one night from Sevilla or maybe take a night from Jerez. Enjoy!
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Old Oct 20th, 2014, 05:33 AM
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Thank you it makes sense. We'll probably take the day from Barcelona. As we get further in our planning we may be looking at other day trips from Jerez.
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Old Oct 20th, 2014, 05:48 AM
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The art in Barcelona is in the architecture rather than in the museums. It is much more interesting walking city than Madrid for that and other reasons.
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Old Oct 20th, 2014, 06:16 AM
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Barcelona was my input to this trip, it appears to be different from the other cities we are seeing. If anyone cares to give suggestions on can't miss things to see that would be great. I have guide books, but as I have discovered in travels to Italy, some of the best adventures are those experienced during wandering.
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Old Oct 20th, 2014, 06:37 AM
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Watch the Catalans dance the Sardana on Saturday night and Sunday morning in front the Cathedral. It is a traditional folk dance. Please note Sagrada Familia is not the Cathedral, the Cathedral also called the Seu and is located in the Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotic).

Go up to the top on Montjuic for a spectacular view of Barcelona and the Fundació Joan Miró.

It is in all the guide books but be sure to see all things Gaudi. And there are many day trips to consider including Montserrat, Girona, and Figueres.

At the end of Ramblas, there is a famous statue of Columbus. He is pointing in the direction of Libya, not the Americas.

And note while every Catalan speaks Castilian, they prefer to speak Catalan which is found not in Spanish but in Provençale.
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Old Oct 20th, 2014, 06:51 AM
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Exactly what I was looking for, thank you. It also sounds like instead of taking away a day from Barcelona we would be well served to find a way to add a day to the trip.
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Old Oct 20th, 2014, 10:30 AM
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Using the same 28 days, you might want to consider the following itinerary:

Fly into Granada - 3 nights (one day to get over your jet lag)
Bus to Malaga - 3 nights (to enjoy the city)
Train to Ronda - 2 nights (the MD train takes 1hr 51min - departs daily at 10:05)
Bus to Jerez (two departures/day - www.tgcomes.es/index.asp) - 3 nights w/day trips to Rota and Cadiz
Train to Sevilla - 5 nights
Late morning train to Cordoba - 1 night
Afternoon train to Madrid - 6 nights, with day trips to Segovia, Toledo and Cuenca
Barcelona - 5 nights
Fly out of Barcelona
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Old Oct 20th, 2014, 10:33 AM
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There is a more or less direct bus from Granada to Nerja seven times pr. day. You don't have to go all the way through Malaga city itself. http://www.nerja.es/turismo/index.php?apdo=bus

When in Nerja, perhaps stay in boutique Hotel Carabeo. Right on the cliffs with great views of both the sea and the mountains, and in the oldest street in town, Calle Carabeo: http://www.hotelcarabeo.com/

If you're into honest and the freshest seafood and other regional specialities, you should go to either La Marina, El Pulguilla or La Puntilla. All no fuss and fabulous in its kind, I've have splurged in all of them on several occasions. All are very popular with locals. Free tapas with every drink of whatever for about 1,50€ in the bar area in all these places, as in most restaurants/tapas bars in Nerja. In El Pulguilla and La Puntilla (originally run by the same people) you get your delicious tapas directly from the grill.

La Marina: http://www.guideofnerja.com/pages/gu.../marina_en.htm
El Pulguilla: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalucia.html
La Puntilla: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalucia.html

If you want fine Andalucian dining, I recommend Sollun or Oliva:
Sollun: http://www.viamichelin.com/web/Resta...n-227002-41102
http://sollunrestaurante.com/
Oliva: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalucia.html

For cutting edge, go to Fusion Food & Lounge, run by two Swedes: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalucia.html

But quite large Malaga city itself is wonderful, genuine and fun...
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Old Oct 20th, 2014, 11:22 AM
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I really like Robert's itinerary, grouping together with more longer stays. You might do more research on Jerez and Cadiz and decide which you would rather stay overnight. One consideration will be what day of the week you are there. I found Jerez dreary because I was there on a Sunday, whereas Cadiz was a blast. Of course those are superficial impressions, but you may wish to look into both places further. enjoy!
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Old Oct 20th, 2014, 12:12 PM
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Thank you for the suggestions on itinerary revisions, bus and train information as well as the hotel and restaurant.s in Nerja. I will look at it all as well as comparing Jerez and Cadiz. We had originally thought we would do day trips to Jerez, Cadiz and Rota from Sevilla, but then decided something closer would be better.
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Old Oct 20th, 2014, 01:31 PM
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Just returned from 6 days in region, three days in Cadiz, one day in Ronda and two days Granada. Weather was perfect, esp in Cadiz, really interesting place, recommend the paradore Atlantic for its contemporary design and location near Calefa beach. Two days probably enough. One day in Ronda would be sufficient, scenery beautiful but it felt very touristy after the more authentic Cadiz, and food choice not so great. Two days in Granada seemed rushed as you will need one day for Alhambra. Have been to Seville on separate trip and 2/3 days was perfect. Tip - tapas bar meals offer great value, we spent less than 30 euros some nights esp with free tapas in all the Granada bars we visited. We only had one full blown sit down meal and felt it was expensive compared to better quality tapas.
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Old Oct 20th, 2014, 02:15 PM
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As your husband was stationed in Rota, you should of course give some time to the Cádiz/Jerez area. As he, and you, probably know, this area is one of the most important cradles of flamenco culture.

And the main reason for stationing people in Rota was of course the proximity to the narrow Gibraltar strait which seperates the Atlantic ocean from the Mediterranean. The greatest flamenco guitarists of all times, Paco de Lucia (1947-2014), was born in Algeciras, just on the Med side of the strait. His signature since the mid 70's was "Entre dos aguas" (Between to seas). Here in concert in 1976: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oyhlad64-s

From a spectacular, and much later, concert in the old world Lope de Vega theater in Sevilla. Close to magic when Paco eventually glides into "Entre dos aguas" after some 4.40 minutes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNmCZfU0_d4

In Rota you have the genuine "Peña el Viejo Agujeta" which just started back then in 1974 and today hosts small concerts, staging brilliant flamenco artists for a local crowd: https://www.facebook.com/PenaFlamencaelViejoAgujeta

David Palomar was here a little over a week ago. Here together with one of my favourite male flamenco dancers, El Junco from Cádiz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1I6bSrDGqc

Several of the greatest from recent flamenco history, living and dead, are from the Cadiz/Jerez area.
Sara Baras: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUs3WvO2HWs
Jose Merce and Moraito: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzxyefhCQXg
Joaquin Grilo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOjtXiPl8Rk
Camaron de la Isla: http://www.andalucia.com/flamenco/mu...ondelaisla.htm
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Old Oct 21st, 2014, 09:24 AM
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Thank you all for your input. I am new to this forum, the advice I have received as well as other posts has been very helpful. I noticed some of you are very generous with your time which is much appreciated. kimhe, I now have flamenco on my mind.
Now to the next steps....
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Old Oct 21st, 2014, 10:46 AM
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I haven't been in Nerja so can't compare it to Malaga, but I did just stay in Malaga 3 days and it is a pleasant city. you seem to have plenty of time so a good visit, I was just struck by how little time you were saving for Madrid! I would spend at least 5 days there instead of some of these others things (including Barcelona if you had to, I love Barcelona, but 5 days there and 5 in Madrid would work). I would never spend 3 days in Granada myself, but you must have your reasons. I have been there, but don't see any reason it is superior to other places. Sure, you want to see the Alhambra but I personally wouldn't want to spend more than a day doing that.
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Old Oct 21st, 2014, 11:21 AM
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Small, charming and quite touristy Nerja and genuine and laid-back big city Malaga are two completely different things. Like Christina, I would very much take the days from Granada and spend them in Malaga (once you've visited the Alhambra of course). "Picasso's city of hidden treasures": http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...-breaks-travel
Plenty of sights right in the city center, and Malaga is also a museum city, apart from all the great tapas bars, restaurants, cafees, theaters and nightlife: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...tractions.html
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