kimmerstravels

We will be spending about 24 hours in Toledo - what MUST we see while we're there?

Also, Madrid over the Easter weekend - What should we expect, and what should we not miss? We would like to experience a passion play and Sunday mass, or other religious recognition of Easter. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

PalenQ

Toledo its wondrous self IMO is the must see there - you could miss the wondrous Cathedral and its ornate decor and a zillion other churches withsumptuous interiors and still say that this, Toledo, is one of Europe's finest cities to behold - the whole old town and its myriad of tiny medieval looking lanes - all draped over a hill is the sight.

Madrid's main sights are the Plaza Mayor and Royal Palace, Prado and the gardens nearby. Period IMO. About a day is more than enough for me in one of Europe's loudest, dullest inhaving wide thoroughfares clogged by traffic, etc.

danon

Madrid is a great city with some of the best art museums in Europe, beautiful parks (Retiro), elegant Salamanca district , glorious plazas, first class restaurants and flamenco shows.
Visited three times, but not at Easter.Sorry.

kimmerstravels

Danon - can you recommend a few restaurants, and a flamenco show? We would really like to see one!!

danon

you may wish to read this trip report about food in Madrid
(we love tapas - numerous restaurants on Cava Baja)

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ase-advise.cfm

Several locations for flamenco
#
kimhe on Aug 2, 10 at 2:36am

Here are some clips from two of the best tablaos in Madrid.

Cardamomo (9pm and 8pm on Saturdays):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCJXN...eature=related

Casa Patas (9pm in the weekends):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1etyqa6uDM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZH7TdS6stQ

If this is what you are looking for, then you find good information on this site:
http://www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do?TR=C&IDR=397


we liked the show at Cardamomo - it was early, the venue is small, was close to our apt.



The search function at the top of the page is very useful.

cruiseluv

I love Madrid!Even if you are not a great art lover, the Prado and Reina Sofia museums are not to be missed. If weather is nice you should spend some time in Retiro Park, lovely!

I love the cafes around Plaza Santa Ana, sit there and watch the world go by.

My favorite restaurant is Posada de la Villa, near Plaza Mayor. If you like roasted lamb, that's their specialty. I also like Botin for the baby suckling pig.

kimhe

Belén López dances at Corral de la Morería close to the Royal Palace in Madrid through all of April (except Saturdays). One of the absolute most promising female flamenco dancers in the world today. Toured New York, Washington, London etc as a soloist last year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8P5uFygAC0
http://www.esflamenco.com/scripts/ne...rmIdPagina=691

Tickets and info: http://www.corraldelamoreria.com/ingles/flamenco.html

Before the performance, you can watch the sunset over the Guadarrama mountains from the next door terrace at El Ventorillo in the Vistillas park. Great pollo al ajillo, some say the best in town. Map, video and some pictures: http://11870.com/pro/restaurante-ventorrillo

Aduchamp1

One sister-in-law who is an artist and studies flamenco for fun plans to spend a month in Spain in 2013. She has been to Spain numerous times. As a friend says Madrid is a Spanish city, Barcelona is an international city.

kimhe

For Bélen López at Corral de la Morería, I would recommend to go for the midnight performance. The artists normally let more loose then.
http://www.corraldelamoreria.com/ing...ectaculo.html#

Egbert

For me a must see in Toledo would be the recently re-opened El Greco museum.

bachslunch

There are many excellent sights in both Toledo and Madrid, a full day's worth in the former and easily 3-4 days worth or more in the latter. I'd recommend both a guidebook and site search for ideas.

I'm also nowhere near as unenthusiastic about Madrid as PalenQ appears to be.

danon

We saw Bélen López last year at Cardamomo.
Fantastic!

kimmerstravels

Thanks, everyone! Just got tickets to see Belen Lopez at the Corral de la Moreria (midnight show!!). So excited!!

basingstoke2

I totally agree with PalenQ's "view of Toledo." The city itself is a gem that outshines individual sites and should be experienced. If you are at all able, stay in Toledo overnight when the hordes of day trippers leave and the city takes on a very different and IMO mystical character.