kerrylou

We haven't yet but will be booking a two week trip to Spain in September or early October and we'd appreciate some suggestions about where to go and what to see. We love architecture, music and scenery - not into food so much. I'm 65 and my husband is 73 and although we've travelled quite a bit we now find ourselves happier staying in one or two places - modest, B & B's or Airbnb and travelling to villages close by. For instance when in France we stayed 3 or 4 nights in Paris, took the TGV to Provence, rented a small house for a week in Bagnol sur Ceze - a little working town, rented a car and did day trips to all the villages/towns around. Any suggestions of similar experiences in Spain. We will probably be flying in and out of Barcelona. Thank you

maitaitom

Below is our 20-day trip last year (Barcelona, Granada, Sevilla, Cordoba , Toledo and Madrid (with photos). It should give you some good ideas on sites to see.

I have also included links to our two favorite places we stayed (in Granada and Madrid). Both were bargains, but completely different types of lodging. Have a great trip.

http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/spain-2015/

In Granada:
Alhambra Apartamentos Turisticos: Wonderful people (Ana and Anas) run this place with a killer rooftop view to sip wine and watch the Alhambra as the sun sets.

http://www.apartamentosalhambra.es/

In Madrid:
Spain Select Lope de Vega II - Two bedroom upscale aprtment with insanely low rates for what they offer. One of the greatest walk-in showers ever! I write about in my report.

http://www.spain-select.com/en_US/rent-apartments-madrid/lope-de-vega-ii

maitaitom

One more thing...should you travel to Toledo (a place we adored) I would also recommend this lodging, located in a terrific location.

It's a three bedroom apartment at only 140 euros a night. Thy have smaller rooms, but this one includes a wonderful view out over Toledo (so much to do there...worth more than a day trip).

Casa de los Mozarabes

http://www.casadelosmozarabes.com/

kja

IME, it rarely makes sense to fly into and out of the same city -- the backtracking is rarely worth it. BUT whether it makes sense for this trip or not depends on what you end up visiting.

With only 2 weeks, I would urge you to be selective: Maybe Barcelona and Madrid, each with a day trip or two; or maybe just Andalusia (Sevilla, Granada, Cordoba, etc.) -- but I think it might still be uncomfortably hot in Sept.; maybe Barcelona, San Sebastian, and Bilbao; you have lots of options!

If you haven't already done so, consider getting a few good guidebooks, or consulting some at your local library. Spain is enormous and offers a wealth of stunning options. Enjoy!

kerrylou

Thank you for your suggestion Maitaitom, I will check out your trip and some of the accommodations you've selected. kja, I agree it is a bad idea to fly in and out of the same city but I don't know if I afford to fly out of two different cities - 1 way flights are expensive when flying from Canada. I will definitely get some guidebooks and considering your advice - may wait until October for our trip.

kja

OMG, kerrylou, don't even consider booking one-way each way -- look for a round trip ticket with a "multi-city" or "multiple destinations" route! Tickets like that are often about the same price as a round trip into and out of the same city, and once you count the cost (in time and money) to return somewhere, it can even be less expensive! There are many search engines out there; you might try orbitz just to get an idea of your options...

Hope that helps!

kimhe

<We love architecture, music and scenery ... although we've travelled quite a bit we now find ourselves happier staying in one or two places - modest, B & B's or Airbnb and travelling to villages close by.>

Sevilla, the undisputed queen of the cities in the South, and surroundings could tick all your boxes. You could be in Sevilla during the world's greatest and most prestigious flamenco festival, the Bienal de Flamenco (Sept 8-Oct 2). The finest flamenco artists in the world in theaters all around town every night for more than three weeks. A night at the Bienal would be a great intro to this beautiful and powerful art so important for the city and the region, and it could easily be the highlight of your trip. The tickets are now selling out: http://www.labienal.com/en/

Also a parallell program of outdoor concerts at night in the spectacular Real Alcázar gardens through September. http://www.alcazarsevilla.org/
Concert programme and tickets: http://www.actidea.es/nochesalcazar2016/calendario

A fine intro to Sevilla:
http://www.exploreseville.com/
http://www.andalucia.com/cities/sevilla.htm
http://www.andalucia.com/top10s/seville.htm

Many small towns around Sevilla that could serve as a second base and the start of many interesting daytrips into beautiful landscapes and tiny villages. Primarily thinking of Antequera - the so called heart of Andalucía - and Carmona, but lots of options. Sevilla is 5 hours from Barcelona with the high speed AVE train, city center to city center. Also frequent low cost flights between the two cities.

kerrylou

That sounds like a perfect itinerary. I have actually booked some flights September 23rd for two weeks and with kja's insight have made arrangements to fly back to Germany from Spain but from a different location. I had read about the flamenco festival and will look into tickets to this event. Thank you very much kimhe!

kimhe

Highlights of the last week of the bienal include Isabel Bayón and Israel Galván in the huge Maestranza theater on Monday 26: http://www.labienal.com/dju-dju/

Pastora Galván in the old world Lope de Vega theater on Wednesday 28: http://www.labienal.com/mirame/?doin...26202392578125

The Spanish National Ballett and the Sevilla symphonic orquestra in the Maestranza theater on Thursday 29 and Friday 30th: http://www.labienal.com/alento-zaguan-2/

I'm seeing Rocío Molina on Saturday and the closing concert with José Mercé on Sunday, but they are both sold out. Always possible to get hold of tickets outside the venues in the last hour.

Some clips:
Isabel Bayón: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH1el0WUsJk
Israel Galván: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTXf01hRr94
Pastora Galván: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2SBUcrJgeQ
Rocío Molina: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQpoEFuEQb0
José Mercé: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzxyefhCQXg