Arriving Madrid sept 7 2004 for 3 nights. Then elderhostal to Trujillo 3nts, Evora, Cambria, porto area ,Baiona Parador, then santiago parador. Sept 26 leave group and drive to Leon for 2 nts at parador. (2 adults age 60) ? Plan 4 days from Leon thru Bilbao with 1nt Laguardia. Where to spend the 3nts in bilbao or other ideas? Then barcelona at Hotel Continental for 4nts. Fly to Granada for Oct 6&7 at Hotel America, Pick up car Granada with 2 nts Ueda parador. Drive to Ronda for week of hiking with HF holidays, Drive Oct 17 to Sevilla leaving the 20th. Where to stay in Seville? Casa de la Juderia booked. ?Hostal Artenas vs Amadeus vs Alcantra? Drive to Caisais Poretugal for two weeks in Apt on ocean. ?Ideas for this area of Portugal?? Drive Nov 3 from lisbon to Toledo with 2 nts booked in parador. Now have 5 nts left, Do we try Almagro 1nt Alarcon 2 nts Cuenca 1 nt with last nt Siguenza parador or use last 5 nts Avila, El Escoriol, Salamnaca & Segovia with drive to Barajas am non 10. Any ideas greatly appreciated.

farlege:

Whew!

Ok, what do you like to do? Are you trying to????? Tell me more.

Click on my name for my 2.5 month report for Spain and more. It is in 8 parts but well worth the read/skim if you want my suggestions.

MANY have excellent suggestions for you. Do a Spain and a Portugal search and read away.

Of course come back with all the questions you can muster. Plenty of help is probably on the way.

Happy Planning,
Oaktwon Traveler

I have spent hours on the Spain Portugal Forum and greatly appreciate the great information. I need suggestions on two parts of the trip plus I would like Maribel files for Madrid, Barcelelona ,Sevilla and anything Bilbao and San Sebastian. I have read and enjoyed the Oaktown notes. Great posts. 1- Ideas for using 3 days leaving Leon Sept 28 and before Laguardia Nov1. Want one day at Guggenheim. #2- After parador in Toledo Nov4 have 5 nights around Madrid for either Paradors Almagro , Alarcon, Cuenca and Siguenza Nov 9 with drive to Barajas for 11am flight Nov 10 or use those 5 days for Avila, El-Escoriol, Salamanca with Segovia Nov 9 and to Barajas 11 am Nov 10.

Farlege - if you would break you post into paragrpahs or sections it would be much easier for people to read and deal with. Frankly your first one is so long and "stream of consciousness" that I can't even get through it.

farlege:

Good work! Thanks for the compliment too.

Are your two questions as follows:

1)What to do for 3 days from Leon that includes a day in Bilbio?

2)You have 5 days in/around Madrid...what are the suggestions?

I think you mean you will be flying to Laguardia on the 11th of Nov. not the 1st right?

Confirm the above clarifications... then I think I and others can help.

Keep up the good Travel work!
Oaktown Traveler

Response to reqest to better organize original post for 2 month Spain- Portugal trip. Most of the planning done but a few rough spots remain. 2 adults about 60 arriving Madrid Sept 7 , 2004 leaving Madrid Nov 10. Combination of educational group plus week of hiking in Ronda plus free travel. Rough spot #1: Driving from parador in Santiago arriving Leon Sept26 for 2nts in Parador. From there driving northern coast to Bilbao. Have 3 days to use wisely before 1 nt Laguardia. Looking for ideas and want to see Guggenheim.I have read and re-read virtually all the posts for that area but haven`t developed a smart plan. Rough spot #2: DRiving Nov 3 from Sintra to Toledo with 2 nts booked in Parador. I have 5 nts around Madrid. Plan 1: see paradors Almagro 1 nt, Alarcon 2 nts, Cuencs 1 nt and finish at Siguenza with drive to Barjas for 11am flight. Plan 2: Spend the 5 days Avila, Salamanca & Segovia with drive from Segovia for morning flight home. I have really appreciated the wonderful ideas on this forum. Would like Maribel files for Madrid, Barcelona & Sevilla. Any files for Bilbao and S.S. would help. E-mail [email protected]. Should I start a new thread for a fresh start. This is my first use of such a forum. Thanks!

I created paragarphs etc. but when I hit post it all runs together. I will have one of my typists help solve this problem.

Regarding paragraph problem my IT guru says this work computer has an old version of Netscape causing the problem. Internet explorer will now be used. 1. Rough spot #1: Laguardia as in Spain near Logrono. Need interesting 3 days leaving Leon parador sept 28 driving either north to coast or thru Picos De Europa on way to Bilbao. 3 nts available for this segment with day 4 in Laguardia Spain with one nt Laguardia, Spain then drive to Barcelona for 5 nts. 2: 7 nts near Madrid to finish the 2 month trip. Either finish with paradors Toledo, Almagro, Alarcon,Cuenca & Siguenza with morning drive to Madrid airport or Toledo ,Avila, Salamanca& Segovia with am drive to Barajas.