ekscrunchy & amden - Pedraza question and a couple of others, if that's ok
Apr 8th, 2010, 12:20 PM
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ekscrunchy & amden - Pedraza question and a couple of others, if that's ok
I am copying and pasting my response from my other post, and adding a couple of additional questions, if that's ok. I am most grateful for your time!!!
Well, I actually found an apt for rent in Pedraza that looks very nice! So my next question is this. Is Pedraza a good base from which to explore the area? I have read that mid week the place is very quiet, and that is perfectly fine with me. But will there be any restaurants open? Will there be any shops open? We will be traveling in late June.
Also, can you give me a few details about the siesta? What is the timeframe? Does everything close up during that time? Also, when is dinner typically served at restaurants?
Final logistical question: As far as I can tell, flights from NY to Madrid land at around 7:30 AM. How have you handled this in the past? If we are going to be based in Pedraza, do we just suck it up and drive there from Madrid that morning with so little sleep? Do we take a train to Segovia, stay one night to rest, and then rent a car there to drive to Pedraza the next day? I need some practical guidance for handling flying overnight, arriving around 2AM NY time, and then getting to our destination a couple of hours away.
Thank you sooo much! I've perused the old posts of yours (ekscrunchy and amsdon), and they are hugely helpful!!!
Katherine
Well, I actually found an apt for rent in Pedraza that looks very nice! So my next question is this. Is Pedraza a good base from which to explore the area? I have read that mid week the place is very quiet, and that is perfectly fine with me. But will there be any restaurants open? Will there be any shops open? We will be traveling in late June.
Also, can you give me a few details about the siesta? What is the timeframe? Does everything close up during that time? Also, when is dinner typically served at restaurants?
Final logistical question: As far as I can tell, flights from NY to Madrid land at around 7:30 AM. How have you handled this in the past? If we are going to be based in Pedraza, do we just suck it up and drive there from Madrid that morning with so little sleep? Do we take a train to Segovia, stay one night to rest, and then rent a car there to drive to Pedraza the next day? I need some practical guidance for handling flying overnight, arriving around 2AM NY time, and then getting to our destination a couple of hours away.
Thank you sooo much! I've perused the old posts of yours (ekscrunchy and amsdon), and they are hugely helpful!!!
Katherine
Apr 8th, 2010, 12:48 PM
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The drive to Pedraza will take about 1-1/2 hours from the airport, following the A-1/E-5, the Autovía del Norte. You take the N-110, exit 99, toward Segovia. Pedraza is about 25 minutes from there.
Yes, Pedraza is fine to use as a base to explore the surrounding area.
Siesta really doesn't exist in Spain, but lunch generally goes from 1:30 to 4:00 and some shops/stores do close during this time some people can go to lunch or do other things, if possible.
The flight from NY is not quite as taxing as flying in from the west coast, so you shouldn't have any problem driving to Pedraza.
Note: It will take you longer to go into Madrid to catch the train to Segovia then to simply pick up the car at the airport and drive to Pedraza.
You might want to download a copy of Maribel's Guide to Segovia (www.maribelsguides.com).
Yes, Pedraza is fine to use as a base to explore the surrounding area.
Siesta really doesn't exist in Spain, but lunch generally goes from 1:30 to 4:00 and some shops/stores do close during this time some people can go to lunch or do other things, if possible.
The flight from NY is not quite as taxing as flying in from the west coast, so you shouldn't have any problem driving to Pedraza.
Note: It will take you longer to go into Madrid to catch the train to Segovia then to simply pick up the car at the airport and drive to Pedraza.
You might want to download a copy of Maribel's Guide to Segovia (www.maribelsguides.com).
Apr 8th, 2010, 02:04 PM
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I agree--the drive to Pedraza from the airport is easy and you should have no trouble. I visited the town at the end of my stay and drove to the airport from there--also a snap.
When we were there a few years ago, on a Friday-Sunday visit, the town was VERY quiet during the long afternoon siesta. I belive shops opened again at 5pm.
Even during the hours that stores were open, there is not a lot of variety as far as shops selling staples like basic foods. I remember only one shop of this sort, near the Santo Domingo--to the right as you exit the hotel but there may well be others. Do not expect any wealth of options as far as purchasing foodstuffs for the apartment, though.
I believe someone in the town told me that the some of the few people that live in Pedraza full time do major shopping these days at a supermarket (sorry, to have to say that..) somewhere in the near vicinity.
When we were there a few years ago, on a Friday-Sunday visit, the town was VERY quiet during the long afternoon siesta. I belive shops opened again at 5pm.
Even during the hours that stores were open, there is not a lot of variety as far as shops selling staples like basic foods. I remember only one shop of this sort, near the Santo Domingo--to the right as you exit the hotel but there may well be others. Do not expect any wealth of options as far as purchasing foodstuffs for the apartment, though.
I believe someone in the town told me that the some of the few people that live in Pedraza full time do major shopping these days at a supermarket (sorry, to have to say that..) somewhere in the near vicinity.
Apr 10th, 2010, 06:24 AM
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Oh thanks EKS I missed this one..
Katherine the shops do close as I mentioned in your other post..Robert & EKS have covered it, in fact they both inspired me to go there. It is lovely, lots of storks and very very quiet...too much so for some people I would suspect.
I felt the same as EKS there is not a whole lot of variety in stores, but they were interesting and not the usual trinkets. There was a silvershop, a furnature shop, a sweets shop, a shop that sold orujo and some food items but pricey and kind of touristy. Pedraza is charming, but this is a town that has now lost many of it's locals who live in the sourrounding areas (according to Goya the waitress at Yantar) Pedraza is adorable, but clearly is a "desitnation" with some locals here and there. Again if you want peace, this is the place on weekdays. There are mountain views.
You do plan to see Segovia correct? I liked that also very much. It is not really that busy imo, except there are some tour buses. But I thought quite compact. And charming.
Alot more going on.
By the way I replied re your translation on the other post.
What exactly is your itinerary?
Katherine the shops do close as I mentioned in your other post..Robert & EKS have covered it, in fact they both inspired me to go there. It is lovely, lots of storks and very very quiet...too much so for some people I would suspect.
I felt the same as EKS there is not a whole lot of variety in stores, but they were interesting and not the usual trinkets. There was a silvershop, a furnature shop, a sweets shop, a shop that sold orujo and some food items but pricey and kind of touristy. Pedraza is charming, but this is a town that has now lost many of it's locals who live in the sourrounding areas (according to Goya the waitress at Yantar) Pedraza is adorable, but clearly is a "desitnation" with some locals here and there. Again if you want peace, this is the place on weekdays. There are mountain views.
You do plan to see Segovia correct? I liked that also very much. It is not really that busy imo, except there are some tour buses. But I thought quite compact. And charming.
Alot more going on.
By the way I replied re your translation on the other post.
What exactly is your itinerary?
Apr 11th, 2010, 05:31 PM
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Thank you, Amsden!!
Yes, we plan to see Segovia. In fact, if there were a nice apt or cottage for rent on the outskirts of Segovia, I might prefer that just so that there would always be something to see and do (and eat).
We are leaving in just a couple of months but I'm still in the early stages of planning, so no precise itinerary yet. I know we want to see Padraza, Sepulveda, and Segovia. Once I have my accomodations, car and flights booked, I'll start to think about the day to day itinerary. I'll be taking my cues from your report, Ekscrunchy's report and from Mirabel's guide. I have a toddler to take care of a toddler so the planning process is taking longer than it should.
Thank you again so much, both for the translation help and for your input!!
Katherine
Yes, we plan to see Segovia. In fact, if there were a nice apt or cottage for rent on the outskirts of Segovia, I might prefer that just so that there would always be something to see and do (and eat).
We are leaving in just a couple of months but I'm still in the early stages of planning, so no precise itinerary yet. I know we want to see Padraza, Sepulveda, and Segovia. Once I have my accomodations, car and flights booked, I'll start to think about the day to day itinerary. I'll be taking my cues from your report, Ekscrunchy's report and from Mirabel's guide. I have a toddler to take care of a toddler so the planning process is taking longer than it should.
Thank you again so much, both for the translation help and for your input!!
Katherine
Apr 11th, 2010, 06:00 PM
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IMO Pedraza is a place to go for a Sunday drive and have lunch!Not much to it at all.I would suggest you consider La Granja-just about 10 minutes from Segovia.I can imagine myself retiring there.It has the feel of a lively pueblo,beautful views of mountains,the gardens of the little palace,the fountains(think mini Versailles), a market and lots of little restaurants.
cCheck out rentalia.com. there are 4 properties listed. We stayed at La casa del PLantel and loved every minute of it!
La Granja is the shortened name for San Ildefonso de la Granja
cCheck out rentalia.com. there are 4 properties listed. We stayed at La casa del PLantel and loved every minute of it!
La Granja is the shortened name for San Ildefonso de la Granja
