Hi eks, cruiseluv and amsdon,
Thanks so much for your very kind words-very much appreciated!

I'll try to write up a little guide to Granada when I return. Don't know if I can ever do an all Andalucía guide, simply because our travels keep us mostly in the north.

I have to have my Navarra guide finished and up by late Jan., and I'm also working on one for Asturias-Cantabria, then Costa Brava, then Pyrenees of Catalunya & Aragón.

We'll all just have to meet some day in San Se to do a proper "txikiteo" (pintoxs sampling) in Gros, and maybe the local experts, mikelg and cristina, can join us and take us to their favorite spots!

eks,
I think you'll be ok waiting to book the Parador until the end of Jan.
after your SE Asia trip (I think you lead an even more peripatetic life than I do!)

Perplexing thing about their '08 rates:
When booking online, official rate is listed at 290 ('09 at 297).
However, their most recent pdf file lists an '08 rate of 310, brk for 18. I can only assume this higher rate will "kick in" when that fifth star is added and renovation is complete. Sneaky...
I'll talk to them about it.

If you do need to postpone the trip til after those sacred games, your consolation prize is being in olive oil country around harvest and first press.
In fact, Don at latienda.com says he can arrange a visit then to an almazara for his customers (or just readers). From the La Tienda web site:

http://tinyurl.com/26e26n

The Aceites Vizcantar (on the Zagrilla road) outside of Priego de Córdoba would certainly be on my list of almazaras to visit. For food writers, professionals or just the plain food obsessed, they offer a 75 min. tasting classes (35€ for up to 3) along with a visit of facilities and degustation of all their products.
www.aceitesvizcantar.com

For us it's so much fun to go straight to the food source, like our recent climb up to the village of Bejes in the Cantabrian Picos de Europa to visit the one EU certified cheese producer in the hamlet to taste and purchase his Bejes-Tresviso Picón.
Could have bought in at the Potes Monday market, but we would have missed out on the adventure and awe-inspiring views!

Don't think we'll find a La Cuchara de San Telmo equal in Granada, but my Spain foodie friends do rave about the fresh fish tapas at FM, outside of town. I'll do a thorough review for you!

eks, now I'll let you get back to planning your exciting SE Asia journey, and have fun!

Maribel said
"We'll all just have to meet some day in San Se to do a proper "txikiteo" (pintoxs sampling) in Gros, and maybe the local experts, mikelg and cristina, can join us and take us to their favorite spots!"

I say ((Y)) ((Y)) !!!!!!!!

I agree with amsdon, that's a fantastic idea!

Maribel, looking forward to your new guides. So excited you'll ahve one on Asturias/ Cantabria!

Can I come, too???? Count me in!

And yes, once we have those new guides it will be impossible NOT to plan trips to the newly covered areas...

topping for early 2009

Scrunchy when are you going?

Ana, I am reviving the idea of going in January (the TP brought this up) Nothing is set yet, however. What about you? Any chance of a January Spain trip?

Well I had planned on Oct 09. Now who knows really some things have changed.

Just in cas here is my e mail..
[email protected]

let me know what you doing.

hey eks, did you go to granada yet?
we're planning a trip for madrid, granada and barc. we have 10 full days in spain. how would you recommend we portion out the time? this is our first time to spain. so thinking train to granada from madrid and then fly to barc from granada.

any opinions? thanks!

Unfortunately I have not taken this trip, although I have been to Granada once--about 30 years ago! That plan sounds good to me but others can give you much better advice than I can!

Still on my list, though. Hopefully in the not-too-distant future..

Wow May of last year! Goodness gracious things do change. Eks if I had only known when you posted this how dramatically things would change! Get to Granaga if you can swing it !

You only live once mujer!