Reyna

My husband and I are planning on traveling to Barcelona three days before our seven day RC cruise and to Madrid three days after.<BR>My husband is an architect and I love to experience art, culture and wine.<BR><BR>First: Any "must see" or special "off the beaten track" excursions in Barcelona? We plan on seeing Picasso's Museum and all the beautiful architecture of the city. <BR><BR>Second: We want to see the bullfights in Madrid, but we arriving on Sunday at noon. From what we read, bullfights only occur on Suday afternoon. How can we make prior arrangements for tickets if our Spanish is weak? As in previous Barcelona question, any "must see" or "off the beaten track" excursions? <BR><BR>Any info would be helpful. What is your recommendation on restaurants, entertainment and what's a good phrase book?<BR><BR>

ttt

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cooter

Can't help with Barcelona, but as for Madrid and bullfights, tickets are available at the plaza de toros (las ventas) and at ticket agents throughout the city. At the plaza there is no reservation or pre-purchase system. Ticket agents add a 20% markup. There are two places online that sell tickets and have some information in English:<BR><BR>http://www.eol.es/lgalicia/<BR>http://www.ticketstoros.com/ (click on the British flag for English)<BR><BR>I haven't had to use either, but I know people who have had good results with localidades galicia (the first). I don't know about the second, although they claim you can pick the tickets up at the plaza itself. At any rate, they both have English speakers, so you can call them both and see what works out better for you.<BR><BR>Madrid does have some interesting architecture, although not the finest in Spain. Royal Palace and post office buildings are interesting. Art is amazing, with the Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofia all must-sees. I enjoy the military museums as well. As for wine, you're in luck as Spain has great vintages. Trey a bunch, but my favorites are Riojas (esp. reservas 94-95), Ribera del Duero, and the whites from Galicia. Dining is similarly great. My favorite Spanish regional cuisines are Galician and Basque.<BR><BR>My favorite thing in Madrid is el rastro, the huge fleamarket, but it is only on Sunday mornings. Good day trips to El Escorial, Segovia and Toledo (really good art and architecture in all these places) with Madrid as a base.<BR><BR>Can't help with phrase books. <BR><BR>Do a search on this board, as there has been a lot of good information posted over the years about Madrid (and Barcelona, too). Enjoy your trip.<BR><BR>

Newcruisers

Dear Cooter:<BR><BR>Thank you! Great info.<BR>

Marsha

For a tour of Barcelona, or for excursions outside of the city, contact Debbie at [email protected].<BR>Marsha

Jess

This year Barcelona is celebrating the 150th anniversery of Gaudi's death, with many of the private buildings open for public viewing. As an architect, you husband should love that. Make sure you check out some of the older Romanesque churches, like Santa Maira del Mar and Sant Pau des Camps.

Becky Meisels

With Barcelona, the best stuff you just find by accident while wandering around the city. The area around the Picasso museum is especially fun. THe Museum is great too if you like are and architecture. Also, check to see where and when there are flea markets going on. and finally the Ramblas. Its a must see turist site, but I could spend an entire day just walking up and down the Ramblas watching the street performers--make sure you go down teh side streets too. theres lots of hidden treasures.

Debbie

Try Monserrat, a 45 minute drive from Barcelona. It's a monestary high in the mountains. Every day at 12:00 (or is it 1:00?) the boys choir sings for 10 minutes - magical.

Viva

Can't say much about Barcelona except Gaudi,his unfinished cathedral,la Familia Sacrada and las Ramblas.To me Madrid is a more interesting city-locan definitely be dividied up into different architectural eras-you'll need tolook up alot!Keeping this fact in mind,the architecture,that is, get in touch with Welltours and an interesting British man-Stephen Drake Jones-He has an incredible amount of knowledge.([email protected])He's been recommended by Rick Stevens.After you've recovered from Stephen,go have fun with WalksofSpain.com -they are put together by Madrid restaurants and wine merchants.I remember they do an afternoon and then an evening tour.I've always taken my group in the evenings!On another evening go to the Botin restaurant,try to get seated downstairs,in the basemnet where the ovens are,go after 10pm and the university students dressed in costumes will come in serenading the diners-la tuna.It's the restaurant for final setting for the last line of Hemmingway' The Sun Also Rises.By the way the son of the restaurant managed to come close to duplicating this restaurant and menu in Miami1<BR>Your're on your own for the Prado and the Reina Sofia museum!

tommy

In Barcelona, the Fundacio Miro is a nice place to visit. In addition to the works of Miro and the interesting architecture of the building, the views of the city are superb.

John

We had a great time touring Segovia (where the acqueducts are located) and La Granja (I think this is the name of the summer palace outside of Segovia). We hired an English speaking driver (recommended by our hotel) and he allowed us to cover alot of ground and was very knowledgeable. Would have been tough to do both of those on the same day using public transport. We also took a train to Toledo (very charming old town with lots of churches and an alcazar (sp?) that was damaged in the civil war and rebuilt. Basically, our favorite things about Madrid were trips just outside of the city. Overall had fun in Madrid, but viewed it as more like Milan, a pretty large city.

las

Your hotel can help you with tickets for the bullfight.I always suggest the cheapest seats and in the shade(sombra)-you will be at the top and the view will not be that close up,neither will the smell.Stay as long as you can bear it then leave!If you get there early you can go in the back and there's a bullfighting museum,the bulls and horses being used that day,the chapel and emergency room all set up.<BR>Buy a cushion because the concrete is tough!<BR>Forget about the Sunday Rastro-it has become just junk,not worth fighting the crowds or pickpockets!

cooter

Disagree with "las" above:<BR><BR>If you actually want to see (and, yes, smell) a bullfight, get as close to the action as possible. Mind you, even the worst seat in the house is worthwhile, but defintely try to get further down. They do cost more, however. I prefer "sol y sombra" to just sombra, but it is largely a matter of preference. Use sunblock if you are in the sol section.<BR><BR>As for the Rastro, it's not like it was 20 years ago. There is definetely a lot more junk. With that said, I think it is still great. Especially, the smaller cross streets off the main thoroughfares can provide good antiques and other curiosities. On my last trip, for example, I was looking for a Spanish army entrenching tool (had been unable to find in the US or internet). Within 30 minutes, I found one. <BR><BR>If you actually are looking to buy something, look around to see what the going rate is, and be prepared to haggle. This is harder for a tourist, admittedly. Crowds are truly bad, although, once again, smaller cross streets provide better shopping and fewer crowds. Never had a problem with pickpockets, although everyone always warns me. I always make sure I have wallet in front pocket. I sometimes carry the wallets on chains that some bikers use.<BR>

oh no

Why would you want to see the action up close? Even the president of the bullfight sits high up-The stench of blood, bowel movement of horses and bulls,the vomit etc is overpowering on a hot sunny day.Near the top in the shade there is a breeze that makes it somewhat bearable.You want closeup,stay in the hotel room and watch the bloody mess on TV

amg

Reyna,<BR><BR>Barcelona has a great tourist bus system. I do not usually like them (I did not think the route in Madrid was good) but I thought the one in Barcelona was excellent. For a single price you can get on and off all day. Your feet will thank you. It takes you by all of the main Gaudi sites - the park, church and apartment. They are all worth seeing. It also stops at or near the major churches and Olympic sites in the city. <BR><BR>I would recommend one of 3 day trips from Madrid. Toledo is a short bus or train trip south of Madrid. It has several churches and synagogues and is a pretty town to walk around. Segovia has a beautiful square, Roman aqueduct and a castle. It is farther from Madrid but i believe you can take escorted bus tours to the town. The third whould be a trip to El Escorial the royal palace of the spanish kings which is about an hour outside of Madrid. <BR><BR>Have fun in Spain!<BR>Aileen

Maggie

In support of Aileen. Yes - do take the Bus Turistica from Placa Catalunya.<BR>A two day ticket costs 18 Euros and is worth every whatever 100th of that is!<BR>It takes you to all the most interesting parts of Barcelona and the Gaudi buildings are described to you in the booklet that you are given when you board the bus.<BR>You can get off as you please and enjoy the sights that you are most interested in before catching the next bus to the next point of interest.<BR>Many people decry the Spanish Village (Poble Espanyol) near Montjuic but I found it interesting amd well worth getting off the bus for.<BR>Don't miss the magic fountain show near Placa Espanyol, shows start at 7pm and are staged at half hourly intervals. We stood on the road bridge, just in front of the palace, and really enjoyed the music and the spectacle.<BR>Enjoy Barcelona, we did, and I think it outrates Paris as far as European cities are concerned.<BR>Regards, Maggie Bawden.<BR>

Reyna

Thank you so much everyone! Just three weeks away and I am printing out all your responses.<BR><BR>Just one more question:<BR><BR>Are there places to tour port cellars?