JULY WEDDING IN CORUNA. NEED HELP BUILDING TRIP AROUND IT.
 

I have a wedding to attend on July 2 in La Coruna. I want to build it into a 2 week vacation. Don't really know where to start. Should I just do La Coruna and then fly to Lisbon. (Incidentally, I'm not interested in anything self-drive.) I've only ever been to Barcelona and Madrid. Should I fly from La Coruna to Seville, to the costa del sol, where should I go? Thanks for directing me. bob

that part of spain is so beautiful.. good food.. scenery.. santiago de compostela is a MUST. you can bus from la coruña to santiago, but i would suggest bussing to some coastal towns first, have fresh seafood like never in your life.

i will try to post some good towns to visit. a car would make it very simple, but since you don't want to drive, the buses will probably be the best transport between small villages. you can even take taxis short routes.

then after a few days, you can go wherever. the people organizing the wedding could surely give you a few ideas for the days preceding and following? you will not be disappointed spending some of your time in this area.

what type of things do you like to do on vacation? hike? golf? beaches? good food? see castles?
depending on your priorities.. and if you prefer cities to small towns, etc.. you could be pointed in one direction or other.

check out www.turgalicia.es

Since there are no direct flights between la Coruña and Sevilla, why not spend a few days in the Basque Country, after exploring Galicia? It's the perfect time of the of the year.

It's interesting, we have friends who are getting married (the official wedding) on the 9th in Santiago and everyone is heading to Pamplona for the fiesta. Why not join us?

So you're travelling solo, right? This year, around those dates I was on my Jubilee Year 'pilgrimage' to Santiago. I stayed 2-nights (single room, ensuite) in VilaGarcia de Arousa (Hostal a'Plaza, 35E) and 2-nights in Santiago (Hostal A Nosa Casa, 30E). Breakfast was included in both: In the former, breakfast was much more ample than the standard continental breakfast

For July, I think you should stay in the north (too hot in Andalucia). After a stop in Galicia you can take a bus to Santander (Cantabria) and do day-trips from there (bus) to Comillas and Santanilla del mar or to the Picos de Europa or to Bilbao. The beaches in Santander (el Sardinero) are far superior to anything you might find on the Costa del Sol.

When you get ready to come home, the bus from Santander to Madrid (Avda. de America) takes about 5.5 hours (Continental-Auto). Or, if your home is in the U.K., you can take Brittany ferries to Plymouth or fly direct from Bilbao.

Robert:

Tell me more about the festival in Pamplona. I'm getting ready to join
you :).

bob

Dear Lincasanova:

Thanks for the info, especially the website which is full of good stuff. Also, what other coastal towns would you suggest? Thanks bob

i am not a galicia expert.. have only been to major sites.
however, if i were going to plan this for myself.. i would take a lot of the great info from the following websites. remembering for searches this area is called "galicia" , plus you have adventure holidays.. horse riding.. "casas rurales" pazos (old palatial homes or country stone houses converted to lodgings). they are usually quite reasnoable and accesible by taxi from nearest town for 5-10 euros.

hope you can get more info from a few of the sites i have seen.. there are LOTS.

www.galinor.es
www.riasbaixas.org

the "rias" are the streams that run into the ocean. they are gorgeous.
as you can see from these sites.

depending on how far you want to travel.. you can go inland to santiago.. (very quaint hotels in center), LUGO, a walled city where you can walk on top of the wall still like an "esplanade!!" lugo is also supposedly the cheapest place in spain to eat. we found it extremely reasonable.

i understand pontevedra is really nice, its center was declared national historical site. so.. you have a lot to choose from.

also.. you could go down to portugal... there are supposed to be very nice towns in the north...but i have never been there.

north coast towards france you have charming Santillana del mar, then santander.. then bilbao (guggenheim), and france..
excellent food all the way.
travelling the northern coastline is quite difficult in many places. get ready for curves.

Bob, Ah, Pamplona, my favorite place to hang out in early July. There are several web sites to check out what's happening during the fiesta: Sanfermin.com, Sanferminonline.net and thescarletmacaw.com, which offers packages during the fiesta. The fiesta is unique, with the running of the bulls, and is one of the most popular destinations during July in Europe. We’ve always hear the “everyone should go to the fiesta at least once in their life”, but we, along with a number of other, have made a habit of it. It’s the best nine days you can have at one time, but you’ll need to take a break to relax after a few days of being up nearly all day long. Come, you’ll enjoy it.

Also, while you're checking out things, you can visit Maribel's Guides and down load a copy of her Basque Coutry Guides. You'll find them useful.
(http://maribelsguides.com)