Just back from Spain.
 

We visited Barcelona, Madrid, Cordoba, Sevilla and Granada. We traveled by train, buses, metro and plain. No driving. I loved the south, Andalucia (the last 3 cities). <BR>Very friendly people, good food, lots of walking and good weather! No problems with gypsies at all. In fact we saw very few and even asked where they were. We saw the museums, cathedrals, bull fight, flamenco shows, etc. Lots of people help me in this forum before I left. I want to help now.

Sorry, I didn't check my spelling. I speak Spanish and I wrote plain instead of plane. <BR>

We're going to Andalucia at the beginning of October so I'd enjoy reading more about your trip. Where did you see the best flamenco show? Did you fly Iberia at all? Any problems? Thanks.

Marija, <BR> <BR>For good flamenco, even though it is a commercial show, try Los Gallos in Seville or Arenal, also in Seville. <BR>There are private flamenco clubs and SOMETIMES they allow interested visitors to attend. You can find out about those by visiting MENKES dance shop in Seville. I have the address at home; so email there if you are interested. <BR> <BR>I would not recommend any flamenco tablau in Barcelona and the one I went to in Granada ( at the Gardens of Neptune) was <BR>so-so. <BR> <BR>Enjoy your trip.( I have been studying flamenco for about eight years so I know a little bit about it..no expert, but no novice, either)

What cities would you recommend and for how long in each if I were to go for a week??

Mora,

Mora, it sounds like you had a wonderful time. We're planning on going to Spain in October and from all the suggestions that we are receiving we have decided on Barcelona and its surrounding region. We are now looking for hotel recommendations in Barcelona. Were did you stay? Would you recommend it? If so, why and if not, do you have any recommendations? Also, is there anything we should not miss while in Barcelona?

Richard, <BR> <BR>I loved your post on Rome. <BR> <BR>If you are going to Spain for a week I would go to Seville for at least three or four days, Cordoba for a full day and night, and Granada for one or two days. <BR>You can do all of this without a car. I was there is April and have a more detailed posting somewhere on this forum. Feel free to email me at home for a more detailed account. ( Also, went to Barcelona last year and have information on that, too). <BR> <BR>Michele <BR> <BR> <BR>

My boyfriend and I just got back from Spain about two weeks ago. We didn't have a lot of money to go see Flamenco shows at the tourist places. In Sevilla we went to a great flamenco bar in the same plaza as Los Gallos (mentioned in a previous post). It was a wonderful experience. We were surrounded by the people of Sevilla dancing, singing, playing the guitar. It was all very spontanious, and it didn't cost anything! At the end of the night my boyfriend even played guitar with the guitarist, who bought us each a glass of Sherry. I'd read in a book that the less money you spend the closer you get to the locals. That couldn't have been more true for us that night! <BR>I do have plenty of more experiences to share, if anyone has questions about Andalucia. <BR> <BR>P.S. Do NOT drink the "family wine" at the Patio de la Juderia in Cordoba in the Juderia. Trust me!

!!

I'm going to be in Sevilla in about three weeks, but only for two days. What do you recommend I do there since I'm there for such a little time? Thanks, Eden <BR>

Hi Eden, <BR>Make sure you check out the Cathedral, go up the bell tower, walk through the old neighborhood called Santa Cruz, see the Basilica of the Macarena, go to the Parque Maria Luisa... that's just for starters!

Hi, Eden. If you like to walk a lot, you can visit the most important places in two days. La Catedral and La Giralda <BR>(this last one is a tower and you go up on ramps 93 meters. It's fun and nice views. You have to go to Santa Cruz, for me the prettiest place in Sevilla. <BR>If you like bullfights it is interesting <BR>to see once only. It's very cruel, but <BR>I had to experience it myself. Triana is interesting but not so nice. Hope you have fun! <BR>

Mora and Wendy, thanks so much! Do you have a hotel recommendation in Sevilla? One night my friends and I are going to stay at the Parador de Carmona which is about 15 miles outside Sevilla. For our second night, we wanted to stay in the heart of Sevilla, nothing to expensive or too cheap. Any thoughts? I will also be visiting Madrid, Marbella and Ibiza during my vacation. Have you been? If so, any recommendations on what to do in these places. Again, will only be in each location two-three days. Thanks! <BR>

Eden, <BR>I just saw your post on Costa del Sol. Do yourself a favor (if you're not on a tour) and cut your trip to Marbella down by a day or two and stay the extra day in Sevilla instead. <BR> <BR>I lived in Sevilla, so I can't really comment on hotels, EXCEPT the first couple of days I was there, the study-abroad program put us up at Hotel Inglaterra. It was very, very, conveniently located - right in the center, over looking Plaza Nueva, just across from Calle Sierpes (where you can do a paseo in the evening). It couldn't have been too expensive, though, since it was part of the package. It was comfy and clean.

Eden, <BR> <BR>Was in Spain about a year ago. We loved Sevilla. I think the hotel we stayed in was something like the Dona Maria. Ideal location by the cathedral and Santa Cruz and reasonably priced. On our way to Sevilla we stopped in Carmona for few hours and saw the Parador, which was built into a fort at the city wall. I don't think I would recommend staying in Carmona as a base to explore Sevilla. Driving around can be confusing there. We actually got rid of our car when we got to Sevilla and were glad we did. Although Carmona was an interesting place and the Parador would be a neat place to stay, you might want to consider devoting more time to Sevilla. You would probably appreciate a couple of days of walking and cabs in this wonderful city. Sevilla is definitely one of my favorite places.

Eden, <BR>I would recommend the hotel Las Casas de la Juderia in Sevilla. It is on the Callejon de Dos Hermanas and was a great place and ideal location in Santa Cruz. Telefono: 95-441-5150. As for sights our favorites were the cathedral, the Royal Palaces (Reales Alcazares), La casa de Pilatos, La Basilica de la Macarena, La Plaza de Espana, the Museo de Bellas Artes, and just strolling the Santa Cruz neighborhood. Good luck, I am jealous, it is a city of pure magic. Write me if you need further info. Also, I agree that staying in Carmona is NOT a good place to visit Sevilla from. Definitely, leave your car at the train station or some other location and travel on foot. Maria

I am going to Spain in a few days and want to know about the train system. I plan to go to andalusia (seville, grananda, cordoba, marbella, etc.) do the trains go to all, how expensive are they, how are the times, is this the best mode of transportation?