Maribel - My Spain Trip
 

Finally booked flights Saturday night (May 10th). Not much time to plan.

AA June 3 evening to madrid and Iberia on to Granada arriving 1:30PM.
Return is AA June 16 at 11:45AM.

The advantage to the Iberia flight (if there's ever an advantage to Iberia other than price) wwas that it leaves after 6PM and that gives most of the day.

We're staying over only 1 night at the Reina Cristina. I expect we'll spend the afternoon and evening around the Albacain. The next day we have tickets for the Alhambra (11AM. wanted a bit earlier but the only available time was 9AM - too early for my wife).

Depending upon how we do we'll either take a 4:30 or 8:40 train to Seville. I would prefer the earlier as arriving in a new city after 11:30 is a bit late.

This is starting to look like a trip report instead of an itinerary.

Seville. It appears I have reservations at Casas de la Juderia. They confirmed but....

They only had a Junior Suite available. bigger room I guess, more money. We're staying 5 days and 5 nights leaving for Madrid in the evening.

Seville should have 3 days plus a day trips to Cordoba and Carmona. Carmona was selected for now as it's small, looks interesting in writeups and is quite close. I'm not sure I'm crazy about a bus ride but we'll survive it.

Madrid (Carlos V) will have 6 nights and 5 days. Day trip to Toledo. Back in 12/02 I jumped on a special of 99Euros including tax and breakfast. Unfortunately we're off by about a week and they would not move the reservation with the same rate.

I'm trying to somehow put Salamanca in there as it kept turning up as a favorite of many people in that favorite Spanish thread.

I think the smart thing would be an overnight but I'm not smart. We might leave mid afternoon from Madrid and return next evening. Or maybe go and come the same day.

Unfortunately trains to Salamanca leave 8:45 (11:05), 11(13:26) and nothing in between. I know it's a lot of train for 1 day but arriving either 11:05 or 13:26 and returning 19:45 might be fine.

I don't think I posed a question but maybe you can comment and improve or suggest.

Thanks Maribel.
Maybe we should skip Salamanca and add some other shorter day trip.

Hi Myer,
It appears your trip is shaping up very nicely even with short noctice.
You'll enjoy the Casas de la Juderia. I think it's a really fine choice for the first time visitor to Sevilla (has everthing you'll need), and you'll enjoy the extra space in the jr. suite.

You may be able to take that 4:30 train to Sevilla if you arrive prompty at the Alhambra entrance at 11.

To do Salamanca properly, you really should overnight, and I understand that you don't like to do busses, and Salamanca is best reached by the 2 hr. 15 min. Auto Res bus, so you really might want to substitute Avila and/or Segovia for Salamanca. It's best to give Salamanca an overnight.

Avila is easily doable in a day trip by train.
Check www.renfe.es for the current schedule. You'll enjoy walking the walls (you can do only a portion of them, on either side), tour the cathedral and try to have lunch at the lovely dining room of the Parador.

Segovia is quicker by La Sepulvedana bus, but you could also train it. I spend the entire day in Segovia because it appeals to me so much. The aqueduct, the Alcazar, the cathedral, and now the fabulous (!!!) Edades del Hombre exhibit in the cathedral, just getting lost and peeking into the many churches, the roast lamb, and on and on...

And don't forget El Escorial (by cercanias 8-A train from Chamartin station, a 50 min. ride) if you're a history buff, but it's closed tight on Mondays.
I take the 8:47, arriving El Escorial at 9:43, to get there right before Monastery opens at 10 and before the tour groups descend. Upon exiting the train station in the lower town (town has two parts-train station down below, and Monastery is in upper village), immediately get on the awaiting "Herranz" city bus which will take you up the long, 2 km. hill to the upper town, get off at the square which is at the end of Floridablanca street, and you'll see the Monastery looming ahead of you on the left. But again, check the current schedule at www.renfe.es

And also in Aranjuez, the beautiful Bourbon dynasty, 18th century summer Palace of Aranjuez, plus delightful gardens, a mini Versailles. We were just there in early April. The walk through the jardines del Principe was so very nice. (also closed Mon.) Aranjuez is an easy train ride from Atocha station.
Take the C3 which leaves every 15-20 min. Mon-Fri.

There's also Alcala de Henares, of Cervantes fame. Take trains C2, C1, C7A from Chamartin or Atocha, departing every 15-20 min.

So many options for interesting day trips...
Be back later.

Hi again Myer,
If you do opt for Segovia instead of Salamanca (the S cities are great), you could catch the 8 a.m. train from Chamartin station if you're early risers, otherwise the 10 a.m., and return on the 6:55. Or you could even spend the night at the Infanta Isabel right on the Plaza Mayor or Los Linajes tucked away next to the walls and steeped with views of the Eresma river valley Ask for a terrace room in either hotel.
www.hotelinfantaisabel.com
www.estancias.com (Linajes) or thru
www.125discount.com or
www.hotelcity.com

The 11th edition of the wonderful Las Edades del Hombre exhibit at the cathedral will have many amazingly lifelike and quite moving 17th c polychromed wood sculptures by masters Juan de Juni and Gregorio Fernandez , among other sacred treasures from Castilla-Leon. I saw the 10th edition at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in NYC and another in Valladolid; each is somewhat different. And it should draw the crowds. It's open Tues-Fri from 10-2 and 4-8; Sat-Sun from 10-8. And it's free.

The Esteban Vicente Contemporary Art Museum has a special show on this painter and his contemporaries (he was a member of the NY school along with J. Pollock and de Kooning). Open Tues-Fri from 11-2, 4-7; Sat. from 11-7, Sun. from 11-2. 2,40 euros

Hope you have a wonderful time, wherever you decide to wander from Madrid!

Hi Maribel
we'll have just 2 free days to do day trips from Madrid - what would you recommend between all that you've written about here? We can rise early and don't mind coming back late. My daughter really enjoys getting the historical feel of a city and its art and cvulture...many thanks again

Hi Maribel
we'll have just 2 free days to do day trips from Madrid (and 2 days in Madrid) - which two places could you recommend between all that you've written about here? We can rise early and don't mind coming back late. My daughter really enjoys getting the historical feel of a city and its art and culture...many thanks again

hi clbc,
Of all the possiblities of day trips from Madrid, for a first time visit, I'd do Toledo and Segovia.
You can reach Toledo from Atocha rail station. Take a Regional Express, about an hr., then either a taxi to the Plaza del Zocodover or the #5 or #6 bus. See the train schedule at www.renfe.es

To Segovia, I'd take the La Sepulvedana bus from Paseo de la Florida #11, next to the Hotel Florida Norte (metro: Principe Pio, grey circular line #6) Express bus service with departures almost every 30 min. during the week (a few departures have 3 intermediate stops). Trip takes 1 hr. 15 min., flat. I take the express at 9 (daily) or 9:30 a.m. (not on Sun.) There's also a daily 10 a.m.express. See the schedule at
www.lasepulvedana.es
From Segovia's bus station on Paseo Ezequiel Gonzalez, walk down to corner and take a left onto Avenida Fernandez Larreda, past Kitius, a computer store with Internet access and continue on, and it becomes a porticoed, pedestrian only street. A pleasant, easy 10 min. stroll to the Aqueduct and tourist office. No need for taxi.

Hope this helps!

Maribel - you're just terrific! Thank you so much!
Toledo and Segovia it is....