May 2014 Spain Suggestions
 

Retiree & wife to visit Spain in early May, 2014. Tentative plan:
Day 1: Arrive in Seville
Day 2: Tour Seville
Day 3: Day trip to Cordoba via train
Day 4: Train/bus to Gibraltar/Tarifa (can I go to Tangier as day trip fm Seville?)
Day 5: Day trip via ferry to Tangier
Day 6: To Madrid via Hi-Speed train. Self tour of Madrid
Day 7: Day trip to Toledo
Day 8: Day trip to Segovia (attend Flamenco performance in Madrid 1 nite).
Day 9: Self tour of Madrid & attend bull fight.
Day 10: Return to USA.
I would appreciate some feed back & suggestions. We have been to Europe 4 or 5 times, but this is our first trip to Spain, but do not think it will be our last, so I'd like to stay in the southern part of Spain & Madrid this time.
Thanks in advance for your help.

I would skip Gibraltar and go to Granada. Also there is a fellow named Kimhe, who knows more about flamenco than Pilar Rioja. Click on his name for his suggestions.

Please note when you are in Madrid there are only bullfights on Sunday. The there are others but only during certain festivals.

Just a link to a blog of a friends of mine who just used the ferry http://candttrip2.blogspot.pt/2014/0...day-today.html

I agree about skipping Tarifa and Tangier and instead spend 2 nights in Granada. With 9 nights this is a little rushed - if you could add one more night it would be great. I'd consider 4 nights in Sevilla, 2 in Granada and 3 in Madrid. This would allow you to recover from jetlag on day 1, have 2 full days in Sevilla and a daytrip to Cordoba. But it would mean giving up time in Madrid and likely a daytrip to Toledo or Segovia. Or keep the 3 nights in Sevilla but daytrip to Cordoba en route from Granada to Madrid. This way you'd have 2 full days in Sevilla and a jet lag recovery day before moving on to Granada. But it means cutting time in Madrid. So if you had just one day more it would be a good 4-2-4 (Sevilla, Granada, Madrid).

IMDonehere, ha-ha, I'll remember that one :)

And then to flamenco in Madrid. Generally speaking, Casa Patas has been the best tablao (flamenco restaurant) in the country the last few years. Great atmosphere and only top artists: http://www.casapatas.com/

But it all depends on who perform on your night. Changing artists all the time in the best tablaos. Excellent Bélen López and El Junco now dances very often at Corral de la Morería, so keep an eye on that: http://www.corraldelamoreria.com/en/index.html

Bélen López: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hbhkIWSX-Q
El Junco: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sENoCuTQYPs

And fabulous Paloma Fantova often dances at Cardamomo. http://cardamomo.es/en/about-us/

Paloma Fantova tore the house down in Sadler's Wells in London a year ago. She's taking off right now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck7hMzNH3b8

So my advice would be: If Paloma Fantova, Belén López or El Junco are scehduled in either Cardamomo or Corral de la Morería, go there. If not, go to Casa Patas. Reservations is a must in all places.

Major flamenco concerts in Madrid theaters are updated here: http://www.deflamenco.com/conciertos...en-madrid.html

See if your stay in Madrid coincides with the San Isidro celebrations: http://www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do...&TR=C&IDR=1061

And the Patio festival goes on in Córdoba from May 5-18: http://www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do...&TR=C&IDR=1061

No problem Kimhe but that will be 10 pesetas.

:)

Sorry to jump on here but kimhe - any flamenco spots you can recommend in Granada that would be kid friendly. We will be traveling with our two toddlers.

mmodrich,
Try Peña la Platería, one of the oldest exsisting flamenco clubs in Spain. Mostly a local crowd, and the Spanish are used to kids everywhere at all hours. Performances every Thursday night at 10.30pm and sometimes also Saturday nights. I don't think they let toddler's in at the more touristy flamenco shows, and in theaters I think the age limit often are some six years. You could at least hear with them at La Platería: http://www.laplateria.org.es/

This gives you an idea of the place, wonderful Diana Navarro from Málaga singing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgPrfjinEgQ

Back to The Bear: skip Tangier, skip Gibraltar (bunch of monkeys that steal your food and the semi-Brits who enjoy better weather). Pick either Toledo or Segovia (Toledo), not both.

You need to dig up the bullfight schedules. They're neither frequent nor ubiquitous.

I agree that your plan is more rushed than I would find pleasant. The Alhambra of Granada is, IMO, among the most beautiful places in the world. Do consider making time for it!

Thank you kimhe!!

The Alhambra is one of the tourist destinations that truly lives up to its reputation.

Hi TheBear60, another vote for skipping Tangier and Gibraltar. We think you'll really appreciate having extra time in one of the other cities. Tangier felt a bit like going from San Diego to Tijuana. You don't really get a feel for Mexico, nor do you get the feel of the real Morroco from Tangier. At least, that's the way we felt.

We really liked Andalucia, and would like to visit Sevilla, Cordoba, Granada, and Segovia again. The Prado Museum in Madrid is wonderful!

Enjoy your trip!

Thanks all for the replies.
True confession: I have been to all of the continents except Africa, thus the day in Tangier addresses that bucket list item.
We have some flex re return dates, so we will consider Granada as a good suggestion. Where would you put it in the plan?
What about bull fights in Seville? According to the internet, there are bull fights during the week in the month of May in Madrid.....I will dig deeper for confirmation.
Should we worry about not being able to speak Spanish? Languish wasn't a problem in France, Italy.....or England!
Thanks again for the suggestions. It goes without saying, but first hand info is good feed back.

If Tarifa and Tangiers are a must then I'd add 3 nights to your trip so you have 4 nights each for Madrid and Sevilla and 2 for Granada.


When I fist started visiting Spain about 15 years ago I felt that English wasn't as widely spoken or understood as in France or Italy. But you should be ok with the language as long as you stay in the central tourist areas of these cities. It's always helpful to learn a few phrases (buy a berlitz cd) especially if you want to enjoy the tapas culture as it can be a little intimidating to some (but just jump right into it!).

I'd put off stepping on Africa until you have time to spend another nine days, this time in Morocco.

We spent a month in southern Spain and language was never problem. We have been to Tarifa and Tangier (day trip to Tangier) and they were interesting. However, I would never give up Granada and the Alhambra for them (even considering your bucket list). Really! Sevilla, Cordoba and Granada are Spain at its best. As a previous poster noted, Gilbrator is not worth your time. It worked out fine for us as it was on our way (we were driving), but again, interesting but not worth sacrificing something else. We also spent a week in both Barcelona and Madrid and Barcelona is the best - hands down. We had every intention of going to a bullfight in Sevilla, but after touring the bull ring (interesting) and seeing a bullfight on TV I decided I really didn't want that gore. Please consider adding Granada to your schedule. You won't be disappointed!

Tangiers was a cruise stop...disappointing but aanother notch in the belt for aniother continent..Bucket list is one less now. Don't skip Segovia a suckling pig must and aqueduct viewing..both awesome. Stayed at Hotel isabella on the square with valet parking..Great location, great price and great sites!! Barcelona, hands down best, is a matter of opinion..good but best???Apples and oranges!!!

There will always be those to whom travel is more of a conquest than a journey.