Thanks for those links progol! I always just get search results that include the term in the title - did you do this with advanced search?

I'm now thinking, reluctantly, that we may skip the Alpujarras. Instead, to get out of the cities and up into the mountains, we'll do this half-day hike, just outside Granada:

http://topwalks.net/en/monachil/tunel_palomas.htm

another link: http://www.spain-holiday.com/Granada...nachil-granada

It cuts out a lot of driving and gives us a day where we don't have to be any particular place at any particular time. Also, we'll get the rest of that day for seeing additional sights in Granada.
progol, you should consider the hike for your trip! It also got rave reviews on TripAdvisor.

Still trying to figure out a way to fit in the things we want to see around Antequera, plus Ronda, Pileta Cave and white towns around Ronda, all in 2 days, including driving from Granada to Ronda and from Ronda to Seville! I could shave one night off of Seville and stay another night in Ronda, then leave very early for Seville, but hate to give up that night in a city that I think we will love!

Whatever you do, don't shave any days off Sevilla.

My suggestions for a short and to the core visit in and around Antequera:

Drive up to Torcal and do one of the several short or longer walks: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attract...Andalucia.html

See the Dolmens, the 5000 year old burial chambers, on the outskirts of town. Read a bit up on the history, the symbolism etc. http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5668/

Have lunch or a glass and a bite on the peaceful square in front of the Real Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor, the first partly Renaissance-style church in Spain (built 1514-1550). Up here it's totally peace and quiet. Next to the recently excavated Roman baths beneath and looking up on the 13th century Moorish alcazaba/fortress. Great views over unique landscapes. http://www.wild-about-travel.com/201...ing-antequera/

The church is today a cultural center, and I had the concert experience of my life here in 2007. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr03k_pk_NM

The out of this world cutting edge flamenco dancer Rocío Molina (Málaga, 1984) was supposed to dance "Por el decir de la gente" in the sunset up at Torcal, but because of the possibility for some clouds, the performance was moved into the Colegiata de Santa María. Here she is a few days later in the Ronda bullring: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQcJC72NTsc

CGS - thanks for the links to the walk. It does look lovely. I also love the recommendations that kimhe has made. Since my trip is still almost a year away, I'll have to add it to the list and see what we will be able to do.

<< I always just get search results that include the term in the title - did you do this with advanced search?>>

Yes, I did. I placed the term "Pileta cave" in the advanced search tool and also adjusted the date to search 3 years back, the maximum it will do. There were a few other posts that came up, but those seemed to be the most relevant.

Paule

I just returned from a two week trip with my 17 year old daughter to Madrid, Granada, Ronda and Seville. Your pace made me tired...

Where are you staying in Ronda? We hiked down the gorge and went horseback riding outside a tiny town outside of Ronda. Driving in certain parts is not for the meek :-) -

Where are you staying in Ronda?

Thanks so much again everyone! We leave next Saturday!! And this is our final itinerary:

Day 1: arrive Lisbon, drive to Evora, see Evora
Day 2: guided tour of megaliths, drive to Cordoba
Day 3: see Cordoba, drive to Granada
Days 4 and 5: guided tour of Alhambra; other sites in Granada, 1/2 day hike in Sierra Nevadas
Day 6: drive to Ronda, see Antequera and other local sites along the way; Ronda
Day 7: Ronda, driving tour of Pueblos Blancos, possibly Pileta Cave, arrive Seville evening
Days 8 and 9: Seville
Days 10, 11, 12: drive to Algarve, Portugal, stay Algarve (Carvoeiro)
Days 13, 14, 15: drive to Lisbon, see Lisbon and Sintra
Day 16: Depart

I've eliminated one or two things to try to cut down the driving. Still a bit worried about the pace, but the first day has some down time in case we're very tired, and it slows down a bit in the second half of the trip. I'm most worried about the Evora-to-Cordoba-to Granada part, but not sure there are options. Also still probably have too much crammed into the two days between Granada and Seville, but nothing is set in stone except our Ronda reservations, so we can adjust if it's too much.

Momddtravel2: We are staying at Hotel Montelirio in Ronda. We also plan to hike down the gorge! Was it beautiful? Where did you eat in Granada, Ronda and Seville? I'm making lists but interested in your experience.

kimhe, thank you again for all the great information!! I've been checking the website for Casa de la Memoria and it seems the schedule for June is still not up, even though June is already here! It's baffling. Do you have any suggestions? I will try emailing them.

LisbonAdvice, yes, I wish we had more time in Lisbon too, but we will have 2 1/2 days for Lisbon and Sintra, and 3 nights, so I'm hoping that will be enough. Thank you for all the links - I will check them out! We do want to see fado, so appreciate your suggestions.

I found the answer to one of my questions from early on: for night tours of the Alhambra, if tickets are sold out online, you can buy them that day. They go on sale at 9pm. So we may try to do that.

Here are a few more questions:

1. Leaving luggage in the car: There are three days where we are driving and seeing sights along the way. I think we have no option but to leave luggage in the car, although I know this is generally not a great idea. Has anyone had experience, good or bad, with doing that in this region? Advice?

2. What about an international driver's license? I get the sense that people don't bother, but the US Dept of State website says it's required for Spain. What have others done?

3. Still interested in everyone's restaurant recommendations!

I would get an IDP, but as a AAA Plus member I get one for free.

You're either lucky or clairvoyant ;-) Pastora Galván dances in Casa de la Memória on June 15th. Voted best female flamenco dancer 2010 by Spanish critics. She fills the huge Maestranza theater during the flamenco bienal later this year. Her husband Cristian Guerrero sings: http://www.casadelamemoria.es/agenda/

Here the two together on Andalucian TV a couple of years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2SBUcrJgeQ

kimhe, that's what I thought I read previously!! Did I dream that? (I'm not that imaginative!). In any event, I'm booking now!

cgs, is car rental Lisbon to spain expensive? I am planning my 2-week trip in mid-july and debating if I should rent a car or fly? I am thinking driving to A. Caruna from Lisbon then flying out of Barcelona back to Lisbon.

Teresa-m, if you mean is it expensive to rent in one country and drop in another, I have heard that it can be. We are doing a loop, driving the whole way - renting in Lisbon and dropping the car back there at the end.

Thanks, CGS! Yes, I am thinking international one-way rental but read fees are expensive. BTW, did you get inclusive car rental insurance or just the basic?

CGS, have you cleared the Spanish leg of your trip with the Portuguese car hire company? Some firms don't allow you to take their car out of the country, or charge you a big insurance surcharge if you do.

You need to tell them in any case, as if you have an accident or problem in Spain, your insurance won't normally cover you unless specifically extended.

I did not do my IDP - we went to Ronda on the spur of the moment - cutting a day off Granada and off Sevilla - picking up the rental and heading to Ronda - stayed at the Parador and it was stunning :-) Room overlooking the gorge - perfect!

Our meals there were not remarkable - we looked for places with views - and those were great the food was not the best of the trip so I cannot recommend any. The hiking was drop dead gorgeous!

We did have a couple of remarkable meals in Granada and Sevilla. In Granada we treated ourselves to Restaurantes Estrellas de San Nicolas - stunning views of the Alhambra - pricey but stunning. Any of the places on San Nicolas would be a great view - the patios are less $$$.

In Sevilla we were ready for a break from Spanish food and had dinner at a fabulous Italian place Osteria L'Oca Giuliva on Mateos Gago, - best Sangria of the entire trip! Yummy!!!

CGS,
Have a great trip! I look forward to hearing about all it after you've returned (and recuperated!). It sounds great, and I'm sure you'll have some amazing experiences.

Paule

Wow, I think you need to cut down what you are doing by at least half. The Alambra takes a day all by itself to do it justice. You are going so fast you are not going to remember anything.