Spain and paradors
 

We want to spend 3 weeks in Spain..one week in Madrid area, one in Barcelona and one in Andalucia. We would like to "slow travel" and stay put in a couple of places for a week and do day trips. My question..if you were going to stay put for two of the three weeks, which area would you choose to move around and stay in paradors for a night or two at a time making up the week.

No question---Andalusia ! I would stay in Seville, Ronda, Nerja. BTW, did you see my post about the seaside villages?<BR>I am not sure it took. The answer was Nerja and Peniscola---near Valencia. I like your slowtrav concept.

Yes, Bob...many thanks. This site hasn't been working for me for several hours so just got both of your messages..I have a feeling you'll be giving me lots of advice over the next months as I plan my trip!

I would stay for 6 nights in Madrid area, 6 nights in Barcelona area and 9 nights in Andalusia area which on the other hand would be my suggested one for hopping from Parador to Parador. ( Sevilla, Granada, Nerja, Ronda, Jerez, Cadiz, Cordoba, all these are really nice places to stay so it depends on what your interests are to choose among them. )

Thanks very much for the responses..when you say you would stay in the "areas" of Barcelona and Madrid..can you suggest a nice countryside-type apartment/farmhouse accommodation where we could stay for a week, doing scenic day trips and a couple of forays into the big cities of Madrid and Barcelona?<BR>

canuck,<BR>Like Bob and Pedro, I'd also definitely choose Andalucia as the area to roam from Parador to Parador. You have some many atmospheric options here: the beautiful Parador built into the remains of the Fortress of King Pedro el Cruel in Carmona, outside of Sevilla (although the boutique, country house style Casa de Carmona is lovely too, but has gone through so many management changes),plus the newish, plush Parador built right at the edge of the gorge in Ronda, the super famous and also very hard to book former convent Parador on the grounds of the Alhambra itself in Granada (romantic), the newly refurbished 16th century ducal palace Parador in Renaissance Ubeda, the medieval feeling/looking Parador next to the Arab fortress on the mountain top 3 1/2 km above Jaen, and for a rest on the beach, the newly redecorated modern Parador in Nerja, overlooking Playa Burriana. The former mansion Parador at the top of the blindingly white hill town, Arcos de la Frontera, has fantastic views, but I personally enjoy the town of Ronda more, while others here prefer Arcos. Each Parador has its own special charms. But I really can't urge you to include the modern Parador in Cordoba, because it's outside the city and really nothing memorable. I'd do an easy day trip from Seville up to Cordoba.<BR>For week-long accomodations outside Madrid, I'd base myself northeast of Madrid in the Segovia province. From there you can access Segovia, the Bourbon Royal Palace of La Granja, the walled city of Avila, even Salamanca, Philip II's Palace/Monastery of El Escorial, the magnificent castle of Coca and the other at Manzanares el Real, the "red towns" of Pedraza and Riaza and Cuellar with its Mudejar architecture. <BR>For slow roaming in the environs of Barcelona, I'd certainly choose the province of Girona, either in the beautiful Natural Park of the Sierra de Montseny (just 1 hr. away) or in the pretty, upscale and still relatively unspoiled coastal area (Pals-Palafrugell-Begur)of the lower Empurda, Catalonia's version of Tuscany.<BR>I'll do some digging for you re farmhouse rentals, but in the meantime, I highly recommend these two great sites:<BR>www.innsofspain.com<BR>www.secretplaces. com<BR>www.rusticae.com<BR>They deal in "Karen Brown" type small, family owned inns of special charm and character, some quite inexpensive, as inexpensive as a farmhouse rental. Nick, at Inns of Spain, is a joy to deal with, will happily answer any and all questions and replies to emails with lightening speed. I just booked several nights with Inns of Spain for our June "slow travel" ramble through Catalunya and Roussillon.<BR>Yours is my kind of travel!

Maribel, wow--I just love your stuff.<BR>When I grow up I want to know what you know about Spain--take heed Canuck.

Heed is taken!! Great info and many thanks for it...I've got my work cut out for me but isn't the planning more than half the fun!!

BOB,<BR>Thanks a lot, but when I grow up I want to follow you and Susan all around Italy, that is if I can ever drag myself away from Spain! :) <BR><BR>canuck,<BR>For our itinerary planning around the Paradors, we've enjoyed using "Discovering Spain, a comprehensive traveller's guide featuring the National Parador Hotels" by Michael Busselle (Pavilion Books '99, UK) It's a terrific guide for us slow travellers.

Thanks again Maribel..and if you happen upon any farmhouses in the areas you talked of in the Madrid and/or Barcelona areas, please let us know!

Segovia would be a nice place to stay perfectly located to visit interesting places if having a car. Among them, the sometimes forgotten Hoces del Duraton Natural Park, one of my favourite places in Castilla, the medieval village of Pedraza, Avila entirely walled, El Escorial, La Granja Palace, etc apart from the always appealing city of Segovia ( for those who love a sweet dessert to end, try "Ponche cake" a delicious specialty of Segovia). Hotel Los Linajes would be a great place, we recently stayed there and felt we had made a good choice for its location and ambiance. Among the list of Paradors I would add the one in Cadiz, modern but with helpful staff, perfectly located by the sea and within the interesting old town. I would stay in Ronda at least one night, it is certainly a don´t miss place. I live not far from the white towns area but like to go at least four or five times a year, experiencing the different seasons there.

Hi canuck,<BR>Did some digging, and here's what I've found in the farmhouse vein:<BR><BR>In the Segovia province, take a look at <BR>1) "Las Casas del Soto de Arriba" in tiny Juarros de Riomoros, close to the city of Segovia. <BR>www.welcometospain.net/rural/lascasasdelsoto/<BR><BR>2) "Apartamentos Puentes del Cega" in my favorite Segovian village, beautiful Renaissance Pedraza<BR>www.puentesdelcega.com<BR><BR>For a base in Girona, consider<BR>1) "Cal Caralla"<BR>www.calcarulla.com<BR><BR>2) "El Moli de Can Aulet"<BR>www.spaindreams.com<BR>www.toprural.com< BR><BR>3) "Can Bartomeu" (4 km. from town)<BR>www.spaindreams.com<BR>www.toprural.com<B R><BR>If those don't strike your fancy or fit your pocketbook, there are more at<BR>www.agroturismetotal.org<BR>www.turismerural .com<BR>www.toprural.com can keep you busy for hours, if not days! :)<BR>(they have English versions)<BR><BR>Happy hunting!<BR>Maribel<BR><BR><BR>