Robert2533

After being in Pamplona for the opening days of the fiesta, you will need your time in Barcelona to relax and recuperate, if you keep up with the usual pace of the fiesta, the chupinazo, etc. You may get 4 to 5 hours of rest on the 6th and 7th. Good luck!

kimhe

Hope you have a hotel in Pamplona. If not, book as soon as possible, skyrocketing prices and you might be quite late already to find hotels under 300€/night.

The Caves in Granada can be a fine intro to flamenco, even though the events are quite touristy. In Granada, I rather recommend the Thursday and Saturday night perfromances at Peña La Plateria, the oldets existing flamenco club in Spain:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalucia.html
http://www.laplateria.org.es/#_=_

In Sevilla there are only great artists performing every night in intimate Casa de la Memoria and La Casa del Flamenco. These places are also popular with tourists, but still the real deal and a great intro to the beauty and power of flamenco.
Casa de la Memoria: http://www.casadelamemoria.es/
La Casa del Flamenco: http://www.lacasadelflamencosevilla.com/

But the best tablaos (flamenco restaurants) in Spain are in Madrid. The art comes from the South, but everyone has to conquer Madrid to get to the top. Casa Patas and Cardamomo stand out in recent years.
http://www.casapatas.com/
http://cardamomo.es/

Some examples from Casa Patas the past couple of years:

Fuensanta La Moneta, voted best female flamenco dancer 2009 by Spanish critics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbO_lw2xWtU

Pastora Galván, voted best female flamenco dancer 2010 by Spanish critics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY6Vy9tKW3U

Olga Pericet, voted best female flamenco dancer 2011 by Spanish critics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55waEsaBzjM

Fantastic and cutting edge Israel Galván, he has revolutionized male flamenco dance during the past decade: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL9Wav9v7Jc

Estrella Morente, now the world's most famous cantaora (female flamenco singer): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sejSYMSQDZo

AND Paloma Fantova now often dances at Cardamomo. She brought the house down at prestigious Sadler's Wells in London little over a year ago, and her career is taking off right now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck7hMzNH3b8

And it can be a HUGE experience to se flamenco in theaters, the greatest artists and a primarily local and knowledgeable crowd. Have had many unforgettable flamenco nights in theaters all around Andalucia as well as in Madrid and Barcelona.

The major events are updated here:
http://www.deflamenco.com/seccion-conciertos.html

And often the best flamenco artists perform in spectacular outdoor stages during the annual Veranos de la Villa/Summer in the city festival in Madrid from late June through August:
http://www.spain.info/en/que-quieres..._la_villa.html

Lilly7

Wow thank you so much Kimhe. I will definitely research as the date gets closer to get tickets. Seeing the Flamenco as a theater show would be amazing. I would also love to go see any Spanish artist like Gypsy Kings, Rosario, David Bisbal or Alejandro Sans but I will look into it.
Robert2533 you are so right, we are looking to all the chupinazo events so I will need all the energy I can get. I will crash at some point but it will be one of this YOLO moments ... I just need to remember to drink LOTS of water to stay hydrated between all the wine & heat.

Ozarksbill

Glad to see kimhe weighed in with suggestions...I marvel at such knowledge of flamenco, seeking out performances and also outstanding artists. Also a treat to have some videos.

Robert2533

If you are planning on being in the crowd, and not on a balcony, for the chupinazo, wear something you don't mind tossing away (www.pinterest.com/pin/297096906641584578/)

The Gypsy Kings, who opened the fiesta a few years ago, are not Spanish, but French, from Provence. During 2015 they are scheduled to be in Austraila and New Zeland. They toured the US last year and played in Seattle at the end of August.

kimhe

<Seeing the Flamenco as a theater show would be amazing>

And here are some top names to look out for who tour top theaters both in Spain and internationally all the time (you know I think this is just fun, Ozarksbill ;-))

Dance:
Rocio Molina: http://www.rociomolina.net/
Eva Yerbabuena: http://www.evayerbabuena.com/en/
Maria Pages: http://www.mariapages.com/en_index.php
Pastora Galvan: http://www.pastoragalvan.com/
Farruquito: http://www.farruquito.eu/en/
Joaquin Grilo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOjtXiPl8Rk
Israel Galvan: https://www.facebook.com/IsraelGlv
Sara Baras: http://www.sarabaras.com/idioma.html


Song:
Miguel Poveda: http://www.miguelpoveda.com/
La Tremendita: http://www.rosariolatremendita.es/en/
Estrella Morente: http://www.estrella-morente.es/
Marina Heredia: http://www.marinaheredia.com/
Jose Merce: http://josemerce.es/home/
Rocio Marquez: http://www.rociomarquez.com/

Guitar:
Vicente Amigo: http://www.vicenteamigo.com/en/
Dani de Moron: https://www.facebook.com/danidemoron

Piano:
Dorantes: http://www.dorantes.es/

Group:
Las Migas: http://www.lasmigas.com/

I could have, and often have, travelled to Spain with the sole purpose of seeing any of these artists. And there are of course a lot of other brilliant flamencos out there.

Lilly7

Woaah so awesome. So I'm debating to cancel the overnight stay in Ronda and just pass by. If so, I can add one more day to either Sevilla or Granada. Which one is better?

Lilly7

Robert, we have balconies already purchased for both mornings. We will both be wearing the traditional white & red. I'm not so much concerned about getting drenched in wine. It would actually be awesome lol (we want to enjoy as much as possible...) Hotel has also been booked. The only thing missing for now is the Cathedral Welcome Tapas Tour and The Hemingway breakfast. We booked through Pamplonasbalconies.com.

Bedar

You have 2 nights alloted to Granada which is enough. A couple of extra nights in Seville would be great with a day trp to Cordoba.

Robert2533

From what I see included in the 3-start opening ceremonies package, you could have gotten a nice 4-star in a slightly better location for about the same price, but the hotel included in the package isn't bad and is within easy walking distance of the Plaza del Castillo.

Overall, you should enjoy the fiesta. There's nothing like it.

kimhe

Pamplona during Sanfermines is fantastic, so much friendly people and good spirited atmosphere that it's almost too much. Enjoy!

Have been here many times, but I ran just once, and on day three or four and in mid-week. Take care and be extremely cautious if you are running the first days with hordes of drunk and non-Spanish first-timers. People stumbling and falling on top of eachother in front of the bulls are the real danger, and it happens every now and then, especially the first two days. Then it can get really bad. The first - and often numerous - minutes after the runnings, the air is filled with ambulance sirenes, and even though there seldom are any deaths, quite a few people get serious injuries that sometimes follow them for life.

As Bedar suggests, I would suggest to add an extra day in Sevilla, the undisputed queen of the cities in Andalucia.

... and I couldn't help it; my absolute top three flamenco list with small video intros:

Rocio Molina: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97w_mvV7C9U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE3R0o1f9R4
Miguel Poveda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK1a-BGxRIs
Dorantes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOjtXiPl8Rk

Bedar

Here's an interesting fact from Wikipedia - neither the old nor the young Hemingway ever ran !!! Bloody coward !! But do be careful.

Lilly7

Sevilla it is. I'm not running, my husband is. Crazy Marine Recon lol.
I'll be in the balconies having vino and attempting to record him. All hotels we got on our own. Not part of any packages. I believe we'll be at AC Ciudad de Pamplona by Marriott so I hope that's pretty safe.
You all are amazing and love referring to your suggestions.
I'm currently doing my homework and watching "On the road again" as Bedar suggested and so Im considering a stop it in Toledo on the way back to Madrid before we leave.. And that was just Episode 1...

kimhe

Los Sanfermines is much about singing. And my best memories from running with the bulls are the tense "convivencia" spirit in the bars along the route in the minutes leading up to the run - when everybody drinks chocolate and feed eachother with churros or whatever - and then go out in the street with their rolled newspapers to sing the blessing "A San Fermin pedimos..." shortly before the bulls are launched just down the road: http://runningofthebulls.travel/la-p...-the-festival/

progol

Kimhe,
You are a star here -- such wonderful links! Thanks for all the information you share here. It is so appreciated!

joannyc

Toledo is really worth an overnight, at least. So much nicer after the day trippers leave. I spent 3 or 4 nights there and still didn't get to everything I wanted!

Robert2533

The AC Cuidad has been our home for more then 10 years. So yes, you'll be fine. It's just that the people you booked with don't have any contacts at the hotel, so you will be on yor own.

kimhe

Trailer to a nice flamenco documentary, "Flamenco from the roots". Far fom the polka dot dresses and flowers in the hair ;-) : https://vimeo.com/ondemand/15828/46973978

And wonderful bailaora Concha Jareño giving a master class at the Amor de Dios dance studio in Madrid, part of the same movie: http://vimeo.com/47237278

Ozarksbill

Once again in those last two vimeos from kimhe we see in the first one the passion and in the second one the dancers following the teacher so exactly through intricate lively motions.

Lilly7

So as my trip is approaching I was curious to ask if any of you have any personal contacts that could share with me into getting a balcony for the Chupinazo? They are very expensive for just 2hrs... I only need for the Chupinazo for 2. Thx.