Ola! Just returned fro a 3 week trip to Madrid, Barcelona and a 10-day Backroads biking trip thru Galicia and into Portugal. My favorite experience was staying with a family in Madrid. My friends from college came with me- she had hosted an exchange student from Madrid for 2 summers. I was totally expecting to stay in a hotel, and the entire family plus my hotel were at the aiport to greet me! Talk about Mass confusioin! A country I had never been too and chaos right from the start! The family would have no part of us staying in a hotel, checked us out of the hotel and into their home. We were thrown right into the lovely Spanish culture. No matter where we were in the day we had to come home for lunch at 3 or 3:30- as they had gone out shopping and prepared all their special foods. Dinner was the same at 10 or 11:30 at night. This family not only would not let us lift a finger to help at the table, but would not let us pay for anything at all! they took us to the Prado, the Royal Palace, dinner and Flamenco dancing, Toledo and Escarol(sp?). Then- to the flea market, a bull fight, and finally, dinner at the Royal Opera house! I was blown away by their graciousness, genorsotiy, kindness, and hospitality. Their home is very modest, they have someone who cooks and clean for them. Both the parents are university professors in agriculture in Madrid, so I learned alot about olive oil and olives. They treated us like gold- message- Spanish people are lovely. Don't go over to Europe and try to bring America with you- lighten up, enjoy where you are and learn from their way of life!

Maribel- Thank you for you input on Madrid. I did do a little bit of shopping and bought some lovely table linens at the linen store you mention. Jill

Hi Jill, <BR> <BR>Your trip sounds wonderful. I'm going to Spain in the fall and had a question about sightseeing in Madrid. I'm definitely going to spend time in the Prado, because I discovered I like art museums when I was in Florence in the spring. However, would you recommend the Royal Palace and El Escorial to someone who doesn't get excited about palaces? I visited Schonbrunn in Vienna a few years ago and enjoyed the gardens, but touring the palace itself, looking at furniture, etc. didn't really interest me. What do you think?

Yes- go to the Royal Palace and El Escorial- Well worth it. Beautiful. There is a lovely cafe across from the Royal Palace where you can go sit an ponder what you saw and where you would like to go next. Enjoy a glass of vino, a coffee, a plate of jamon and boccarones, and olives!

Jill, weren't you going to Ibiza as well? If you did, can you post how it was, where you stayed, where you went out at night, etc...I'll be there from July 4 until July 8...Thanks...dee

Hi Jill, <BR>Glad you had a wonderful time! Have been wondering how your trip went and am so happy that you were able to experience that warm Spanish hospitality during your stay in Madrid! <BR>I'd love to hear about your biking trip if you have the time! Welcome back. <BR>Maribel

Diane--- the guided tour of the Royal Palace is not too long and it does focus on the history of the place and events, including paintings by Goya, etc., rather than in showing off furniture styles and the likes. The entrance fee ($6/pp) also covers the Armory Museum (opposite corner in Plaza de la Armada) and entrance to a Pharmacy Museum, showing alchemy-related items, including preserved herbs and plants from "The Indies" (America) brought back by some conquistadors. Interesting stuff. <BR> <BR>As far as El Escorial, I was actually way more impressed by the library, the Cathedral (free entrance), the gardens (gorgeous roses in many colors!), and the great views. If you have a chance, very close by is the Valley of the Fallen, quite impressive as well. From El Escorial you are about an hour from Avila. If you are driving, take the mountain route on to Avila. Just spectacular. <BR> <BR>Jill, welcome back. It is very gracious of you to post such a kind narrative about your hosts.

Maribel- My bike trip was thru Backroads- a company that does bicycling and walking trips all over the world. Expensive- but truly a unique and first class experience. The biking was intense- but fun. I pushed my self further than I ever thought I could- one day doing 50 miles and a 4800 foot climb! There were ppl from 30-69 on this trip, and one man dx. with sever leukemia 2 years ago. I loved the biking so much I just bought a new bike when I came home! We started out in Santiago de Compestella at the parador there for one night, bused it to the Parador de Bayona and did a mountain/ coastal ride. One night there and off too the Rio Minho region and stayed at Parador de Tuy. Then, to Ponte de lima in Portugal. Crossing the border was very cool! Tough tho as I was just getting my limited Spanish in good use- now Portugese! Too hard to switch...STayed at a manor home- Paco de Calheiros- my favorite out of all the places we stayed. We had dinnner with the count one night- very very cool! Then on to Pousada de Sao Bento- way up on a mountain with lovely views and a great pool. There is more info about this trip on Backroads.com. A great way to see Europe- as we really went into the back country. Saw women and men into their 80's working the farms, oxen drawn carts- truly another world. I loved hearing just roosters and real cuckoo birds. I kept thinking the counts clock was off...but the birds were real and not from the clock!

Jill, <BR>Thanks! Your biking adventure sounds like it was challenging but a real treat. I missed the Paco de Calheiros and the count last summer! We signed up for the Camino Tours walking trip of the Minho from Oporto to Santiago and were to stay with the famous count, plus at the Paradors (Camino seems to use the same lodgings as Backroads), but it was cancelled due to lack of signups, and we were switched to their Picos de Europa trip instead (incredibly strenuous in parts but also incredibly memorable!). Hope to do the Minho hiking next summer. Thanks for confirming that it's so enjoyable. What did you think of your room, the food and the service at the Hostal de los Reyes Catolicos in Santiago? The Camino Tours group leaders aren't overly enthusiastic about using it as their base (I think it has to do mostly with the staff), and I've heard other reports that the rooms could use a thorough refurbishment, although the public spaces are certainly grand. We've decided to skip it and stay at the Virxe da Cerca instead but have two nights at the Parador in Baiona in just a few weeks. Just wondering what impressions you had... <BR>Thanks again. <BR>Maribel

Hey Jill and Maribel, Well, you should have been there for our experience at the Paco de Calheiros. We spent 2 nites and the Count was in a car wreck the first nite and his 16 year old son played host--along with a couple from Wales. I have taken about 10,000 slides in Europe and my favorite is the manor house from the stables with the blackest clouds you have ever seen. I loved that place--a real throwback to an earlier feudal time. BTW, I think your input is awesome Maribel. I used some of your gems for a trip my son and family did to NE and NW Spain.

Thanks BOB. Hope to meet that count and enjoy his regal "house party" some day! Your info is the TRULY awesome stuff!-been collecting it for quite some time, particularly the wonderful recent posts on Italy-you sure keep me busy copying and pasting, because I don't want to have to depend on that not-too-reliable search function to look for them when I'm finally Italy bound!

Ola- well... I did hear a few "stories" about the count. I think he enjoys his role as host, to say the least. As outsiders- we enjoyed it very much- a unique experience and lovely. The village dancing and singing group came to perform for us in the dining room. That was a once in a life-time experience. I keep trying to imitate the singing....people here just don't have an appreciation for "culture."