Armed only with some guide books, two laptops, high speed Internet access, our previous experience planning and executing our trips to the UK and to Europe and an over abundance of gumption we are started out plotting our next vacation.

Jay and Cynthia are going to Spain!

Our plan is to fly in to Madrid where we plan to see:

  • The Palacio Real
  • Parque del Buen Retiro (Park of the Pleasant Retreat)
  • Museo del Prado
  • Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (Guernica by Pablo Picasso!)
  • Plaza Mayor
  • Almudena Cathedral
  • While in Madrid we have mapped out several day trips.

  • El Escorial and Valle de los Caídos (Valley of the Fallen) to verify that Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.
  • (Holy) Toledo – Toledo Cathedral
  • Segovia – Roman aqueducts
  • Cuenca – Hanging Houses
  • From Madrid we catch the high speed train (Ave) to Seville to see the barber of as well as the Seville Cathedral and climb the Giralda Bell Tower. Well also see the Basilica De La (hey!) Macarena and the Tomb of Columbus.

    From there it’s on to Cordoba to see The Mezquita and then by bus to La Linea where we walk to Gibraltar to see:

  • The Rock Of
  • Europa Point
  • Gibraltar Barbary Macaques (the Barbary Apes)
  • Then it’s back to La Linea (by Bus), to Algeciras and from Algeciras (by train) to Granada.

    In Granada we plan to see:

  • The Alhambra
  • The Generalife Gardens
  • The Granada Cathedral and the Tomb of Ferdinand and Isabella
  • From Granada we will catch a short flight to Barcelona (The land of outrageous Gaudi architecture!) where we will see:

  • La Rambla or Les Rambles (Catalan) / Las Ramblas (Spanish)
  • Christopher Columbus Monument
  • Sagrada Familia Basilica
  • Casa Mila
  • Casa Batlló
  • Palau de la Música Catalana (Palace of Catalan Music)
  • Park Güell
  • Montjuic
  • The Magic Fountains
  • Plaça d’Espanya
  • While in Barcelona we have one day trip planned and that’s to Figueres to see the Salvador Dali Theater and Museum.

    And then it’s back to Madrid to catch a flight back home.

    All mapped out the trip looks like a crooked coat hanger.

    All in all it looks like we’ll be gone for about a month. We’ve put our vacation requests in to our bosses and once approved we’ll secure the air fair and nail down the particulars in terms of hotel reservations, rail passes and so forth.

    Trip to Spain

    8 thoughts on “Trip to Spain

    • April 1, 2007 at 8:48 pm
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      Looks fabulous! Can’t wait to tag along through your pictures.

    • April 1, 2007 at 9:56 pm
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      one day I shall follow in your footsteps!

      !VAMOS BARCA!

    • April 2, 2007 at 7:00 am
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      I…am…the…Bar-ber…of…Se-VIIIILLLLLE!! (Figarofigarofigaro) Fii-ga-rooo!

      That is an amazing itinerary. I was in Madrid last year. Beautiful town, awful air.

      The Hieronymus Bosch paintings are in the lower level (basement). I’m still kicking myself for missing them. On the other hand, I spent a lot of time in the Goya wing. The painting of the senile Duchess of Alba is a hoot.

      On Sunday there’s a massive flea market in Madrid. Cool crap everywhere!

      Barcelona’s also great. Nice beach, too.

    • April 2, 2007 at 7:06 am
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      Spain is awesome. Be sure to stop in a grocery store. The olive bars are just incredible. I’ve never again had such amazing olives.

      Also if you’re in Toledo you must see the beautiful Damascene jewelry. I had a lovely piece that got lost in one of my moves. One day I’ll go back for another piece. Of course they are also very famous for their swords. There are several fabulous museum there.

    • April 2, 2007 at 9:55 am
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      Yowza! Now THAT’S a vacation… seriously! Patrick and I only ever seem to manage wee little day trips. I’ll be looking forward to photos from the trip, and photos prior to the trip of new digs you folks will both be showing off on your travels. 🙂

    • April 2, 2007 at 3:56 pm
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      I am green with envy! Sounds fabulous.

    • April 5, 2007 at 2:22 pm
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      Darn you….

      Not sure you’ll want my trip tips this time – it did sort of lead to a trip to hospital last time.

      When in Madrid there are so cheapish hotels just off the Puerta del Sol (a couple of streets/squares over). Which also puts you in close proximity to what I believe to be the best selection of tapas bars in town, and not to far to stumble back…

    • April 6, 2007 at 8:49 am
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      Spain is our all time favorite country to visit (although I am biased because I partly Spanish) and Barcelona is our favorite city in the world to visit – what atmosphere, culture & architecture! You are going to have a fabulous time!!

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