Introducing myself...

[Ed]

Hi All,

I have just found this group and as I live in Andalucia I
thought I might pick up some tips and share my experiences too.

Any good travel tips are always welcome,

All the best,
Ed

[Roger Warwick]

Dear Ed,

Welcome to the group. Hopefully your knowledge of the Andalusian area can help others who may have questions about travel in the south of Spain.

And of course, if you have any questions yourself about the rest of Spain, ask away because we are in the company of many experienced travellers !

regards, Roger.

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[Melinda Young]

Exciting times for me. I leave for a month in Spain this week. I do expect the hot weather but am looking forward to unwrapping this trip like a wonderful gift full of exotic surprises. Since I'll be traveling to many small towns around Segovia I'll report what a find and see for other interested travelers.

Regards,

Melinda

[John Zumsteg]

Melinda,

Welcome to Travelspain.

I'm particularly interested in your reports of towns around Segovia. I'll be there for a few days in September (I've stayed there a few times before and love the city). I plan to spend a day or two visiting towns in the area (particularly to seek out Romanesque churches), so will be looking forward to your reports.

Buen viaje!

John

[Karen Sanchez]

I'm here now spending my month in Salamanca. We occasionally visit small towns too....yesterday we went picnicing in Carrascal del Obispo...... with a total of 240 inhabitants!  Next week i'm headed north to Santona (sorry can't find the enye on the laptop right now...)  for a few days on the beach.

 

Karen

---

From: John Zumsteg <jzum...@directionsconsulting.com>
To: trave...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Mon, July 5, 2010 10:56:23 AM
Subject: Re: [travelspain] Introducing myself...

[Alfonso Gonzalez]

I�m also planning to go to Spain again this summer, but probably not
until next month/early Sept. I usually spend about 4-6 weeks there but
mostly in the province of Orense (in Galicia), but also to the coast of
Murcia (Santiago de la Ribera) if my cousins are still there for the
summer when I go.....they usually are. Just spoke with them and the
crowds are still not very large (next month is more crowded).
Assumed that Karen was in or near Salamanca and John might well be
in Spain or going. So, Melinda enjoy your time in the Segovia
area.....I know you'll like it. Roger and Ed enjoy the heat of Madrid &
Andalucia and assume you will get away for part of the summer. My best
to all of you......


Alfonso

Karen Sanchez wrote:
> I'm here now spending my month in Salamanca. We occasionally visit
> small towns too....yesterday we went picnicing in Carrascal del
> Obispo...... with a total of 240 inhabitants! Next week i'm headed
> north to Santona (sorry can't find the enye on the laptop right
> now...) for a few days on the beach.
>
> Karen
>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* John Zumsteg <jzum...@directionsconsulting.com>
> *To:* trave...@googlegroups.com
> *Sent:* Mon, July 5, 2010 10:56:23 AM
> *Subject:* Re: [travelspain] Introducing myself...

> <mailto:edward...@googlemail.com>> wrote:
>
> Hi All,
>
> I have just found this group and as I live in Andalucia I
> thought I might pick up some tips and share my experiences too.
>
> Any good travel tips are always welcome,
>
> All the best,
> Ed
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the
> Google Groups "Travel Spain" group.
> To post to this group, send email to
> trave...@googlegroups.com

> <mailto:trave...@googlegroups.com>.

> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> travelspain...@googlegroups.com

> <mailto:travelspain%2Bunsu...@googlegroups.com>.

> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/travelspain?hl=en.
>
>
>
> --
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>
>
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[Roger Warwick]

Currently enjoying the heat of Madrid, but tomorrow escaping to the heat of Lisbon :-)

Roger.

2010/7/5 Alfonso Gonzalez <gonz...@ucalgary.ca>

[JOHN CHAPMAN]

Wow, Segovia seems to be the popular spot this year. Frances and I will be there sept 17 and 18 staying at the Casa Mudejar . If anyone is interested in meeting for a glass of wine let us know. We'd be pleased to meet.

A rough outline for this year's stops are Nerja (for the beach), Jaen, Ubeda, Cordoba, Segovia and Madrid.

Safe summer and good travels to all.

 

Cheers

John

---

From: John Zumsteg <jzum...@directionsconsulting.com>
To: trave...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Mon, July 5, 2010 10:56:23 AM
Subject: Re: [travelspain] Introducing myself...

[John Zumsteg]

Unfortunately, we'll be Segovia later than you, John: Sept 27, 28 and 29, after 3 days in Úbeda. Have you been to Úbeda? We were there 15 years ago and are really looking forward to seeing it again. Other places on our itinerary are Vejer de la Frontera and Córdoba. Then Paris for a week and 6 days in Berlin. The Berlin time got tacked on (and taken from our Spain time) because our first grandchild will be born there late September. That's worth giving up a week in Spain!

John

 

John

[Sandy]

Congratulations on the birth of your first grandchild, John!  Well worth giving up a week anywhere J  I have 3 granddaughters, and they are the light of my life. 

 

Sandy

------------------------------

Unfortunately, we'll be Segovia later than you, John: Sept 27, 28 and 29, after 3 days in Úbeda. Have you been to Úbeda? We were there 15 years ago and are really looking forward to seeing it again. Other places on our itinerary are Vejer de la Frontera and Córdoba. Then Paris for a week and 6 days in Berlin. The Berlin time got tacked on (and taken from our Spain time) because our first grandchild will be born there late September. That's worth giving up a week in Spain!

 

--

[JOHN CHAPMAN]

No John, we have not been there on prior trips. We passed throught Jaen about 6 years ago but had no time to stop. We're really looking forward to returning to Córdoba again but will lack the impact of the first trip. Unbeknownst to us then, our visit in May coincided with the Patio Fiesta - we were completely amazed with that event and talk about it to this day. However there will be much else to see.

Congrats on the arrival-to-be of your grandson. My youngest son brought our grandson Owen into the world 2 1/2 years ago - what a treasure they are. I hope all goes well for you daughter (in-law???).

Abrazos

John

---

From: John Zumsteg <jzum...@directionsconsulting.com>
To: trave...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Mon, July 5, 2010 10:35:25 PM

[John Zumsteg]

Úbeda is a very interesting place -- we look forward to exploring it. We were there 12 years ago, on one of our first trips to Spain. Being a somewhat more experienced Spain traveler, and speaking Spanish far better than I did then, we're looking forward to our time there. And this was our hotel splurge for the trip (well, if you don't count Paris, where every hotel is a splurge) - we're staying at the parador. I know that paradores receive mixed reviews, even from our experiences, but we liked the one there.

Córdoba...I'll offer my standard advice about la Mezquita, which I think is one of the most beautiful buildings ever. Every time we've been to Córdoba, we've found that a side door to la Mezquita opens at 8:30 in the morning to allow in the cleaning crew and 2 or 3 people who want to attend the 9 o'clock Mass. You can go in with them, and have the place largely to yourself for quite a while - it "officially" opens at 10 and costs something to enter. We've spent probably 2 weeks in Córdoba over 4 trips, and have been at that door at 8:30 a.m. every morning. I hope that a) it still opens then and b) it's still pretty much unknown that it does open. I guess we'll find out in September. The door is on the western wall, at the north end of that wall. There will be a few people standing around it waiting for it to open.

I planned a trip to Spain 12 years ago around the Patio Festival, and it was worth the effort. We will return for it someday, but not this year.

I'm definitely looking forward to being un abuelo!

John

[John Zumsteg]

We are quite excited to have una nieta on the way. In the way of life, we have a son and daughter-in-law who live 20 minutes away and another son and daughter-in-law who live 5040 miles away. Guess who's having the baby? 

Just another reason to travel!

Thanks for the kind words.

John

[Sandy]

Hi John,

You’re very welcome. Of course, the one who lives 5040 miles away J  Exactly.  My husband and I had not flown for 30 years when our son moved out to Phoenix.  That started our travels. 

 

Sandy

----------------------------------

 

We are quite excited to have una nieta on the way. In the way of life, we have a son and daughter-in-law who live 20 minutes away and another son and daughter-in-law who live 5040 miles away. Guess who's having the baby? 

 

Just another reason to travel!

 

Thanks for the kind words.

 

John

Sandy

[Sandy]

Hi John,

There are some reasonably priced hotels in Paris, but I admit, they can be hard to find.  My husband and I stay in 2 and 3 star hotels in centrally located areas.  Last year, we found one in the 5th arrondissement, the Collège de France, that was very reasonable.  The rooms were very small, but clean and comfortable.  The staff couldn’t have been nicer.  We would definitely go back there again. 

 

http://www.hotel-collegedefrance.com/

 

We enjoyed the lovely Hotel de Varenne, located near the Musée Rodin and Les Invalides, very much another year.  The bed was so comfortable that we hated to get up in the morning.  The rates have gone up, but may still be within your budget.  

 

http://www.varenne-hotel-paris.com/

 

 

 

Sandy

------------------------

[Melinda Young]

Thrilling day! I'm off to Spain! I'll tell about my travels and let you know of my expeiences. Madrid and then Segovia....

Melinda

[John Zumsteg]

In  Paris (this is Travelfrance, is it not?) we have stayed for years at Hotel des Deux Iles, a 17-room hotel on Iles st. Louis It is expensive, but it's quite nice and we love the location. Our favorite thing to do in Paris is to walk along the Seine, particularly in the evening. You can imagine that a hotel on the island is perfectly situated for that. Ile St. Louis is a funny place: truly a little village in the middle of Paris (albeit a high-priced village to live there; the most expensive real estate in Paris is there. Try $750,000 for a small apartment!). So every trip to Paris, our Paris friend says she could find something less expensive, and every trip we think about it for 5 minutes and then book at Hotel des Deux Iles.

Tis year, thank goodness for a stronger $!

John

[Sandy]

Hi John,

The Hotel des Deux Iles is a very nice hotel.  I agree, you are perfectly located J

 

Sandy

---------------------------------

 

In  Paris (this is Travelfrance, is it not?) we have stayed for years at Hotel des Deux Iles, a 17-room hotel on Iles st. Louis It is expensive, but it's quite nice and we love the location. Our favorite thing to do in Paris is to walk along the Seine, particularly in the evening. You can imagine that a hotel on the island is perfectly situated for that. Ile St. Louis is a funny place: truly a little village in the middle of Paris (albeit a high-priced village to live there; the most expensive real estate in Paris is there. Try $750,000 for a small apartment!). So every trip to Paris, our Paris friend says she could find something less expensive, and every trip we think about it for 5 minutes and then book at Hotel des Deux Iles.

 

Tis year, thank goodness for a stronger $!

 

John

 

--

[JOHN CHAPMAN]

Thanks for the tip on the door John. Interesting in that we stayed at the Hotel Maimonides last trip - right in front of that door.

8:30 might be a tad early for this old boy but we'll keep it in mind. We are staying at the Hotel de la Mezquita on the East side.

Re the Paradores, I agree that can vary based on location. We are staying in them for both Jaen and Úbeda - high on the budget but friends who have stayed there recommend it highly. Our favourite so far has been Cardona followed by Cáceres.

 

Cheers

John

---

From: John Zumsteg <jzum...@directionsconsulting.com>
To: trave...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Tue, July 6, 2010 11:47:57 PM

[Sandy]

Hi Melinda,

I look forward to reading about your travels.  ¡buen viaje!

 

Sandy

------------------------------

Thrilling day! I'm off to Spain! I'll tell about my travels and let you know of my expeiences. Madrid and then Segovia....

oup/travelspain?hl=en.

[LesterOR]

John,

We stayed at the Parador in Ubeda about 8-9 years ago and really
enjoyed it. However, it can be a little bit noisy - the plaza in
front is used as a city parking lot -- but it wasn't too disruptive
except one weekend night when the Plaza Mayor nearby was hosting a
fiesta. Our room was huge and elegant - this parador is very much
like living in some Duke's elegant residence -- similar in feel to the
Parador at Caceres, although our room was significantly larger in
Ubeda.

We were surprised that it was hard to find the really really good
Spanish chocolate & churros, generally, around the country. In Ubeda
we found the best I've ever had, directly across from the main
entrance to the traditional market. Best before 9:00 a.m.

We had lunch at Jaen Parador. Although built at the site of an old
castle, it is primarily new construction and has a resort-like feel --
not my cup of tea. But very beautiful architecture, spectacular-
beyond-belief views -- and the olive oil helado for dessert was
phenomenally appropo for the region.

I'll look forward to hearing about your visit to the region.

Lester

[Jo Sentell-Perez]

I am confused - are y'all talking about Salamanca? I know that hte Plaza Mayor is there, but maybe there are many plaza mayors? (I am currently sitting in the one in Salamanca.)

Jo

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Jo

[John Zumsteg]

Not talking about Salamanca here, but Úbeda. You're right that there are many Plaza Mayors. Darn near every city, town and village has one. Plaza Mayor means, literally, "large square" and usually refers to the main plaza of a place. (Toledo being an exception; there the main plaza is Plaza Zocodover, and the Plaza Mayor is a small and not very impressive place.)

I once asked Travelspain members what their favorite plaza is, and I'll ask it again. Mine is the Plaza Mayor of Truillo. 

John

[Roger Warwick]

Nice one John!

Mine is in fact a Plaza Mayor - the Plaza Mayor of Chinchón.

It's wonderful to eat at one of the restaurants, sitting on the balcony overlooking the square, eating suckling pig or a good lamb, roasted in wood-fired ovens and all washed down with a hearty red wine, a glass of the local "chinchón" (aniseed liquor) to finish.

Roger.

http://www.GoMadrid.com

[LesterOR]

Oh, dear, I'm afraid I'll be an apostate. I always loved Salamanca's
and would choose it as my favorite -- partly because of fond memories
as a student there in my younger days.

But then I visited Sienna. Hard to imagine a more perfectly formed
plaza....

Lester


On Jul 24, 12:40 pm, John Zumsteg <jzums...@directionsconsulting.com>
wrote:

[Jo Sentell-Perez]

Well I have only been to a few, but so far Salamanca has my vote as well! Yesterday there was a boda and the place was full of dancing, beautifully dressed people of all ages. So glad we got to be there too!

>
> John
>

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Jo

[John Zumsteg]

Ah, las bodas. Saturday must be the day for weddings in Spain. We were in Zamora once, staying at the parador there, and within a 10-minute walk were a dozen Romanesque churches and the Cathedral. Most of those churches and the Cathedral had a steady stream of weddings that Saturday afternoon. We had a wonderful time just watching the activities. 

John

[Stewart Fishburne]

Lestor

There is indeed very little wrong with Sienna. And there is much to be said
for Piazza Duomo in Syracusa in Sicily, too.

Oh dear, are we going to get drummed out of travelspain, I wonder??

Stewart

--------------------------------------------------
From: "LesterOR" <Lest...@sbcglobal.net>
Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2010 7:19 AM
To: "Travel Spain" <trave...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [travelspain] Re: Introducing myself...

> Oh, dear, I'm afraid I'll be an apostate. I always loved Salamanca's
> and would choose it as my favorite -- partly because of fond memories
> as a student there in my younger days.
>
> But then I visited Sienna. Hard to imagine a more perfectly formed
> plaza....
>
> Lester
>
>
> On Jul 24, 12:40 pm, John Zumsteg <jzums...@directionsconsulting.com>
> wrote:

>> Not talking about Salamanca here, but �beda. You're right that there are

>> many Plaza Mayors. Darn near every city, town and village has one. Plaza
>> Mayor means, literally, "large square" and usually refers to the main
>> plaza of a place. (Toledo being an exception; there the main plaza is
>> Plaza Zocodover, and the Plaza Mayor is a small and not very impressive
>> place.)
>>
>> I once asked Travelspain members what their favorite plaza is, and I'll
>> ask it again. Mine is the Plaza Mayor of Truillo.
>>
>> John
>>
>

[John Zumsteg]

And there's Place Dauphine in Paris. No more than a 10-minute walk from Notre Dame, yet without a tourist in sight. One of my favorite places to waste an afternoon. But then, can we really call an afternoon of sitting, drinking wine and watching the world go by a waste? Nah...

John

On Jul 25, 2010, at 12:49 PM, Stewart Fishburne wrote:

Lestor

There is indeed very little wrong with Sienna. And there is much to be said for Piazza Duomo in Syracusa in Sicily, too.

Oh dear, are we going to get drummed out of travelspain, I wonder??

Stewart

--------------------------------------------------
From: "LesterOR" <Lest...@sbcglobal.net>
Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2010 7:19 AM
To: "Travel Spain" <trave...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [travelspain] Re: Introducing myself...

> Oh, dear, I'm afraid I'll be an apostate. I always loved Salamanca's
> and would choose it as my favorite -- partly because of fond memories
> as a student there in my younger days.
>
> But then I visited Sienna. Hard to imagine a more perfectly formed
> plaza....
>
> Lester
>
>
> On Jul 24, 12:40 pm, John Zumsteg <jzums...@directionsconsulting.com>
> wrote:

>> Not talking about Salamanca here, but Úbeda. You're right that there are many Plaza Mayors. Darn near every city, town and village has one. Plaza Mayor means, literally, "large square" and usually refers to the main plaza of a place. (Toledo being an exception; there the main plaza is Plaza Zocodover, and the Plaza Mayor is a small and not very impressive place.)

[Sandy]

My thoughts exactly. Definitely not a waste.

Sandy
------------------------------