Travel Spain Google Group

Alto Alentejo, Unsung but Not for Long (NY Times)

kbie...@yahoo.com (Ken Bielen) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:13:03 UT

November 8, 2009
Next Stop
Alto Alentejo, Unsung but Not for Long
By ROBERT GOFF
IN 2002, Doug Smith was bored. Korakia Pensione, his Mediterranean-style boutique hotel in Palm Springs, Calif., that attracted a celebrity crowd like Annie Leibovitz, Gore Vidal and Brice Marden, pretty much ran itself. Mr. Smith was looking for a new project — a grand fixer-upper in an exotic locale — where he could show off his well-honed style and settle into a life of rustic ease with his new wife, Josie.

Re: [travelspain] Re: Cádiz

jzums...@directionsconsulting.com (John Zumsteg) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:19:24 UT

Good idea, Tom; thanks. We'll definitely look into doing something
like this.

John

Re: [travelspain] Re: Cádiz

ta...@schweich.com (Tom Schweich) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:27:58 UT

We had a pretty nice stay in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. We did stay in a
modern hotel, but found the sea food at the mouth of the Guadalquivir
pretty good. There is a nice interpretive museum. The boat trip into the
Doñana leaves from Sanlucar. We also happened to be there for the
return from Rocio which was interesting to watch. You could stay in

Re: [travelspain] Re: Cádiz

jzums...@directionsconsulting.com (John Zumsteg) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:20:03 UT

Thanks, Mac. We haven't figured out where to stay in Cadiz yet. The
parador is closed for a two-year restoration (much needed, from what
I've read) and we're not great fans of the modern paradores, anyway.
The hotels in the old city proper do not seem to have very good
recommendations or reviews. Maybe we'll stay somewhere out of town,

Re: Cádiz

m...@macwolfelee.plus.com (Mac) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:22:14 UT

On Oct 19, 2:22 am, John Zumsteg <jzums...@DirectionsConsulting .com>
wrote:

Hello John

I've been trying recall something of our stay in Cadiz, which was
before I started my letters to Travelspain, but all I could turn up
was a postcard of the (as usual) rather basic hostal we stayed in, and

Spanish Menus

roger.warw...@gmail.com (Roger Warwick) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:32:44 UT

I think we should start a collection :-)
[link]
[link]
There's some nice ones from other countries in that series as well.

Cádiz

jzums...@directionsconsulting.com (John Zumsteg) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 02:22:58 UT

Hola a todos!

We're starting to plan a trip to Spain late next year -- never too early
to start planning!

We want to spend a few days in Cádiz, both to see that city and some of
the surrounding area. Does anybody have a hotel recommendation for
Cádiz? Or restaurant recommendations? Suggestions for things to do and

RE: [travelspain] Re: spain football tickets

joemoll...@hotmail.com (joe mollo) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:21:14 UT

Took the AVE/Avant high spd service a couple of weeks ago from Chamartin to Segovia. Trip was about 23 minutes ea way. Cost about 52 euros for 4 folks via walk up sales agent. It worked out very well. Bus #11 from train station to centre of Segovia took longer!

Joe

To: travelspain@googlegroups.com

Re: Easter 2010 in Madrid

leste...@sbcglobal.net — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 13:30:19 UT

About those religious processions. They are really worth it. The
museums of Madrid are terrific, but the religious processions of Holy
Week are also fascinating and deeply Spanish (although I haven't seen
any in Madrid, only in the south).

Holy Week is extremely busy in Spain with lots of people traveling.

Re: [travelspain] Re: spain football tickets

erynpatch...@yahoo.com — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:11:33 UT

Hi, there is no AVE to Segovia but with a normal train it shoukdnt take too long to get there aasit is relatively close to Madrid. With AVE it is nice to book ahead to get a better price but not necessary but you end up standing in line.

As far as tipping, it is included in your bill but you could leave a little extra if you had great service.

Re: [travelspain] Re: spain football tickets

the_astounding_zo...@btinternet.com (alan harvey) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 18:52:20 UT

Joe....Madrid to Segovia prob only one hour or so by normal
train.........not sure if AVe does that service anyway, but prob 5
times dearer by AVE, last week I travelled Sevilla-Madrid by AVE in
2.5 hours, good service for longer distances

Share your files with the Travel Spain group (if you want)

roger.warw...@gmail.com (Roger Warwick) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:24:18 UT

Google has just announced a change to the way it handles shared documents:
[link]
This means that if any member wants to share a calendar, spreadsheet, Google
site or document with all the other members of the Travel Spain group, they
simply have to add the group's email address instead of all the members'

Re: [travelspain] Easter 2010 in Madrid

roger.warw...@gmail.com (Roger Warwick) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:13:48 UT

Easter Thursday and Friday are normally public holidays in Madrid, and some
museums will be closed (for example the Prado is closed on Good Friday).
Others, however, will stay open (the Thyssen museum webpage mentions nothing
about being closed during Easter week).
Taxis and public transit will be fine (although there will be a small

Re: [travelspain] bicyle or cart rental

salac...@yahoo.com (Karen Sanchez) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:57:08 UT

I was in barcelona in february. There were bikes all over the city. They have a system where you can rent a bike in one part of town and drop it off somewhere else. Check this part of their city web page [link]

______________________________ __

Easter 2010 in Madrid

clflood2...@yahoo.ca (Flooder) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:36:52 UT

I was thinking of taking a escorted tour of Spain which begins in
Madrid. I was planning on arriving a day or two early to explore
Madrid on my own but that would mean arriving in Madrid on Thursday,
April 1st which happens to be the beginning of Easter weekend. Will
the museums, restaurants etc be open on the Thursday and Friday? What