Spain Travel Plans
Robert Lata
I've enjoyed reading and gleaned from the group's posts for more than 5 years, but have never made a post - - since our last trip to Spain was 1971, there was no new news to share.
However, informed and inspired by the travel spain group input, we have made travel plans to visit Spain from May 3 through 19, 2008.
Since our last trip to Spain covered a lot of the north (driving across the North Coast to Santiago de Compostela, south through Madrid to Toledo, and then northeast through Barcelona), we are going to use this trip to catch up on the new museums in Madrid and then concentrate on portions of Andalucia.
Unfortunately, we cannot take in some of the favorites of Southern Spain that we would like (e.g. Trujillo, Baeza, and Ubeda, will need to wait for another trip), but based on what we have read from prior posts we think we have given adequate time for what we have included:
Madrid: four nights, then taking the Ave southward
Sevilla: four nights, then pick up our rental car
Arcos: one night
Ronda: two nights
Granada: two nights
Cordoba: two nights
Carmona: one night, then fly out of Sevilla
Hotels are booked, and we have our list of things to see, but we am still refining our choice of restaurants. Group feedback / additional recommendations would be sincerely appreciated!
For Madrid, we have included for lunch Roger's recommendation for El Caldero, at Calle Huertas 15. Since we particularly like seafood, our tentative plans are for other Madrid lunches area at Sirena Verde and Ribeira do Mino. Has anyone had experiences with the latter two restaurants, or do you have other recommendations for good seafood choices in the central area? (we are staying near Puerta del Sol) We are not looking for fancy or Michelin stars - - just really good food.
For Sevilla I would very much appreciate any recommendations for any meals; we are staying in the Santa Cruz area. We have a number of guide book choices but have not narrowed the field.
El Convento, where we are staying, will be our likely choice for our one night in Arcos, but we have not made any firm restaurant selections for Ronda; we are staying at the Hotel San Gabriel in the older part of town.
For Granada, Cunini's looks like a likely choice for one of the evenings - feedback on that idea and any alternative suggestions would be welcomed!
Cordoba is also a two-night stay, and we have Roger's fine notes from his visit. Any supplementary comments would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance for any input! Upon return, a trip report is promised.
Bob Lata
Paso Robles, CA
Roger Warwick
Nice to read a post from you!
I can't remember recommending the El Caldero restaurant on the group,
although I have been there and you won't be disappointed.
I DID recommend the Ribeiro de Miño here ...
http://groups.google.com/group/travelspain/browse_thread/thread/231ae40f22e494a7/f877e0ab85e7ea10?#f877e0ab85e7ea10
As I said in the post, it's not the best quality seafood in Madrid,
but for the price you really can't beat it.
My Cordoba post is already 6 years old so may be out of date, but if
you search the group I'm sure you'll find many interesting tidbits,
particularly by John Zumsteg who seems to have spent more time there
than the locals ;-)
In Granada, make sure you visit the Albaicin district and walk around
just visiting any bar that takes your fancy. Order a glass of
something and just wait - tradition dictates that you will receive a
free tapa with your glass of wine or beer. The trick is to find the
best tapas bar in terms of quality and, almost as importantly,
quantity!
Roger.
JOHN CHAPMAN
AND, if you are a seafood lover, you MUST go to Cunini on Plaza Bib-Rambla. It is popular and busy so be sure to make your reservations to be sure to get in.
Both of these are an automatic revisit when we return to Granada.
Also when you go to Arcos de la Frontera I recommend the El Convento hotel. It is right beside the Parador, is half the price and 10 times the experience. They purchased a restaurant around the corner and should not be missed. Great service, wonderul ambiance and terrific food.