[travelspain] Madrid and Pamplona

[McCurdy Family]

Hello

Me and my wife are going to Spain for the first time this July. We
are arriving at 7 am on July 5th in Madrid and leaving on the 13th.
We would like to spend 1 day and night in Pamplona either on July 6th
or 7th to see some of the San Fermin Running of the Bulls Festival and
then back to Madrid. Does anyone have a recommendation on whether we
should take a flight to Pamplona or a train? Since we are only there
till the 13th what are the must sees or must tries of Madrid?

Any help I receive is very much appreciated

Regards,

Drew Mc

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[Susan Kyle]

Hi,

 

First of all it's hotter than blazes in Paloma in July, be prepared.

As for Madrid, must sees should start with the city tour bus (bargain). You can then jot down what you want to explore further and use the subway.

Life in Spain definately has 'Spanish Time' evening meals are at 10 pm, club life goes on until dawn. How they go to work I have no idea, but they do rest in the sfternoon.  Madrid's altitude makes summer a little cooler.  The subway system is superb, and if you fly in take it to your hotel, very efficient, map quest your route.  Walking is easy, getting lost is also easy, but as the winding back streets always exit to something you can identify it's an easy challange.  Be sure to grab a picnic lunch from a bistro and eat at the Plaza del Mayer ( picture the Inquisition, that's the main spot). If your an art lover, your in the right place.  The famous Guernica is at the Sophia, and the Prado houses the more traditional stuff.   Great parks, safe, super friendly folks if you try speaking Spanish.  Crime (mainly pick pockets abound) but if you are always aware of your stuff then you won't have any trouble. 

 

Enjoy, I was there last May for the holiday.

 

Susan

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From: McCurdy Family <mccurdy...@gmail.com>
To: Travel Spain <trave...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Mon, May 3, 2010 7:36:38 AM
Subject: [travelspain] Madrid and Pamplona

Hello

Me and my wife are going to Spain for the first time this July.  We
are arriving at 7 am on July 5th in Madrid and leaving on the 13th.
We would like to spend 1 day and night in Pamplona either on July 6th
or 7th to see some of the San Fermin Running of the Bulls Festival and
then back to Madrid.  Does anyone have a recommendation on whether we
should take a flight to Pamplona or a train?  Since we are only there
till the 13th what are the must sees or must tries of Madrid?

Any help I receive is very much appreciated

Regards,

Drew Mc

--
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To post to this group, send email to trave...@googlegroups.com.

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[Nancy Jalbert-Kirkup]

Good Morning,

My husband and I traveled to Madrid 2 years ago this May and we " loved " our trip. Of course we walked around Madrid till we couldn't walk any more but we also took two day trips ( via train ) to Toledo and Seville. Both towns aren't too far so we left in the morning and were back in the early evening. Toledo was a nice change offering lovely country views on the way. It's also a great place to pick-up damascene jewelry. Seville was also fabulous, a must see is the Alcazar castle and the spectacular Aqueducts.

I would also be remise not to mention that we found the most amazing chocolate dipped palm cookies in a corner bakery in the Puerta Del Sol, every day I could I tired to direct our walk back to our hotel past this amazing bakery so we could by one to share. You won't have trouble finding it... it's the one where people are lined out the door to get in.

Enjoy !!!!

Nancy


>>> McCurdy Family <mccurdy...@gmail.com> 5/3/2010 7:36 AM >>>

[Nancy Jalbert-Kirkup]

Me again... I also forgot to mention the great flea market ( El Rastro ) on Sunday morning !!! It goes on for blocks... the crowds are huge so be prepared.

>>> McCurdy Family <mccurdy...@gmail.com> 5/3/2010 7:36 AM >>>

[Karen Sanchez]

Do you have a hotel booked for Pamplona yet?  If not, good luck getting one. I hear those book up for that week several years in advance.

 

My fav spots in Madrid:  Parque de Retiro, the Reina Sofia museum (Picasso, Dali, Miró), the Prado (Velazquez, el Greco, Goya...), el Corte Ingles dept store

 

Karen

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From: McCurdy Family <mccurdy...@gmail.com>
To: Travel Spain <trave...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Mon, May 3, 2010 7:36:38 AM
Subject: [travelspain] Madrid and Pamplona

Hello

Me and my wife are going to Spain for the first time this July.  We
are arriving at 7 am on July 5th in Madrid and leaving on the 13th.
We would like to spend 1 day and night in Pamplona either on July 6th
or 7th to see some of the San Fermin Running of the Bulls Festival and
then back to Madrid.  Does anyone have a recommendation on whether we
should take a flight to Pamplona or a train?  Since we are only there
till the 13th what are the must sees or must tries of Madrid?

Any help I receive is very much appreciated

Regards,

Drew Mc

--
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.

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

For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/travelspain?hl=en.

[Tom Schweich]

In addition to the other suggestions you've received, Segovia is a good
day trip via Cercanias. I would think Sevilla would be better as an
overnight trip, rather than a day trip.

McCurdy Family wrote:
> Hello
>
> Me and my wife are going to Spain for the first time this July. We
> are arriving at 7 am on July 5th in Madrid and leaving on the 13th.

> -----8<-----------

>
> Any help I receive is very much appreciated
>
> Regards,
>
> Drew Mc
>
>


--

Tom Schweich KJ6BIT ta...@schweich.com
http://www.schweich.com
http://twitter.com/schweich

[edw martinez]

Pamplona and San Fermin is going to be max crowded.  Make sure you have a CONFIRMED hotel reservation there in advance.  Train? Go on line to RENFRE website and check the schedules and see what works for your trip plans. I have taken the bus from Pamplona to Madrid, which has a change/transfer of bus lines way out in the middle of nowhere, but it was fast and practical.  The only problem for you with that is finding the damn bus station in Madrid.   Now you may not believe me, but when at San Femin, if you and your wife are not wearing WHITE, top and bottom, you will feel and look out of place,as everyone, and I do mean everyone else, will be suitably dressed for the Feria.  I do not know if you are heading to Pamplona upon arrival in Madrid?  If you are staying your first night in Madrid, you can leave/store some of your luggage at your hotel for the trip to Pamplona. As it is your first trip to Spain, you might just take a taxi from the Madrid airport to your hotel.  (Although, I always ride the metro into town- there is a metro station at the airport).  Ride the Metro after that.  Buy a ten pack ticket- also available at any newstand.  It will get you where you need to go. A taxi will be just clogged up in traffic.  When leaving to go back to the airport, check the hotel desk for a ride arrangement, as they usually have a cheaper shuttle or friend of a friend deal.

 

In Madrid, my own routine is to always visit the Prado and Sophia Regina museums, walk around and eat (somewhere around or behind and occcasionally, at) the Plaza Mayor.  Depending upon your time available, a day trip to either Toledo, or Segova, or the Escorial is worthwhile. They are in separate and different directions from Madrid.  You can do this on your own via train, or take one of the many packaged bus tours available/ advertised at the hotel desk.  When selecting a hotel, I like to find one near (within several blocks) of a Metro stop.  I usually stay at the Hotel Francisco 1, which is between Sol and Opera.  Also some B&B or hostels southeast of Sol or just west of the Prado.

 

And my last tip- if when walking around Madrid and you do get lost (it is so easy) look for a metro station to resite yourself.
Again, use the Metro!

 

Good travels,

edwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

[Larrysimi]

See the Royal Palace in Madrid

Sent from my iPod

[Karen Sanchez]

Yes!  I knew I was forgetting something.  And the plaza mayor, with all the little cafes and tapas bars around it.

---

From: Larrysimi <larr...@gmail.com>
To: "trave...@googlegroups.com" <trave...@googlegroups.com>
Cc: "trave...@googlegroups.com" <trave...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Mon, May 3, 2010 1:39:38 PM
Subject: Re: [travelspain] Madrid and Pamplona

[John Zumsteg]

For tapas, I prefer Plaza Santa Ana -- a few blocks from Plaza Mayor, but any place in the city is likely to have good tapas.

For art, my two favorite "not so well known" places are the Ermita de la San Antonio de la Florida, which has breath-taking Goya frescos, and Museo Joaquin Sorolla.

John

[Stewart Fishburne]

Nancy

I think you mean Segovia, not Sevilla?

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Nancy Jalbert-Kirkup" <Nancy.Jalb...@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>
Sent: Monday, May 03, 2010 3:11 PM
To: "Travel Spain" <trave...@googlegroups.com>

Subject: Re: [travelspain] Madrid and Pamplona

[joe mollo]

Haven't read all the replies so there will likely be overlap.  Some quick thoughts for Madrid are: museums e.g. Prado, Reina Sofia, and Thyssen.  A day trip to Segovia to see the Roman aqueducts, the main cathedral, Alcazar castle- high speed rail takes about half an hour.  Las Ventas for a bullfight if you are so inclined.  Retiro Park, the main library in Colon square area, Plaza Cibeles, the Royal Palace and Cathedral, Plaza Mayor.  Plenty of great food in La Latina district.  Chocolate and Churros.
 
Joe
 
> Date: Mon, 3 May 2010 04:36:38 -0700

> Subject: [travelspain] Madrid and Pamplona

> From: mccurdy...@gmail.com
> To: trave...@googlegroups.com

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[Gabriela Baida]

Hi, 

my family and I are going to Europe for the first time this Thursday. We will be in staying in Marbella, Spain for a week and would like to know where are some close places to go to since we will be renting a car. We will also be going to Paris and Venice for 3 days each. What is the best way to get to Madrid and Barcelona and what are the best attractions to go to. Any feedback would be great. 

Gaby

[Roger Warwick]

Hi Gaby,

I don't know the area around Marbella too well, so I'll leave any recommendations of things to see there to others.

However, I can recommend taking the AVE high-speed train from Malaga to Madrid if you want to go there - the trip may be as short as 2:30h, depending on the stops.

Barcelona is much further away and may not be practical, although it's possible to get there in around 3 hours from Madrid by taking the AVE again.

You can check out prices, timetables and book your tickets for these trains at the www.renfe.es website.

regards, Roger.

http:://www.GoMadrid.com - Madrid City Guide

[Sandy]

Hi Gaby,

How exciting to be going to Europe for the first time!  When you book your hotels, be sure to check them out on tripadvisor.com.  To get the most out of your Paris visit, the centrally located hotels are the most convenient – the 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th arrondissements are my favorite, though many people like staying in the 4^th.  You might like to get a Batobus pass, which stops at spots all along the Seine and will take you to most of the tourist sights.  You can start at the Eiffel Tower, although it’s also nice to arrive there at sunset.  Move on to the Musee D’Orsay stop, and then to Saint Germain des Pres.  When you’re in Saint Germain des Pres, there’s a wonderful boulangerie on the rue de Seine, Gerard Mulot. From the Hotel de Ville stop, you can easily walk to the Marais, where you’ll find a beautiful square, the Place des Vosges.  Victor Hugo lived there, and you can visit his apartment.  The batobus website will give you a good idea of what’s in each area and suggest some restaurants in the area.  You might also like to purchase a Paris Museum Pass, if you enjoy museums, but it really depends on how many you plan to see.  You can walk in the gardens at Musee Rodin for only 1 Euro, and as far as I’m concerned, his best sculptures are located in the garden. Have a wonderful trip!

 

www.tripadvisor.com

 

http://www.batobus.com/

 

http://tinyurl.com/2b5wqbp

 

http://www.gerard-mulot.com/

 

http://en.parismuseumpass.com/

 

Sandy