Ok, so only 4 months and 1 week until I'm in Spain!

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

:D

Ohhh *sigh* it seems so far away. Anyone else ever been there? How'd you like it? What's the weather like in April? :)

Maggie

[BurtWorm]

1. I LOVE Spain!

We went there last April as a matter of fact, to Andalusia, and it was the best holiday I've ever had. I am completely in love with Seville, Granada, Cadiz--all of Andalusia. You're very lucky. I hope you get to spend time in the south.

April was a great time to go. The weather is spectacularly beautiful. Mild. Sunny. Pleasant. Flowers are blooming everywhere. Oranges are ripening in the trees. It's unbelievably wonderful.

I've got to commute homewards or I'd say more.

[ProudGerman]

2. WTF kinda school do you go to?

and how do I sign up?

I'm assuming this is a school trip.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

6. public school

it's not like it's free, lol :)

[baby_bear]

3. I was there about three years ago

...in March. I visited along the Mediterranean coast from Barcelona down to Grenada. It's all wonderful. Barcelona is incredible! My father lived in Alicante for nearly 20 years before he died recently. My step-mother and step-sister still live there. They just love it, except for the heat in the summer. So you are going at a great time.

I envy you...what's the occasion? How much time will you have?

s_m

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

9. Trip with the school

We are there for 9 days, not nearly enough time but regardless very cool

[Zomby Woof]

4. where are you going there?

I lived in El Puerto de Santa Maria (near Cadiz) for 3 years back in the late 70's, and I am sure much has changed, and being an ancient land, very little also.

Prepare for typical spring weather - anywhere from warm and sunny to cool and rainy. Won't be that much different. That too depends on where you'll be.

I want to go back one day not far from now. There was much I didn't get to see, and more I want to see again.

I am damn envious, I will tell you that! :-)

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

7. something like...

1-2
FLY TO MADRID.
Fly overnight to the vibrant capital of Spain. ÁBienvenido a Madrid! Begin exploring this colorful city.

3
MADRID.
Join a local guide on a tour through the Plaza Mayor, the Plaza Colon, and the Royal Palace. An impressive selection of Velasquez's paintings awaits you at the Prado Museum. Next, see modern pieces by Dali and Picasso in the Reina Sofia Museum. Try your hand at Cocina Española!

4
SEGOVIA-EL ESCORIAL.
Opt to visit the amazing Roman aqueduct in Segovia and the fairytale Alcazar. Continue to El Escorial, Philip II's imposing palace, and to the Valley of the Fallen with its massive memorial cross for those who died in the Spanish Civil War.

5
TOLEDO.
With a local guide, explore Spain's golden city, including the Gothic cathedral, the Synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca, and the Church of Santo Tome, where El Greco's masterpiece The Burial of the Count of Orgaz hangs. Stand up and be counted in El Caudillo's Conquest!

6
CORDOBA.
Marvel at the 800 marble columns of the 1,200-year-old Mezquita. Continue with a guide to the statue of Jewish philosopher Maimonaides and the enchanting courtyards. Seville awaits you!

7
SEVILLE.
With a local guide, discover the Plaza de España, the Giralda Tower, and the largest Gothic church in the world, and explore the grand Alcazar. Later, scour the city as an Andaluz Sleuth! This evening, stomp your feet as you enjoy an optional ¡Ay Flamenco!

8
GRANADA.
Explore the last Moorish city to fall to the Christian Reconquista-Granada. Note the impressive Islamic architecture en route to the massive Alhambra fortress-palace and enjoy the soul-soothing fountains of the Generalife Gardens with a local guide. Continue to the Costa del Sol.

9
Return to the United States or opt to extend your your stay by adding extra days on the Costa del Sol.


Depending on what happens, we may not be going to Segovia/Escoral and opt for another day in Madrid but I hope we do.

[Zomby Woof]

10. I love both Cordoba and Sevilla!

(I still use their Spanish names)

Cordoba's "Mezquita" is the largest mosque outside the Arab world. It's pretty amazing, and you can nearly get lost in there. When the Catholics drove the Moors out for good some 55 years ago, they built a cathedral inside the mosque. Talk about 2 different worlds, lol.

Cordoba is also the birthplace of the Stoic philosopher Seneca during the ancient Rome days, and the birthplace of algebra (I bet you were dying to know that!) It's a beautifil old city, and one of my very favorite so far internationally (although I will HAVE to see Barcelona one day).

Sevilla is really nice too. That cathedral is the 3rd largest in the world over all, after St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, and Westminster Abbey in London. You can see what is allegedly the entombment of Columbus's remains, and tons of gold from the conquest of Latin America behind all kinds of cages upon altars. It also can get very dark in some of the recesses, so be careful where you wander!

I'd realy love to see Madrid (I rushed through there in a just a few hours time - saw very little, was leaving the country), and Grenada too.

I am smuggling myself in your luggage! :-)

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

11. You'd better not

I have to lug that suitcase off the plane, and I'd have a lot of 'splainin to do!!

[Zomby Woof]

14. I really need to proofread

Scratch the "55 years ago" and make that 500!!! :D

Plus there are typos, and I missed the edit deadline.

:eyes:

[The Lone Liberal]

13. You are hitting all the great spots.

When you hit Granada there is a great place for Spanish Hot Chocolate in the square behind the cathedral.

[Awsi Dooger]

19. Wow, that's a great itinerary!

You are visiting just about every city I would have recommended, with such a tight schedule. But I'm surprised the trip is bypassing Barcelona, although it is on the eastern edge of the country. I was extremely lucky in '92, visiting Spain for 6 summer weeks, including the Olympic Games in Barcelona. My sister was an exchange student in Madrid during '91-'92, so she escorted me around the country before the Games. The architecture of Barcelona is beyond description.

Seriously, try to make it to a bullfight. The atmosphere and the crowd intensity are incredible. My favorite bullring, even above Pamplona, was in Valencia. That little city is considered one of the most beautiful in Spain, and the bullring was huge and incredible. Perfectly round and scenic.

And if you opt for a few days on the Costa del Sol, a trek to Gibraltar is possible and worthwhile. I'll never forget weaving up the Rock, with all it's little monkeys and the viewing areas in little tunnels high up in the Rock.

[lpbk2713]

15. I was there for three years also.......

compliments of Uncle Sam. 1966-69. I miss the ferias, the bodegas, side trips to the small towns like Arcos de la Frontera. I'd like to go back some time.

[Zomby Woof]

16. 1975-78

We took lots of field trips to the bodegas in Jerez, and many trips to Arcos. Climbing that bell tower is my one enduring memory, as well as getting a chance to steer the ferry in the lake, which was run by an American guy.

Loved the ferias too. The smells, the music, the dancing... the food!

And I miss the churros from the street vendors. What great gobs of greasy goodness...

[joeybee12]

5. I was there in May, which is close to April

Madrid was kind of cool and overcast.

Barcelona was sunny and warm!

have fun!

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

8. thanks

i can't wait, every once in awhile i get these little jolts that are like "HEY YOU IN THERE, MAGGIE- YOU'RE GOING TO SPAIN IN A FEW MONTHS!"

[JohnKleeb]

12. sigh have fun

You know a lot of Spanish so you would fit in just fine. I wish I could be travel.

[Kenneth ken]

17. you need to

change your link in your sig line then. And didn't you already go to DC?

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

20. yeah lol

I haven't gotten around to it quite yet.

[regnaD kciN]

18. It'll probably be a lot more fun now...

...than it was when I visited way back in 1966, back in the days when Franco was still in power.

Actually, at that time, the Catalan areas (those where Franco had the least support) were pretty cool. It was when we got to Madrid that things started getting seriously weird. Even I, at ten years old, could sense the paranoia, the undercurrent of fear, the feeling that the people knew they were being watched at all times and had to be careful not to say the wrong thing that might land them under suspicion. The tours had to cover lots about the Civil War, but it was always the most obvious propaganda, where the supporters of the Generalissimo were all portrayed as noble, brave, and self-sacrificing, while the opponents were always presented as bloodthirsty Communists without any trace of human decency. All the atrocities, of course, came from the leftist side, and Our Noble Leader wanted nothing more than to selflessly work for the glory of God, the Catholic faith, and the Fatherland.

I suspect the experience was much like living in Italy under Mussolini.

Thankfully, as the old SNL used to put it, "General Francisco Franco is still dead."