Time in Spain

[WickedKitchen]

Hello.

My family and I are taking a trip to Spain in August and I'm interested in what any of you might have to say about traveling there. Madrid will be the point of entry and we have a wedding to attend in Ourense a few days later. We'll likely be renting a car at the airport as well.

I'm also looking for must do's and try to avoids too.

[Skell18]

What do you want to see? I highly recommend Barcelona, it is an amazing city, great food, drink, people, everything. You need to get to the Spanish way of things, lunch is late, 1 - 4 pm, long big lunches, lip inch is the main meal of the day, I highly suggest the menu del dia, it's cheap, filling and what the locals do.

You're in sol cal aren't you? So weather shouldn't bother you, avoid the places on the main tourist strips, they will rip you off, of you go to barca, las ramblas is nice to see but don't eat there or buy anything, hit the side streets as you will pay 50% less! never pay more than 10 euro for a menu del dia, anywhere in Spain, 8-10 is the going rate. They eat dinner late, around 10pm onwards and it goes on till the early hours, they do cater to early eaters but the action takes place later on. Also most shops etc close from 3-5pm then open again till around 10pm.

I recommend the freixenet vineyard tour in catalunya, 30 mins from barca. During the 'siesta, best hit a cafe for a cafe con letche or una cãna.

seville, taragona, Valencia are all places you must visit. It's a lot to pack into one trip, but I suggest getting a lonely planet guide to Madrid if that's your base and work from there. You will have a great time, I am in Barcelona in September if you're still about so let me know, I can show you the barca I know and love :-)

[WickedKitchen]

That would be awesome.

I'm originating out of Boston. Weather doesn't bother me 'cos I usually work outside and if you can do that year round in New England you'll be fine elseware.

I do want to go to Barcelona. The only challenge is that it appears to be a 10 hour drive from where we'll need to be for a couple of days. I'm thinking screw it and we'll hit a couple of towns on the way. We're more into the local scene rather than big sights but seeing how I'll likely go to another place rather that return there I do want to make the most of it.

My kids are 8 & 10 so the super-fun night life might be out. I am looking forward to the time/eating shift. I can't wait to eat the foods. my kids might be in shock with the culture but that's the whole reason we're bringing them.

so far it looks like the itinerary might be Madrid - Ourense - Leon - Barcelona - Madrid

[Skell18]

That would be awesome.

I'm originating out of Boston. Weather doesn't bother me 'cos I usually work outside and if you can do that year round in New England you'll be fine elseware.

I do want to go to Barcelona. The only challenge is that it appears to be a 10 hour drive from where we'll need to be for a couple of days. I'm thinking screw it and we'll hit a couple of towns on the way. We're more into the local scene rather than big sights but seeing how I'll likely go to another place rather that return there I do want to make the most of it.

My kids are 8 & 10 so the super-fun night life might be out. I am looking forward to the time/eating shift. I can't wait to eat the foods. my kids might be in shock with the culture but that's the whole reason we're bringing them.

so far it looks like the itinerary might be Madrid - Ourense - Leon - Barcelona - Madrid

They are very family friendly in Spain so it's not uncommon to see whole families and friends eating out late at night. Like most other European countries it's cafe culture and you just move onto the next place for a cafe solo or a caña. You can get the train to barca from Madrid if you want to do it in a day.

Its very laid back in Spain so you can't help but relax.

No no idea where I thought you were in so cal came from :P

[Snusdog]

I really enjoyed Toledo. Lots to see and a lot of History behind it.

Get a copy of "The Poem of the Cid" and read it before you go (Paul Blackburn has a good translation that you can probably pick up used off of Amazon).

Have fun

[squeezyjohn]

You'll absolutely love Spain - it's a great country!

Do's - Barcelona and Gaudi architecture, Jamon Iberico de Bellota, Bilbao Guggenheim

Don't - get your passport stolen! Miss out on fantastic local food because you're squeamish about ordering unusual things ... get them to recommend things in the restaurants and just trust them! Spanish food is amazing.

[Zubenelgenubi]

In your way from Madrid to Ourense by car, there are some very nice cities to visit, I recommend Segovia, it´s a very small city but full of architectural jewels like the "aqueducto" from roman time, more than 2000 years old and very very nice. Salamanca is another great city to visit, beatiful place with no less jewels than Segovia, awsome if you like history and culture. Toledo (very close from MAdrid) is another awsome city, as Snusdog says, in my opinion, is my favourite spanish city, full of history and culture. Ourense and all the Galician region is very nice place, with a celtic culture and beatiful landscapes. The south of Spain in August is very very hot, there are very nice places as well, the best for me is Granada, with "La Alambra" is a group of palaces from the arabic time, beatiful. Barcelona, as Skell says is a big and very nice city with a lot of things to do and to see. I´m from Valencia, in the east coast, nice city with a nice old town and nice beaches.

The north of Spain, with Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and Basque Country have a lot of beatiful landscapes very similar to the north of Europe like Scotland, great mountains and valleys with a very strong and delicious gastronomy.

Well there are a lot of nice places to see, the only problem is that you need a lot of time. But feel free to contact me if you need some further info.

I hope you enjoy your stay here.

[Zubenelgenubi]

Regarding food, one of our most famous dishes is "Paella" but don´t try it if you are not in Valencia, the original paella is from Valencia and the best place to eat it, in other cities can cook it but don´t taste the same, . In Madrid you can try "Cocido" very strong dish, you don´t need to eat any other thing during the day . In Segovia "Cochinillo" is a must, delicious, is a baby pork cooked in the oven, delicious!!!!!. In Salamanca you can try "Toston" is fried pork but very good. and in Ourense and all the Galician region, sea food is a must.

As Skell said, enjoy the life on the streets in the cafes when the sun sets, the weather in summer is hot, but when the sun sets, is very smooth and all the streets are full of life enjoying "cañas y tapas" another must is just beer (caña) and a little of food to eat during your beer. Madrid is an excellent place to enjoy cañas y tapas, and one of the best places in MAdrid is "Plaza Mayor" a little bit expensive but not too much. Just to give you an idea, 1 caña with a tapa can be around 3 Euros, never pay more than 3 euros, normally you can find places where paying 1,5 euros you will drink an excellent caña with a fantastic tapa. If someone ask you for more than 3 euros, they are abusing, and this is something you have to take care, because many places abuse of the tourists.

[Skell18]

Regarding food, one of our most famous dishes is "Paella" but don´t try it if you are not in Valencia, the original paella is from Valencia and the best place to eat it, in other cities can cook it but don´t taste the same, . In Madrid you can try "Cocido" very strong dish, you don´t need to eat any other thing during the day . In Segovia "Cochinillo" is a must, delicious, is a baby pork cooked in the oven, delicious!!!!!. In Salamanca you can try "Toston" is fried pork but very good. and in Ourense and all the Galician region, sea food is a must.

As Skell said, enjoy the life on the streets in the cafes when the sun sets, the weather in summer is hot, but when the sun sets, is very smooth and all the streets are full of life enjoying "cañas y tapas" another must is just beer (caña) and a little of food to eat during your beer. Madrid is an excellent place to enjoy cañas y tapas, and one of the best places in MAdrid is "Plaza Mayor" a little bit expensive but not too much. Just to give you an idea, 1 caña with a tapa can be around 3 Euros, never pay more than 3 euros, normally you can find places where paying 1,5 euros you will drink an excellent caña with a fantastic tapa. If someone ask you for more than 3 euros, they are abusing, and this is something you have to take care, because many places abuse of the tourists.

Valencia paella is the best, I never knew rabbit was so tasty! I was there during a huge festival where everyone was cooking paella, wish I was back there now!

[WickedKitchen]

I'm so looking forward to the food.

This is all great stuff. Thank you for the input.