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Re: [travelspain] Train Seat Reservations
Posted on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 02:20:33 UT
Mel, you can go directly to [link] and book directly there. We finalized
all of our travel from Cordoba to Segovia with a return of Segovia to Puerta de
Atocha.
The site is a bit confusing at time but it does work well here in Canada and
applies the charges directly to VISA via our local bank branch.
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Re: Train Seat Reservations
Posted on Sun, 29 Aug 2010 22:03:00 UT
The whole point is that the reservations cannot be made through
RailEurope.com because they are not in Spain. Do you have any
personal contacts in Spain?
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Re: [travelspain] Train Seat Reservations
Posted on Sun, 29 Aug 2010 21:36:37 UT
Have you tried going on line yourself to website Renfre?
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Re: [travelspain] Train Seat Reservations
Posted on Sun, 29 Aug 2010 19:12:44 UT
Try railEurope.com
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
-----Original Message-----
Sender: travelspain@googlegroups.com
To: <travelspain@googlegroups.com>
Reply-To: travelspain@googlegroups.com
Travelspain:
We are going to Spain in October 2010, traveling by train. Rail Europe has booked all of our train trips with seat reservations except for our final journey from Seville to Barcelona. They were unable to get our 2 seat reservations because for this AVE train the reservations have to be made from inside Spain; they are not accepting outside bookings. So does anyone know someone inside Spain who would be able to make these 2 seat reservations for us? (We have called the hotels we are staying at and they are unable to do this.) We could phone or email and give them the details and have them charge it to our credit card and then mail it to us.
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Train Seat Reservations
Posted on Sun, 29 Aug 2010 18:24:26 UT
Travelspain:
We are going to Spain in October 2010, traveling by train. Rail Europe has booked all of our train trips with seat reservations except for our final journey from Seville to Barcelona. They were unable to get our 2 seat reservations because for this AVE train the reservations have to be made from inside Spain; they are not accepting outside bookings. So does anyone know someone inside Spain who would be able to make these 2 seat reservations for us? (We have called the hotels we are staying at and they are unable to do this.) We could phone or email and give them the details and have them charge it to our credit card and then mail it to us.
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Re: Introducing myself...
Posted on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 04:21:15 UT
My thoughts exactly. Definitely not a waste.
Sandy
------------------------------
And there's Place Dauphine in Paris. No more than a 10-minute walk from
Notre Dame, yet without a tourist in sight. One of my favorite places to
waste an afternoon. But then, can we really call an afternoon of sitting,
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Re: [travelspain] Re: Introducing myself...
Posted on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:28:18 UT
And there's Place Dauphine in Paris. No more than a 10-minute walk from Notre Dame, yet without a tourist in sight. One of my favorite places to waste an afternoon. But then, can we really call an afternoon of sitting, drinking wine and watching the world go by a waste? Nah...
John
Lestor
There is indeed very little wrong with Sienna. And there is much to be said for Piazza Duomo in Syracusa in Sicily, too.
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Re: [travelspain] Re: Introducing myself...
Posted on Sun, 25 Jul 2010 19:49:05 UT
Lestor
There is indeed very little wrong with Sienna. And there is much to be said
for Piazza Duomo in Syracusa in Sicily, too.
Oh dear, are we going to get drummed out of travelspain, I wonder??
Stewart
------------------------------ --------------------
Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2010 7:19 AM
To: "Travel Spain" <travelspain@googlegroups.com>
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Plaza Mayores...
Posted on Sun, 25 Jul 2010 18:55:38 UT
Ah, las bodas. Saturday must be the day for weddings in Spain. We were in Zamora once, staying at the parador there, and within a 10-minute walk were a dozen Romanesque churches and the Cathedral. Most of those churches and the Cathedral had a steady stream of weddings that Saturday afternoon. We had a wonderful time just watching the activities.
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Re: [travelspain] Re: Introducing myself...
Posted on Sun, 25 Jul 2010 09:49:19 UT
Well I have only been to a few, but so far Salamanca has my vote as well!
Yesterday there was a boda and the place was full of dancing, beautifully
dressed people of all ages. So glad we got to be there too!
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Re: Introducing myself...
Posted on Sun, 25 Jul 2010 06:19:11 UT
Oh, dear, I'm afraid I'll be an apostate. I always loved Salamanca's
and would choose it as my favorite -- partly because of fond memories
as a student there in my younger days.
But then I visited Sienna. Hard to imagine a more perfectly formed
plaza....
Lester
On Jul 24, 12:40 pm, John Zumsteg <jzums...@directionsconsulting .com>
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Gumbo? Curry? ‘Ethnic’ Dining in Madrid (NY Times, July 16, 2010)
Posted on Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:35:05 UT
July 16, 2010
Gumbo? Curry? ‘Ethnic’ Dining in Madrid
By ANDREW FERREN
EIGHT years ago, when I moved to Madrid, I was so astonished by the diversity of traditional Spanish cuisine — to say nothing of the nueva cocina phenomenon spawned by chefs like Ferran Adrià — that it took a while to notice that most “ethnic food” in the city, be it Indian, Italian or Chinese, was often a tame and tepid version of what’s available in other modern capitals.
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Re: [travelspain] Re: Introducing myself...
Posted on Sat, 24 Jul 2010 19:47:08 UT
Nice one John!
Mine is in fact a Plaza Mayor - the Plaza Mayor of Chinchón.
It's wonderful to eat at one of the restaurants, sitting on the balcony
overlooking the square, eating suckling pig or a good lamb, roasted in
wood-fired ovens and all washed down with a hearty red wine, a glass of the
local "chinchón" (aniseed liquor) to finish.
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Re: [travelspain] Re: Introducing myself...
Posted on Sat, 24 Jul 2010 19:40:45 UT
Not talking about Salamanca here, but Úbeda. You're right that there are many Plaza Mayors. Darn near every city, town and village has one. Plaza Mayor means, literally, "large square" and usually refers to the main plaza of a place. (Toledo being an exception; there the main plaza is Plaza Zocodover, and the Plaza Mayor is a small and not very impressive place.)
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Re: [travelspain] Re: Introducing myself...
Posted on Sat, 24 Jul 2010 18:42:27 UT
I am confused - are y'all talking about Salamanca? I know that hte Plaza
Mayor is there, but maybe there are many plaza mayors? (I am currently
sitting in the one in Salamanca.)
Jo
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Re: Introducing myself...
Posted on Sat, 24 Jul 2010 18:35:54 UT
John,
We stayed at the Parador in Ubeda about 8-9 years ago and really
enjoyed it. However, it can be a little bit noisy - the plaza in
front is used as a city parking lot -- but it wasn't too disruptive
except one weekend night when the Plaza Mayor nearby was hosting a
fiesta. Our room was huge and elegant - this parador is very much
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Re: car navigators (garmins, etc) in Spain
Posted on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:16:48 UT
Hi Robert,
GPS satnav devices of all kinds certainly work in Spain, no problems.
I think the only thing you have to find out is if your Garmin device
has maps available for Spain, and it looks like it does.
One excellent (free!) option now available for all devices that can
use Google Maps (Blackberry, iPhone, Android phones, etc.) and have
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car navigators (garmins, etc) in Spain
Posted on Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:56:37 UT
Querida grupo,
Gracias!
This is a great group. now that I am going to Spain in 16 days, I'm
glad I joined. Lots of great info!
We are renting a car in Seville and traveling in Andalucia for 4 days
on our trip. Has anyone used any navigator devices (like the
'Garmin'), and do you have any suggestions? I know you can by memory
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Night Comes Alive in Madeira, NY Times, July 2, 2010
Posted on Sat, 10 Jul 2010 14:52:30 UT
My wife and I spent a portion of our honeymoon in Madeira in the fall of 1983. The island was heavenly.
Ken B
July 2, 2010
NIGHT COMES ALIVE IN MADEIRA
Henry Alford
THE subtropical island of Madeira, sometimes called the Pearl of the Atlantic, has long held sway over the unhealthy and the elderly British. The Anglo roots on this Portuguese island are long-standing, thanks to a royal marriage in the 16th century.
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RE: [travelspain] Introducing myself...
Posted on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 02:57:13 UT
Hi Melinda,
I look forward to reading about your travels. ¡buen viaje!
Sandy
------------------------------
Thrilling day! I'm off to Spain! I'll tell about my travels and let you know
of my expeiences. Madrid and then Segovia....
oup/travelspain?hl=en.
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Re: [travelspain] Introducing myself...
Posted on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 22:17:25 UT
Thanks for the tip on the door John. Interesting in that we stayed at the Hotel
Maimonides last trip - right in front of that door.
8:30 might be a tad early for this old boy but we'll keep it in mind. We are
staying at the Hotel de la Mezquita on the East side.
Re the Paradores, I agree that can vary based on location. We are staying in
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RE: [travelspain] Introducing myself...
Posted on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:04:55 UT
Hi John,
The Hotel des Deux Iles is a very nice hotel. I agree, you are perfectly
located :-)
Sandy
------------------------------ ---
In Paris (this is Travelfrance, is it not?) we have stayed for years at
Hotel des Deux Iles, a 17-room hotel on Iles st. Louis It is expensive, but
it's quite nice and we love the location. Our favorite thing to do in Paris
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Re: [travelspain] Introducing myself...
Posted on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 02:35:09 UT
In Paris (this is Travelfrance, is it not?) we have stayed for years at Hotel des Deux Iles, a 17-room hotel on Iles st. Louis It is expensive, but it's quite nice and we love the location. Our favorite thing to do in Paris is to walk along the Seine, particularly in the evening. You can imagine that a hotel on the island is perfectly situated for that. Ile St. Louis is a funny place: truly a little village in the middle of Paris (albeit a high-priced village to live there; the most expensive real estate in Paris is there. Try $750,000 for a small apartment!). So every trip to Paris, our Paris friend says she could find something less expensive, and every trip we think about it for 5 minutes and then book at Hotel des Deux Iles.
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Re: [travelspain] Introducing myself...
Posted on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:24:49 UT
Thrilling day! I'm off to Spain! I'll tell about my travels and let you know
of my expeiences. Madrid and then Segovia....
Melinda
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RE: [travelspain] Introducing myself...
Posted on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:05:04 UT
Hi John,
There are some reasonably priced hotels in Paris, but I admit, they can be
hard to find. My husband and I stay in 2 and 3 star hotels in centrally
located areas. Last year, we found one in the 5th arrondissement, the
Collège de France, that was very reasonable. The rooms were very small, but
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RE: [travelspain] Introducing myself...
Posted on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:42:22 UT
Hi John,
You're very welcome. Of course, the one who lives 5040 miles away :-)
Exactly. My husband and I had not flown for 30 years when our son moved out
to Phoenix. That started our travels.
Sandy
------------------------------ ----
We are quite excited to have una nieta on the way. In the way of life, we
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Re: [travelspain] Introducing myself...
Posted on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 03:50:04 UT
We are quite excited to have *una nieta* on the way. In the way of life, we
have a son and daughter-in-law who live 20 minutes away and another son and
daughter-in-law who live 5040 miles away. Guess who's having the baby?
Just another reason to travel!
Thanks for the kind words.
John
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Re: [travelspain] Introducing myself...
Posted on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 03:47:57 UT
Úbeda is a very interesting place -- we look forward to exploring it. We
were there 12 years ago, on one of our first trips to Spain. Being a
somewhat more experienced Spain traveler, and speaking Spanish far better
than I did then, we're looking forward to our time there. And this was our
hotel splurge for the trip (well, if you don't count Paris, where every
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Re: [travelspain] Introducing myself...
Posted on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 01:20:19 UT
No John, we have not been there on prior trips. We passed throught Jaen about 6
years ago but had no time to stop. We're really looking forward to returning to
Córdoba again but will lack the impact of the first trip. Unbeknownst to us
then, our visit in May coincided with the Patio Fiesta - we were completely
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RE: [travelspain] Introducing myself...
Posted on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:35:06 UT
Congratulations on the birth of your first grandchild, John! Well worth
giving up a week anywhere :-) I have 3 granddaughters, and they are the
light of my life.
Sandy
------------------------------
Unfortunately, we'll be Segovia later than you, John: Sept 27, 28 and 29,
after 3 days in Úbeda. Have you been to Úbeda? We were there 15 years ago
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Re: [travelspain] Introducing myself...
Posted on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 02:35:25 UT
Unfortunately, we'll be Segovia later than you, John: Sept 27, 28 and 29, after 3 days in Úbeda. Have you been to Úbeda? We were there 15 years ago and are really looking forward to seeing it again. Other places on our itinerary are Vejer de la Frontera and Córdoba. Then Paris for a week and 6 days in Berlin. The Berlin time got tacked on (and taken from our Spain time) because our first grandchild will be born there late September. That's worth giving up a week in Spain!
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Re: [travelspain] Introducing myself...
Posted on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 21:53:12 UT
Wow, Segovia seems to be the popular spot this year. Frances and I will be there
sept 17 and 18 staying at the Casa Mudejar . If anyone is interested in meeting
for a glass of wine let us know. We'd be pleased to meet.
A rough outline for this year's stops are Nerja (for the beach), Jaen, Ubeda,
Cordoba, Segovia and Madrid.
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Re: [travelspain] Introducing myself...
Posted on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 15:55:47 UT
Currently enjoying the heat of Madrid, but tomorrow escaping to the heat of
Lisbon :-)
Roger.
2010/7/5 Alfonso Gonzalez <gonza...@ucalgary.ca>
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Re: [travelspain] Introducing myself...
Posted on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 15:52:42 UT
I�m also planning to go to Spain again this summer, but probably not
until next month/early Sept. I usually spend about 4-6 weeks there but
mostly in the province of Orense (in Galicia), but also to the coast of
Murcia (Santiago de la Ribera) if my cousins are still there for the
summer when I go.....they usually are. Just spoke with them and the
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Re: [travelspain] Introducing myself...
Posted on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 15:21:17 UT
I'm here now spending my month in Salamanca. We occasionally visit small towns
too....yesterday we went picnicing in Carrascal del Obispo...... with a total of
240 inhabitants! Next week i'm headed north to Santona (sorry can't find the
enye on the laptop right now...) for a few days on the beach.
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Re: [travelspain] Introducing myself...
Posted on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 14:56:23 UT
Melinda,
Welcome to Travelspain.
I'm particularly interested in your reports of towns around Segovia. I'll be there for a few days in September (I've stayed there a few times before and love the city). I plan to spend a day or two visiting towns in the area (particularly to seek out Romanesque churches), so will be looking forward to your reports.
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Re: [travelspain] Introducing myself...
Posted on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 14:22:27 UT
Exciting times for me. I leave for a month in Spain this week. I do expect
the hot weather but am looking forward to unwrapping this trip like a
wonderful gift full of exotic surprises. Since I'll be traveling to many
small towns around Segovia I'll report what a find and see for other
interested travelers.
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Menorca question: Ciutadela or Mahon?
Posted on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:09:16 UT
Hi Fellow Travelers,
We¹ll be in Menorca for 4 days next month. Don¹t want to switch hotels. We
know the island is small enough to make day trips, so should we stay in
Mahon or Ciutadella? They both look cool. Any recommendations?
Kisuna
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Re: [travelspain] Spain in July
Posted on Sun, 20 Jun 2010 14:29:31 UT
Most of the Paradors are overpriced to be fair :-(
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Re: [travelspain] Spain in July
Posted on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:32:07 UT
The parador discount for those of us that qualify for "Días Doradas" (55+ years old) is 30%. But it does not apply for all days; most paradores offer this discount Sunday through Thursdays, and some not even those days. And the ones in highest demand (Granada, for instance) don't offer it at all. Granada, I might point out, is the most expensive parador, at 311€ per night. Even with our re-invigorated dollar, that's $385/night. Ouch!
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Re: [travelspain] Spain in July
Posted on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 19:23:20 UT
Hi Roger!
This really helps. Thanks so much!
Melinda
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Re: [travelspain] Spain in July
Posted on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 09:46:29 UT
Melinda
From memory the Paradors do good discounts for Seniors if staying more than a number of days. It may be worth investigating if you haven't already booked accommodation.
Stewart
Sent: Friday, June 18, 2010 10:41 AM
To: travelspain@googlegroups.com
Hi Melinda,
One of our regular posters in this group asked me a similar question, although he was planning to get Spanish citizenship and was asking about monthly, or longer term discounts, but I'll copy my answer to him here in case it may be of help:
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Re: [travelspain] Spain in July
Posted on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 09:41:59 UT
Hi Melinda,
One of our regular posters in this group asked me a similar question,
although he was planning to get Spanish citizenship and was asking about
monthly, or longer term discounts, but I'll copy my answer to him here in
case it may be of help:
1. Madrid's municipal bus compant is the EMT (
[link]). It
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Spain in July
Posted on Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:46:57 UT
I am Senior Citizen going to Spain in July and wonder if anyone could give
me some hints on Senior Discounts or and other hints that will be helpful to
me. I'll be staying in Segovia and taking many side trips to other cities
including Madrid. Any ideas? Thanks!
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Re: [travelspain] Introducing myself...
Posted on Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:34:49 UT
Dear Ed,
Welcome to the group. Hopefully your knowledge of the Andalusian area can
help others who may have questions about travel in the south of Spain.
And of course, if you have any questions yourself about the rest of Spain,
ask away because we are in the company of many experienced travellers !
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Introducing myself...
Posted on Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:20:05 UT
Hi All,
I have just found this group and as I live in Andalucia I
thought I might pick up some tips and share my experiences too.
Any good travel tips are always welcome,
All the best,
Ed
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Re: [travelspain] Spain in October
Posted on Sat, 05 Jun 2010 14:35:15 UT
Dear Bob,
A truly excellent trip report - thanks so much for sharing.
While your choices perhaps won't be for everybody's budget, this report will
surely help others decide what to see, do and where to stay and eat.
Thanks again, Roger.
[link]
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Re: [travelspain] Spain in October
Posted on Sat, 05 Jun 2010 13:55:07 UT
Hello Lolo,
We took a somewhat similar trip in Spring of 2008; attached is a copy of the trip report. Have a great time!
Bob Lata
The following post is one of a series describing our 17 day trip to Spain during May 2008. The itinerary in summary:
Madrid - four nights
Sevilla – four nights
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Re: [travelspain] Spain in October
Posted on Sat, 05 Jun 2010 02:57:15 UT
We love the "pueblo blanco" Vejer de la Frontera, which is about 45 minutes or so east of Cádiz. We stayed there for a couple days last trip, and are spending 3 days there in September this year.
We originally wanted to stay in Cadiz, but, truth be told, we could not find a hotel that appealed to us. Checking all the ones in the old part of the city, which is where we like to stay, on TripAdvisor and other reviewing sites, turned up more bad stories than we are willing to chance. Seemed strange to us, but we had the fall-back of Vejer, from which we can easily make a day trip into Cádiz.
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Spain in October
Posted on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 13:45:02 UT
Hello to all,
My wife and I are planning a trip to Spain in late September, mid
October of this year. We are planning on visiting the Andalucia area
primarily as it is supposedly a good time to visit. We would welcome
any input. Our tentative plan is to fly into Madrid, travel by train
to Seville and then points south and east. Granada, Cordoba, Cadiz,
read more...
Re: [travelspain] Andalucia by wheelchair
Posted on Wed, 26 May 2010 09:20:42 UT
Hi Steve
Thanks for a beautifully written account - so many places to see.
It makes me want to set off to the airport right now.
Sue
Here's a different take on Southern Spain:
�
Andalucia is at once cool mountain air and steamy
Mediterranean Sea, fabled landmark cities and little towns you�ve never
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Re: [travelspain] Andalucia by wheelchair
Posted on Wed, 26 May 2010 01:18:20 UT
Steve - fabulous write up! Thanks for sharing. This made me hungry reading all the mentions of the food etc. Thankfully, i'm leaving back for the madre patria on june 29, so, not to long to go!
Karen
______________________________ __
To: travelspain@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tue, May 25, 2010 10:22:44 AM
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[travelspain] Andalucia by wheelchair
Posted on Tue, 25 May 2010 14:22:44 UT
Here's a different take on Southern Spain:
Andalucia is at once cool mountain air and steamy Mediterranean Sea, fabled landmark cities and little towns you’ve never heard of, home of both ancient Islamic architecture and endless modern faux villa compounds.
Southern Spain, the land of stunning vistas that Moors and Christians fought over through the ages, is now being taken over by the working class British vacation package and the upper middle class Brit. second home in the sun craze.
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Re: [travelspain] Museo de Jamon
Posted on Sat, 22 May 2010 05:16:52 UT
This is one of my very favorite places to eat in Madrid, quick food or sit-down.
Barbara Kemper
barbkem...@yahoo.com
503-655-2601 Home phone
503-380-3544 Cell phone
______________________________ __
To: travelspain@googlegroups.com
Sent: Fri, May 21, 2010 6:44:35 AM
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[travelspain] Museo de Jamon
Posted on Fri, 21 May 2010 13:44:35 UT
MUSEO DE JAMON by Heidi Johnson-Wright
They hang from above by the score, like art deco ornamentation, with their curved lines and rounded dimensions. But these delicious objects are hardly mere window dressing. In fact, they are the headliners, the stars of the show.
They are hams.
Not “hams” in the overwrought, scenery-chewing, Rod Steiger school of acting sense. Literal hams. Savory hams, flavorful and enticing. Hams that make you forget all previous ham-tasting life experiences. Hams that make El Museo del Jamon -- the Jam Museum – a destination restaurant.
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RE: [travelspain] Madrid and Pamplona
Posted on Tue, 11 May 2010 00:44:16 UT
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 5th, 6th, and 7th arrondissements are my favorite, though many people
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Re: [travelspain] Madrid and Pamplona
Posted on Mon, 10 May 2010 18:45:03 UT
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.
read more...
Re: [travelspain] Madrid and Pamplona
Posted on Mon, 10 May 2010 03:46:44 UT
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
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RE: [travelspain] Madrid and Pamplona
Posted on Fri, 07 May 2010 16:12:56 UT
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.
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[travelspain] My Girona (Washington Post, 2 May 2010)
Posted on Thu, 06 May 2010 01:16:43 UT
Thanks for the article, Ken. I went to Girona and since my focus was on Jewish cultural heritage sites in Spain, had a guide who was very helpful.
Gail
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[travelspain] My Girona (Washington Post, 2 May 2010)
Posted on Wed, 05 May 2010 21:13:57 UT
Girona, an ancient Catalonian city, is often overlooked by visitors to Spain
By Jane Black
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 2, 2010; F01
If it's a universal truth that Spaniards stay out late, Girona is the exception to the rule. At about 11 o'clock on a balmy March night, the restaurants lining the plazas and graceful arcades were all but empty. Nothing to do, I thought, but head to the hotel for a good night's rest.
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Re: [travelspain] Madrid and Pamplona
Posted on Mon, 03 May 2010 21:46:27 UT
Nancy
I think you mean Segovia, not Sevilla?
------------------------------ --------------------
Sent: Monday, May 03, 2010 3:11 PM
To: "Travel Spain" <travelspain@googlegroups.com>
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Re: [travelspain] Madrid and Pamplona
Posted on Mon, 03 May 2010 22:08:46 UT
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
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Re: [travelspain] Madrid and Pamplona
Posted on Mon, 03 May 2010 21:27:48 UT
Yes! I knew I was forgetting something. And the plaza mayor, with all the little cafes and tapas bars around it.
______________________________ __
To: "travelspain@googlegroups.com" <travelspain@googlegroups.com>
Cc: "travelspain@googlegroups.com" <travelspain@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Mon, May 3, 2010 1:39:38 PM
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Re: [travelspain] Madrid and Pamplona
Posted on Mon, 03 May 2010 17:39:38 UT
See the Royal Palace in Madrid
Sent from my iPod
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Re: [travelspain] Madrid and Pamplona
Posted on Mon, 03 May 2010 15:31:38 UT
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
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Re: [travelspain] Madrid and Pamplona
Posted on Mon, 03 May 2010 17:00:32 UT
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.
--
Tom Schweich KJ6BIT ta...@schweich.com
[link]
[link]
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Re: [travelspain] Madrid and Pamplona
Posted on Mon, 03 May 2010 15:10:32 UT
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
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Re: [travelspain] Madrid and Pamplona
Posted on Mon, 03 May 2010 14:15:18 UT
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.
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.
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Re: [travelspain] Madrid and Pamplona
Posted on Mon, 03 May 2010 14:11:19 UT
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.
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Re: [travelspain] Madrid and Pamplona
Posted on Mon, 03 May 2010 13:52:32 UT
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.
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[travelspain] Madrid and Pamplona
Posted on Mon, 03 May 2010 11:36:38 UT
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
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Re: [travelspain] 7.5 days in Spain in May.
Posted on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:19:48 UT
Agree totally on limiting to Madrid and Barca now that I understand
time limitations
Larry
Sent from my iPod
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Re: [travelspain] 7.5 days in Spain in May.
Posted on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:57:23 UT
I don't know....if they are arriving in Madrid on may 6 and heading for Barcelona on may 9, that is really only 2 full days in Madrid. Not sure I'd schedule any day trips there.... hardly enough time to see the city itself.
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Re: [travelspain] 7.5 days in Spain in May.
Posted on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:53:45 UT
And from Barcelona perhaps a trip to Montserrat
Sue
This is absolutely correct. But you might possibly think about one or
two day trips from Madrid. Toledo? Avila? Segovia?
Karen
Spot on! Three full days in each (with 3 half days involving transit) will
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Re: [travelspain] 7.5 days in Spain in May.
Posted on Sun, 25 Apr 2010 23:39:30 UT
This is absolutely correct. But you might possibly think about one or
two day trips from Madrid. Toledo? Avila? Segovia?
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[travelspain] Re: 7.5 days in Spain in May. Q on adding another city to Madrid/Barcelona and/or transport between the two
Posted on Sun, 25 Apr 2010 19:35:30 UT
Leaving Barcelona on May 13th, and thinking of leaving Madrid on
Sunday May 9th.
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Re: [travelspain] 7.5 days in Spain in May.
Posted on Sun, 25 Apr 2010 18:33:41 UT
Karen
Spot on! Three full days in each (with 3 half days involving transit) will only allow for a tiny scratch of the surface of these two great cities. Seville/Cordoba/Granada and the Alpujarras is another trip altogether.
Stewart
Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2010 3:43 PM
To: travelspain@googlegroups.com
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Re: [travelspain] 7.5 days in Spain in May.
Posted on Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:43:15 UT
Ok, here is my opinion: if you only have 7 1/2 days like you stated in your subject line and want to "see the sights, eat/drink, and get the feel for the place" then I think you will have your hands full with Madrid and Barcelona. If you try to fit in Seville or any of the other fabulous cities (and there are many!) then you will be spending most of the time on a train and not sampling the cuisine in a cafe.
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RE: [travelspain] 7.5 days in Spain in May. Q on adding another city to Madrid/Barcelona and/or transport between the two
Posted on Sun, 25 Apr 2010 13:11:28 UT
Hi Shriram,
If you decide on the option to rent a car,
[link] has a good
reputation. Have a wonderful trip!
Sandy
------------------------------ ---------
I am going for the first time to Spain in May. Flying into Madrid on
May 6th at 7:0 am and Flying out of Barcelona at 3:20 pm. I had three
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Re: [travelspain] 7.5 days in Spain in May. Q on adding another city to Madrid/Barcelona and/or transport between the two
Posted on Sun, 25 Apr 2010 06:30:11 UT
Shiram-
I'm not clear what day you are leaving Barcelona. We took the AVE high
speed train from Barcelona to Sevilla, via Madrid. It's fast, easy and the
train stations are centrally located. I highly recommend it. We loved
Seville and it's easy to get to Cordoba by the AVE from there. Great
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[travelspain] 7.5 days in Spain in May. Q on adding another city to Madrid/Barcelona and/or transport between the two
Posted on Sun, 25 Apr 2010 00:10:25 UT
Hi
I am going for the first time to Spain in May. Flying into Madrid on
May 6th at 7:0 am and Flying out of Barcelona at 3:20 pm. I had three
questions
1. Should I add another city to the above two (interest are walking
around, seeing some sights, and eating/drinking, to get a decent feel
of the place. I was thinking if yes maybe Seville or Lisbon?
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Re: [travelspain] Sevilla to Granada
Posted on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 21:34:13 UT
Thanks to all. We had a wonderful visit to Granada and all of your input
made the Alhambra visit a rich and moving experience.
We´re finishing Semana Santa in Sevilla and then on to Madrid.
Larry
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Re: High-Speed Rail Gains Traction in Spain (NY Times, March 15, 2010)
Posted on Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:42:34 UT
Obviously the NY Times has had some trouble catching up with the AVE!
The Madrid-Sevilla line opened in 1992 nearly 18 years ago. We
travelled on it in 1998 (I think) from Madrid to Sevilla and back, and
yes it was an interesting experience, but I don't remember any gloved
attendants. It was also a reasonable price. Being thrifty travellers,
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Re: [travelspain] High-Speed Rail Gains Traction in Spain (NY Times, March 15, 2010)
Posted on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:29:39 UT
I did the Seville to Cordoba by bus, then AVE to Madrid trip last month. Beautiful. Very smooth trip.
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To: travelspain@googlegroups.com
Sent: Fri, March 19, 2010 4:36:55 AM
Thanks Ken for finding an interesting article.
An AVE line is currently under construction to bring a high-speed link from Almería to Madrid - roll on 2015 (more likely 2017) when it will be completed.
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Re: [travelspain] High-Speed Rail Gains Traction in Spain (NY Times, March 15, 2010)
Posted on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:36:55 UT
Thanks Ken for finding an interesting article.
An AVE line is currently under construction to bring a high-speed link
from Almer�a to Madrid - roll on 2015 (more likely 2017) when it will be
completed.
Meanwhile I still plan to do Seville to Madrid by AVE one day - with a
stopover in Cordoba.
Sue
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High-Speed Rail Gains Traction in Spain (NY Times, March 15, 2010)
Posted on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:03:38 UT
High-Speed Rail Gains Traction in SpainBy ELISABETH ROSENTHAL
ABOARD THE AVE — Carlos Martínez and his colleagues were enjoying soda and sandwiches in the bar, having chosen not to watch a film — “Appaloosa,” with Ed Harris — that was playing on overhead screens. They barely seemed to notice the arid landscape whizzing by or the digital display reflecting their speed, which hovered around 186 miles per hour.
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Re: Rental Cars
Posted on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:03:11 UT
Hi,
[link] hope that helps :)
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Re: Madrid Card
Posted on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:57:30 UT
thanks everyone for the replies. I will have to do more research and
decide what I want to see.
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Re: [travelspain] Re: Trip Spain/Portugal - March 2010
Posted on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:37:03 UT
Hi,
I think your plan is is starting to come together, as Hannibal would say.
You can take a bus from Lisbon to Faro (
[link]) and then
from Faro to Seville (
[link]).
From Seville it's easy to get to Córdoba, and from either of those cities
it's very easy to get to Madrid using the AVE (
[link])
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Re: Trip Spain/Portugal - March 2010
Posted on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:32:44 UT
Great! That's real get-up-and-go, do-it-now stuff! If you've time
(and it sounds like it could be a bit hectic), let us know how you're
getting on.
Como dice John - buena suerte.
Mac
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Re: Trip Spain/Portugal - March 2010
Posted on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:27:15 UT
Thanks a lot everyone.
Mac -> I'll finally take trains, and perhaps buses.
Roger, John -> I'll make less stop.
Alfonso -> your idea of travelling by night makes sense ; that's what
I usely did, in India for instance (but there, train travels lasted
more...)
So I've just bought a train ticket, I'll reach Lisbon on Sunday
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Re: [travelspain] Re: Trip Spain/Portugal - March 2010
Posted on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:21:14 UT
All the advice I've seen (below) plus John Z message all make
sense.....a lot of moving around in such a short time. IF you don't
plan to return to Spain for years then an overview trip like yours is
certainly good, but "slightly" tiring and often on the hunt for a place
to stay and transport to take. I go by nocturnal buses usually (much
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Re: TravelSpain is 10 Years Old!
Posted on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:16:39 UT
Hi Mac,
Indeed, the Yahoo group was accessible for a couple of years after we
moved to Google, but no longer.
There are, however, several trip reports (a few of which are yours!)
stored in the Files section of this group, and which date from those
times. Have a look, I'm sure they'll bring back plenty of memories...
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Re: [travelspain] Madrid Card
Posted on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:08:40 UT
above the subway station at the airport that allows unlimited metro rides (I
don't remember how much, but it was definitely a great value -- maybe 11
euros?).
It's called the "Abono Turístico" and costs just 5.20 euros for 24
hours of unlimited travel on the Metro.
Roger.
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Re: [travelspain] Madrid Card
Posted on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:05:24 UT
You can reach the Museo on 902 10 70 77 . I believe they are open that
weekend, dependant on what activity you want to do there.
Hope that helps
regards
Clive
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Re: [travelspain] Madrid Card
Posted on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:59:30 UT
I went to Madrid last Easter, and everything was open as usual -- although we arrived Saturday morning, so I don't know about Good Friday. Easter Sunday was just like any other business day -- lots of shops, etc. open. There is a tourist metro card that you can get at the tourist office right above the subway station at the airport that allows unlimited metro rides (I don't remember how much, but it was definitely a great value -- maybe 11 euros?). We also went to the Prado, which is free on Sunday afternoons. I would suggest shelling out the admission fee, though, since it was so packed during the free period that we could hardly get a good look at anything.
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Re: [travelspain] Madrid Card
Posted on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:49:45 UT
Some places will certainly close .....possibly only for the
afternoon/evening. I suspect that the Prado may be open and it used to
be free on Saturday afternoons. I have never taken the bus on/off tours
but I see them running around, but they may be good, but am not sure how
costly they are. There is a reduced metro ticket for 10-rides that is a
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Re: [travelspain] Madrid Card
Posted on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:38:07 UT
Hi,
The Prado isn't open on Good Friday, and a single Metro ticket only costs 1
euro, so I'm not sure if it would be worth it. The hop-on/hop-off one-day
ticket (valid for as many journeys as you want during 24 hours) costs 17
euros.
I think you'd have to make some further calculations about what exactly you
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Madrid Card
Posted on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:23:21 UT
I will be travelling to Madrid in a few weeks by myself. I arrive in
the afternoon on Good Friday, Apr. 2nd. I will have the rest of
Friday and most of Saturday on my own until I join the bus tour I am
taking. I was wondering if it was worth buying a Madrid Card or just
a Public Transit Pass. I was hoping to visit the Prada Museum on
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