Spain.....

Been a while since I have been on here but it's time for another question and some help.... Last year around this time I posed a question about Stuttgart, Germany and got amazing help for my trip there, so here it goes again. I am headed to Spain for three weeks to hang out with my buddy playing basketball over there, travel around and work in some restaurants. He was in Tubegin Germany last year and now is playing in Gojin, Spain. I will be there for three weeks. I am planning on going to Bordeoux, France for a day or two, as well as head to Madrid, and possibly Barcelona. What are the must see places that I cannot miss while I am over there? Thank you for your imput ahead of time. And if anyone has any tips on how to sneak back some Iberico ham, please post. I know that we can buy it here in america now but it would still be a lot cheaper there.

Prost!

[Robin Garr]

Been a while since I have been on here but it's time for another question and some help.... Last year around this time I posed a question about Stuttgart, Germany and got amazing help for my trip there, so here it goes again. I am headed to Spain for three weeks to hang out with my buddy playing basketball over there, travel around and work in some restaurants. He was in Tubegin Germany last year and now is playing in Gojin, Spain. I will be there for three weeks. I am planning on going to Bordeoux, France for a day or two, as well as head to Madrid, and possibly Barcelona. What are the must see places that I cannot miss while I am over there? Thank you for your imput ahead of time. And if anyone has any tips on how to sneak back some Iberico ham, please post. I know that we can buy it here in america now but it would still be a lot cheaper there.

Prost!

BD, sounds like a great trip! I'm sorry you haven't got more answers yet. I've been to Spain a few times, but not lately, and it's been more wine-related than general tourism. That being said, Madrid is great, and if you do museums, the Prado is worth a stop. For overall history and art, it's worth a day in Toledo (that's the one in Spain, not the one in Ohio ), which is a short day trip south of Madrid. If you get down around Jerez, the Sherry region, there's a lot of history in that neck of the woods, not least Granada and the Alhambra.

For wine, I wouldn't miss the Rioja and Ribera del Duero, but they're up in the northeast, a longish way from Barcelona and longer from Madrid. Priorat, much closer to Barcelona, is a little out of the way on a mountain top just inland from the Med, but it's making some great (and highly rated) red wine.

Barcelona is a cool city, I wish we had spent more time there. Will you get a chance to go to Adrian Ferra's El Bulli? It's supposed to be insanely hard to get in to, but you guys may have an in.

Thanks for the reply Robin. Will Pullem at work is looking into some wineries for me to stop in while I am over there. And El Bulli was sold out before anyone could even send in a request this year. Ferran Adria actually closes the restaurant during the winter for 6 months and works on next years dishes in their Taller (workshop/labratory) in Barcelona. I am probably going to sit out side and try to meet him kinda like people do for rockstars. haha!

I can give some suggestions on Madrid

The Prado recent opened a new expansion. It is a must-see museum.

The Reina Sofia museum (the modern museum) has an excellent Picasso collection and also has a great restaurant, though it is a bit difficult to find. (This is separate from the dinky cafeteria).

My favorite sangria place is a hole in the wall in a basement called "Las Cuevas de Sesamo" on Calle Principie. It's a little difficult to find but worth it. Near Puerta del Sol.

If you have the bankroll to support it, try dinner at La Terraza del Casino on Calle Alcala. Also near Pueta del Sol. Jacket/tie required.

You must visit one of the branches the Museo del Jamon. Yes, it is a restaurant. Order lots of meat and cheese, and a bottle of vino tinto that will only set you back 5-6 euro and will be surprisingly good to boot.

If you can make a daytrip from Madrid, head to Toledo, which is only 30 minutes by non-stop high speed train. Book in advance to guarantee seat availability.

You must visit one of the branches the Museo del Jamon. Yes, it is a restaurant. Order lots of meat and cheese, and a bottle of vino tinto that will only set you back 5-6 euro and will be surprisingly good to boot.

I second a visit to one of the Museo del Jamon locations. They have quite a good build-your-own gazpatcho as well.

Don't miss the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum if you'd like to see a spectacular collection of paintings, particularly if you are partial to works from the 19th century forward. It's very close to the Prado.