[quote]

I plan on flying into Madrid. 3-4 days there then onto Seville via train then to Granada and then to Alicante (all for about 2 days each) and then fly back from Alicante to Geneva. Any and all suggestions/tips for lodging, sightseeing, things to do, things to avoid, eating and drinking,  daytime, nighttime are welcome.  I leave on Monday so please leave comments before Monday afternoon.

[\quote]

I just spent about a week in Spain. Can not help you with Madrid or Alicante. Here are some suggestions for Sevilla -

Stay near the Centro, some place near Alcazar or Cathedral. I stayed in Alfonso XIII - nice, but a lot of other options exist in Sevilla.

Visit the Cathedral - the world´s largest Gothic Cathedral. The highlight for me in the Cathedral was the tribute to Christopher Columbus - Sevilla was where Isabella welcomed Columbus after he returned from the discovery of America. Walk up the Tower attached to the Cathedral and get birds eye view of Sevilla.

Other sights to consider - Pilatos, Alcazar and the moorish gardens, walk along the river and the old part of the town with narrow streets, some very interesting museu with Spanish painters and Arabische influenced compositions.

Sevilla is considered to be one of the centers for Flamenco. I went for the best the city has to offer. I was not impressed. I have seen Flamenco performed better elsewhere. If you have never experienced Flamenco, consider it as something for the evening in Sevilla or some other place in Spain. The expressiveness of this dance is a delight.

This week Sevilla had their 2008 festival bull fight. The King of Spain was there along with his family. My first experience with this sport from less than 50 feet away. Gripping. Visceral. An art no doubt. Yet, the game, the bleeding, then the death... questions surround me. Any way. Worth a watch. There is a regular bull fight show in Sevilla next week.

Lots of delicious tapas and good wine in old town... in the narrow streets between the Cathedral, Alcazar and Pilatos. My favs were Las Terras, Alicante, Pl Salvador.

Enjoy.
colorado, May 23, 2008 @ 22:57

[quote]

I just booked my tickets on easyjet for a 12 day trip to spain. I plan on flying into Madrid.3-4 days there then onto Seville via train then to Granada and then to Alicante (all for about 2 days each) and then fly back from Alicante to Geneva.



Any and all suggestions/tips for lodging, sightseeing, things to do, things to avoid,eating and drinking, daytime, nighttime are welcome. I leave on Monday so please leave comments before Monday afternoon.

[/quote]



Unclear which Monday you are leaving. Just spent a few days in Madrid. Here are some suggestions for Madrid... hope it is not too late,



- If you like Art, the three museums near Paseo del Prado are fascinating. Prado is impressive - with Velasquez (his masterpiece Las Meninas is there), Titian, Tintoretto, Rubens, Goya, Durer, others are sheer delight. You can find Picasso's Guernica and the various versions in its development in Sofia museo. Another of my favorites was Bornemisza museo with its diverse and rich collection - exceptional works by impressionists and numerous other schools of artists are exhibited here.



- A walk thru the old town, sol, plaza mayor, cava baja, don pedro, opera is interesting along with the numerous tapas/wines places. Madrid has impressive architecture full of majectic classic/gothic/boroque/etc buildings. Paseo del Prado, Serrano, Alcala and Gran Via provide numerous samples. For parks, parque retiro is nice.



- Palacio Real exhibits a window into the spanish royalty and its historic grandeur. Perhaps one of the most interesting royal palaces anywhere in the world.



- There is a tourism kiosk office near Prado and near Sofia. They offer free brochures on special events, shows, sight seeing, activity ideas all over Madrid. Madrid in particular, and Spain in general is very interesting and offers a lot to explore. I am impressed enough, looking forward to visiting again, many times.
colorado, May 30, 2008 @ 09:59