My very first trip that got me hooked was the Fall of 2002- when I did my undergrad study abroad at the Complutense de Madrid. The second time was just a few months later, in Summer of 2003, when I went and took grad classes at the Complutense. Again, I was back in Spring of 2004 when I brought 18 students along with me in my very first year of teaching (what was I thinking?!?) Then, after meeting Bart, I had to take him to my favorite place on Earth, so we went for a short trip in Summer of 2006. Most recently, I was there in Spring of 2008, again with students...40-something of them this time!
I have always said that if I could move all of my family & close friends with me that Spain is where I would choose to live- I truly think that Eurpeans, and Spaniards in particular, really know how to live life to the fullest.
I decided to put this all together in one place because I constantly have friends & acquaintances asking me for my recommendations on Spain. And I am MORE than happy to give them. The only problem is, I have soooo many favorites that by the time I write them all down it is quite the novel! Well, here goes. I will organize the information by city.
MADRID
Madrid is my favorite city- this is where I lived both times I studied there. Luckily, most of the action and attractions are very centralized in the heart of the city. The city center is called Puerta del Sol (Gate of the Sun). Here you will find tons of shops and cafés.
El Oso y Madroño statue, in Sol
Tio Pepe, Sol
If you like bakeries, be sure to go to La Mallorquina in the VERY heart of Puerta del Sol (it is right in front of one of the Metro entrances). They have the best trufas- or chocolate truffles. At Christmas time you can’t even find standing room in this place! It is considered a Madrid institution.
Me & my trufa- La Mallorquina
For great tapas bars and fun night-life…head to the Huertas neighborhood near Plaza Santa Ana- this is an area just Southeast of Plaza del Sol, near Metro stop Sevilla. If you head out around 9-10 pm you can hop around from bar to bar eating a different tapa at each place- this is how the locals do it!
My favorite restaurant in Madrid is El Botín- which holds the Guiness World Record for oldest restaurant. It can be pricey- but worth it to eat in a restaurant that has been going since 1725! Their specialties are suckling lamb and suckling pig. El Botín is just off of La Plaza Mayor- the beautiful old central square of Madrid near Puerta del Sol- which is also worth a visit and a photo or two. Restaurants in the plaza itself are pricey but not worth the cost (they are tourist traps)- head down the street Calle de Cuchilleros (where “Botín” is located) to find better tapas bars. There is also a tiny little store in the corner of Plaza Mayor where you go through an arc towards stairs leading to Calle de Cuchilleros that I really like. It is artsy tourist stuff- I didn’t ever see things like that anywhere else in Spain.
El Botín
El Arco de Cuchilleros, from the street, looking up to the Plaza Mayor
There are tons of museums in Madrid, but the Reina Sofía is my fav for its modern art. Picasso’s Guernica is it’s crowning glory (I cried upon seeing it- it is my fav painting of all-time!) If you like classic Renaissance art, go to the Prado.
The Rastro only happens on Sundays in Madrid and it is a street fair/flea market/people watching fest! It is fun to experience it once, but watch your wallets! It is very crowded. The Parque de Buen Retiro is Madrid’s equivalent to “Central Park”- it has a neat pond where you can rent paddle-boats, or sometimes they have art fairs, and especially on Sundays performers and people selling everything under the sun come out.
You MUST MUST MUST try churros y chocolate while you are in Spain, and Madrid has the best place to do it. It's not too far off of Puerta del Sol, called Cholcolatería San Gines. It's pure heaven in a cup- for real.
SEGOVIA
Outside of Madrid, Segovia is great for a day-trip. (Not really enough to warrant an overnight stay, though). Here is the centuries-old Aqueduct and the “castle” that inspired the Disney Castle (called the Alcázar).
The Acqueduct
The Alcázar
TOLEDO
Toledo is also a great day trip- this is the former capital of Spain. It is a picturesque town with winding streets (be careful not to get lost!) and is surrounded on three sides by a river.
SAN SEBASTIAN
If you head North, I would hit up San Sebastian in the Basque Country- it is on the beach and is a very neat town. Famous for surfing and A-MAZING Basque tapas, called pinxos (pronounced “Peench-os”). They just set the pinxos out on the bar, you eat what you want and later tell the bartender how many you ate and he charges you accordingly!!!
Pinxos. Ahhhh.
SEVILLA
If you head South, Sevilla is probably what people typically think of when they think Spain. It has the palm trees, the warmer weather, & the orange trees blossoming in the Spring. You can get to Sevilla from Madrid in just about 3 hours on the AVE train. It is WORTH a trip!
GRANADA
The Alhambra in Granada is breathtaking! (It was up for one of the new 7 wonders of the world in 2007 but didn’t win =(
