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Good Morning Dakka!

I'll be traveling to the nation of Spain with the Mrs. in about a month (first time off the continent!), and I was looking for any advice/recommendations the community has for me. We're spending ten days in country, mostly in Madrid with a few days in Barcelona in the middle. We're staying with family in Madrid and already booked a hotel in Barcelona, passports are ready, now we just need a plan!

Any information greatly appreciated!

I travel to there (Madrid, well Getafe) for work on a semi regular basis and have just got back from Barca.

I would say first off, what do you enjoy doing?

Madrid is a busy vibrant city. Some beautiful buildings, great food and beer (and Gin, they love their Gin) and some beautiful places to visit.

Do you have access to a car whilst out there?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
And where in Barca are you staying?

I enjoy craft beers, history, museums, cigars. I'm open to try pretty much anything, to be honest.

Don't know how much I love Gin, but when in Madrid I suppose . No access to a car unless her family lends one to us.

Staying at the Hotel Montecarlo on La Rambla, came highly recommended.

Have fun! Spanish chicks are hot!

Never been to Madrid myself, but in Barcelona, I definitely recommend checking out the Sagrada Familia. Even though it's not finished, it's still awesome. There is a lot of other Antoni Gaudi architecture throughout the city as well, and it's all worth a look.

The food was great, I thought. I ate a lot of paella, even though it's more Valencian than Catalonian. Don't go to McDonalds or any other typical American place - you can do that anywhere. If you want something not Spanish but somewhat bizarre, there's a place called Obama. It's a cafe with Colonial British Africa decor, and when I was there, there was a statue of President Obama sitting on a bench. It's worth a look, just for the spectacle.

Visit the museum that has El Guernica if you're into those. It's got lots of other famous paintings as well.

If you're into sports, football is (that'd be soccer to you) is HUGE in Spain, and both Madrid and Barcelona have top teams.

I don't think Spain is the right country for craft beers. For those you want to go to (more or less in order) Belgium, Germany, UK or the Netherlands.
Spanish food is delicious!

Hordini wrote:Never been to Madrid myself, but in Barcelona, I definitely recommend checking out the Sagrada Familia. Even though it's not finished, it's still awesome. There is a lot of other Antoni Gaudi architecture throughout the city as well, and it's all worth a look.

The food was great, I thought. I ate a lot of paella, even though it's more Valencian than Catalonian. Don't go to McDonalds or any other typical American place - you can do that anywhere. If you want something not Spanish but somewhat bizarre, there's a place called Obama. It's a cafe with Colonial British Africa decor, and when I was there, there was a statue of President Obama sitting on a bench. It's worth a look, just for the spectacle.

Yeah, I don't think I'd be hitting any American style restaurants while there, but Obama sounds like a winner! I'd heard of the Sagrada, but had forgotten about it. I'll add it to the list.

Bran Dawri wrote:Visit the museum that has El Guernica if you're into those. It's got lots of other famous paintings as well.

If you're into sports, football is (that'd be soccer to you) is HUGE in Spain, and both Madrid and Barcelona have top teams.

I don't think Spain is the right country for craft beers. For those you want to go to (more or less in order) Belgium, Germany, UK or the Netherlands.
Spanish food is delicious!

Yeah I figured there may not be a lot of beer around. I suppose I'll have to get a taste for wine (and gin apparently!) I've been considering catching a game there, but I'll have to look to see how much they run. I'm already salivating over the food. I only hear good things about it.

Learn a bit of spanish.

Beside that, enjoy every minute in Barcelona; there is not many town as great.

Great town, friendly people, good museum, awesome night live, good food, la Sagrada Familia, the Guell park, the beach...

I know the hotel in Barca, from what I remember it's a good choice. Watch out for pickpockets though, they operate extensively in La Rambla.

In Madrid, I would recommend the Valley of the Fallen. It's a stunning place, and despite the way it was built ( using prison labour) it's breath taking

You can get beer, don't worry. If you're looking for craft beer there are probably better places but it all depends on where you look.

They speak Catalan in Barcelona as well, if you have an interest.

If you can get there, Toledo is worth a visit, it's stunning. it's about 45 mins south of Madrid

The Division Of Joy wrote:
If you can get there, Toledo is worth a visit, it's stunning. it's about 45 mins south of Madrid

We'd considered heading down. We're going to have lots of time in Madrid, so it's definitely an opportunity.

Division of Joy, what would you recommend as the best way of combating pick pockets? I've been debating if I should take a back pack (not to store my valuables in, but just for storage of maps/souvenirs/clothes), but I've heard it just makes you a target for pick-pockets.