Eight Days in Spain

Neither of us had ever been to Spain. Since we share a peninsula, we decided it was about time. Happily, Gate 1 Travel (our go-to tour operator) offered a discount that we just could not pass up. So, we headed off to Madrid to start our visit.

The tour started with a panoramic tour of the city with stops at the Plaza de Cibeles and the Royal Palace. From there we went to the Prado Museum for several hours. Our local guide was excellent and we saw wonderful pieces by Velazquez, Goya, El Greco, and more. No photographs of any kind are permitted inside the exhibitions but I took a few in the main hall. We both agreed that we want to return to Madrid to spend a couple of days in the Prado. It is a beautiful museum.

One of the things that stood out for me in Madrid is the fabulous parks that are placed throughout the city. The green spaces really soften the city and invite you to explore and relax.

That afternoon we were off to the lovely town of Toledo, high up on hill. Happily, they have a series of escalators to take you up to the top. In addition to the beautiful views, we walked to St. Tome Church and Santa Maria la Blanca Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in Europe still standing. Throughout our visit to Spain, we found the combinations of Muslim, Jewish, and Christian history and architecture to be fascinating. I never knew that Sephardic Jews originated on the Iberian peninsula. See what you learn from traveling?

The next day, we traveled to Seville by way of Cordoba. Along the way, we passed through La Mancha and saw lots of windmills that needed to be tilted at. Once in Cordoba, we had a walking tour that was highlighted by the Mezquita de Cordoba, one of the largest mosques in the world which was transformed into a soaring cathedral in the 16th century. There is actually a cathedral built inside this massive mosque. Our walking tour also included the ancient Jewish Quarter with its labyrinth of winding narrow streets, shady flower filled courtyards, picturesque squares, and view of the 14th century Synagogue on Calle de los Judios.

Seville is a beautiful city which, like Madrid, has a lot of green space. The highlights were the Plaza de Espana, with its wide open space and remarkable ceramics. Of course, the cathedral is another highlight. We ended that day at a flamenco show. While I would not say that it is my favorite art form, it was quite good. It was also much less cheesy touristy than I expected it to be so that was a win for me.

The next day, we made our way to Granada, which is known for the Alhambra. My back was giving me some trouble so I did not go on that excursion. I think Will was quite tired out at this point because he didn't have to much to report except for the amount of climbing the visit entailed.

Leaving Granada on the way to Valencia, we had a lunch stop at the lovely Mediterranean resort town of Alicante. On the entire journey on the bus, we saw extensive olive groves. I even noticed them from the plane when we landed in Madrid. Our guide told us there are an estimated 220 million olive trees in Spain. Not surprisingly, Spain is the largest producer of olive oil in the world.

From Alicante, we were off to Valencia which turned out to be one of our favorite stops. This is a city of contrasts, from Roman city gates, to the city hall, and gothic cathedral to the amazing City of Arts and Sciences. This collection of museums, an aquarium, and an opera house was designed by Santiago Calatrava. We were blown away by the modern architecture in this center. We were there just before dusk and the light was beautiful. Valencia is definitely a place that we want to return to. I checked and we can fly there from Lisbon for around $50 each round trip.

Our last stop was lovely Barcelona. Our city tour took us past the port, to the main square, bustling shopping areas, and up to Montjuic Hill near the sites from the 1992 Olympics. There is a beautiful art museum up there that we want to return to. I particularly loved all the public art installations and the really interesting contrasts in architecture. This little gallery also includes proof of life that Will Rafferty was on this trip.

Of course, the most iconic landmark in Barcelona is La Sagrada Familia, a cathedral originally designed by Gaudi that is still unfinished. They are now projecting completion in 2026. It is a wonderful site to see. It was challenging to get photos that did not include the construction cranes. Long views were basically impossible. A trip back to Barcelona is also on the list.

On our last day, we had an excursion to Monserrat, which is way up at the top of a mountain. It is the home of the Royal Basilica, with the 12th-century Romanesque sculpture of "Virgen Moreneta." Happily, we had enough free time to visit a very nice small art museum there that included works by a young Picasso and many impressionists. It was a nice way to spend a couple hours before taking a cable car back down the mountain. (Note: The photos of the paintings of the old man and the altar boy are by Picasso when he was about 13. His style certainly changed as he grew up.)

In summary, we really enjoyed Spain. I would like to return to Madrid (for the Prado), Valencia, and Barcelona. The weather was sunny and cool. I cannot imagine visiting in the summer heat. Once again, we found that the population of tourists is still fairly low, so it is a good time to visit.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!