Itinerary -- Day by Day

ITINERARY:
(Specific dates are customizable to the group travelling.)

Friday: travel on your own to Madrid overnight, arriving Saturday (One option to consider: fly in to New York early enough in the day to spend the day in Manhattan if you like ... then off to JFK for the overnight flight to Madrid on Delta.)

Saturday: We arrive in the early morning and are off to our hotel. Usually, it's best to "stay up and have an early dinner and go to bed early to get over your jet lag," but, hey, this is Madrid where the Cava Baja beckons with dozens of bars with awesome tapas and wine and a party atmosphere in the streets and bars. Soooo ... we suggest a long nap in the late afternoon, then we'll meet up about 10:30pm for our first introduction to tapas! This is an open-ended night ... jazz and dancing possibilities for the most hearty! Chocolate and churros can wrap up the night. Our hotel stay in Madrid is two nights, in an area relatively close to El Rastro, Cava Baja, and the Prado.

Sunday: We'll meet up about 11am to go to the Rastro for what is probably the world's largest flea market. Everyone in Madrid seems to show up. You can get a bullfight poster with your name on it, Spanish fans, anything you can imagine. It's one memorable walk through stall after stall. Late afternoon, we'll meet up to go to the Prado for a close-up look at the early works of Goya, and then look at the startling contrast with his "Black Paintings" late in life. Tapas in the evening. 2nd overnight in Madrid.

Monday: "On your own" day -- explore Madrid a bit more, or for those who wish, we'll meet up to take a day trip to Toledo (30 minutes by train), then back to Madrid for the evening train to Cordoba. Toledo has a fascinating history and highlights are the Cathedral and the synagogue, Sinagoga del Transito, opening up a window on the Jewish heritage of Toledo. For me, the most impressive memory is walking through the medieval streets of this hill-top town. Toledo has a world-wide reputation for its swords and knives ... shopper's tip: maybe we'll have to mail these home! In the evening, we're off by train for the first of two nights in Cordoba! Tapas on arrival into Cordoba near the hotels.

TRAINS on Monday:
(Note: all train times subject to change.)
OPTIONAL TOLEDO VISIT: Depart on the 10:20a AVANT 08302, arrive into TOLEDO at 10:53am
RETURN TO MADRID: Depart Toledo at 6:25p on AVANT 08183, arrive Madrid Puerta de Atocha 6:58pm

ALL: TRAIN to CORDOBA:
Depart at 8pm from Madrid Atocha station aboard AVE train 02200, arrive into Cordoba at 9:42pm

NOTE: You'll check out of your Madrid hotel on Monday morning. You should then make your way to Madrid's Atocha station and store your luggage in the luggage lockers there (modest fee) so that you're free to visit Toledo OR spend more time in Madrid -- without your luggage in tow! You can then pick up your luggage Monday night in time for the train to Cordoba, departing at 8pm

Tuesday: Morning open ... suggest lunch at an outside cafe if the weather cooperates! After lunch, we'll meet up to explore the Mesquita -- a massive and stunning mosque founded in 785 with its 16th century cathedral built right inside. We'll learn of the history of the moors in Spain, and its impact on Andalucia, and the interaction between Muslims, Catholics and Jews from the 700's through 1492 when assumption of Catholic control changed everything. Next to Alhambra in Sevilla, the Mesquita in Cordoba is one of the two most memorable encounters with history, architecture and culture during our visit to Spain. Tonight is our second overnight in Cordoba's medieval juderia -- Jewish quarter or alternate centrally located hotel. Wonderful tapas tonight!

Wednesday: Cordoba is famous for its jewelry, and the back alleys of the juderia, as well as shops of all kinds, so mid-morning shopping might be fun ... or just walking and shopping or relaxing. You might also want to experience the hamam in Cordoba ... hot tub, COLD tub, medium tub cycles, and a massage. Very much the legacy experience of the Moorish baths. Open schedule until the afternoon train for Sevilla -- about an hour away by train.

TRAIN on Wednesday:
Depart Cordoba aboard AVANT 08744 at 3:40pm, arrive Sevilla at 4:25pm

Sevilla is the birthplace of flamenco, so tonight we'll see our first flamenco (one hour show) at the Casa de la Memoria. For those who wish to experience local spontaneous flamenco ... Casa Anselma in the Triana district opens at midnight for tapas, drinks, and flamenco. Our hotel for tonight and tomorrow night is in the Barrio de Santa Cruz section of Sevilla, with wonderful tapas and shops, or alternate centrally located hotel.

Thursday: Visit Sevilla's Cathedral and Alcazar. Open day for shopping, walking, exploring. For those who want MORE flamenco, there's a two hour show at Los Gallos, near the hotel. Quite different from Casa de la Memoria and Casa Anselma the night before. 2nd overnight in Sevilla.

Friday: We depart mid-day for the three hour train trip to Granada, arriving about 3pm. Our stay is in a moorish architecture hotel at the foot of the hill leading to the Alhambra. Our visit earlier in the week to the Mesquita in Cordoba has prepared us for the stunning muslim architecture in store when we meet up for a night visit to the Nasrid Palace, at 8pm, and tapas afterwards. First of two nights in Granada (Sunday night will be on a train to Barcelona!)

TRAIN on Friday:
We'll take the train from Sevilla Santa Justa station to Granada aboard the "Medium Distance -- MD" train, MD 13922, departing Sevilla at 11:50am, arriving into Granada about 3 hours, 2 minutes later, at 2:52pm

Saturday and Sunday: Open days. For those who wish to explore Alhambra in more detail, you can schedule a daytime visit on Saturday and/or Sunday. For me, the Alhambra alone would be worth a trip to Spain (I spent three, two+ hour visits there). Saturday is open to allow more in-depth visiting of the Alhambra for those who want, or for more encounters with flamenco in the early evening -- Granada is also one of the centers of flamenco, along with Sevilla -- or to "study" tapas and wines of Spain through the afternoon. This is the time to soak in an understanding of the history of Spain across nearly 1300 years, to relax, and to have an early enjoyable Saturday night as a group. Special treat tonight: flamenco!  Sunday possibilities include a hands-on exploration of cuisine under a master chef, and an insider view of local flamenco.

Sunday through Thursday
Malaga and Ronda, TBD

For further information, email dondillin @ gmail.com, or phone 1-202-203-0987
Your host,
Don Dillin