Blogs from Spain, Europe - page 1407

After a flight from London to Spain, we were greeted at the airport by Paul, who is Holly's cousin twice removed - I believe thats correct, anyway, I'm sure Paul or someone in the family will correct me on this if it proves to be incorrect. This was another highlight of our trip we will never forget. Thanks so much to Paul and his lovely wife Elunia. We appreciated the kindness and warm hospitality. Elunia was gracious and her cooking was the best, very delicious, very HEALTHY, its worth traveling for. Paul was constantly humorous and well natured, we love you both and Blancita too! Thanks again for everything and for showing us around.... read more

Hola! I travelled to Madrid in October 2003 with the Australian Convicts. I set up the Convicts earlier in the year as a way of promoting Aussie Rules as an international sport. Our first game was in London, where we played the Sussesx Swans, one of the teams in the British Australian Rules Football League (BARFL). We had a great time in London and I was a bit saddened to leave. But Madrid was awesome! We stayed in a 4 star hotel (Hotel Preciados), which was very central. It is just off the Gran Via and withing walking distance of the Puerta del Sol. Our hosts, the Madrid Bears, were fantastic and really looked after us. We were even provided with a professionally prepared guide to Madrid's pubs and clubs, complete with ratings for drink prices ... read more

From London Kelly (18 at the time) and I flew to Tenerife in the Canary Islands just south of Spain (technically part of Spain, but I don't think you can really count it as having been to Spain itself). Upon arrival at our hotel - originally booked for Mom and Kel - it was very nicely (hmm) made apparent to us that we were not allowed to stay there unless accompained by someone older than 23. Problems! Phone call to mom (who was only suppose to join us in a few days) and another rushed pack-and-fly landed mom in Tenerife with us for a two-week girls trip. We spent the next two weeks on the beach and in the sun. We did two island tours which definitely did not agree with me - on a boat ... read more

Barcelona is a great city once you get outside of the tourist madness near Las Ramblas, which you should avoid at night because of the chaos. You could safely walk through plenty of crowded tourist centers throughout the world and be fine but 3 people tried to rob me in an hour and there’s not much police can do since it’s so crowded. You might as well swim through a shark tank. But the city will still probably exceed your expectations. La Sagrada Famiglia is really impressive, but it doesn't photograph well due to construction and the tour didn’t capture much either. Hope that you live long enough to see it finished. I went on a bike tour of Gaudi architecture and enjoyed it all. The man-made beach isn't the islands, but it's better than nothing. ... read more

This was my first real trip by myself. I spent about five days in Madrid and managed to book my hostel over the phone speaking Spanish (reading from a phrasebook!). The hostel was eerily dark but on the square so very handy. I took day trips to Segovia and Toledo. Both are very beautiful towns.... read more