TRAVEL TO UNKNOW SPAIN

For those who want to discover the other Spain

15 years ago, July 11th 2008 No: 21 Msg: #41632 Delete Edit

B Posts: 4

Mikel,

Thank you for your helpful information. In the Basque Country we are actually staying in Gautegiz Arteaga which looks close to Vitoria so, on your suggestion, we will visit there. I think we will avoid San Sebastian because it is during the film festival and that sounds too busy. Instead we will consider a day in RIOJA ALAVESA.

I will keep your suggestions for our next trip to Spain. Unfortunately I made reservations months ago so am committed to this route for our first trip.

You are very kind to take the time to look at our itinerary and share your insights.

Regards,
Laura

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15 years ago, July 14th 2008 No: 22 Msg: #41829 Delete Edit

mikelm
mikel martin

N Posts: 15

Hello again Laura,
No problem at all. Next trip you have to pass by Madrid and we can meet here. For Rioja Alavesa I recomend you going to LAGUARDIA "capital" of RIOJA ALAVESA and very nice village. Here you can check with the local tourism office the winecelleries you can visit. You should arrange the visit, so it is important to stay around 10 am in LAGUARDIA.

Well, Spain has a lot to offer, the problem is that most people think that Spain is Barcelona, Seville, Madrid, Toledo and Granada and forget about the really beautiful landascapes and the wildlife (thought it is not as easier as in Africa to see the mammals).

Anything I can help you, do not hesitate contact me again.
Mikel Reply to this

15 years ago, September 13th 2008 No: 23 Msg: #48641 Delete Edit

MarkV
Mark Venter

N Posts: 14

Well, it's been many days since my last visit to this forum and we have since arrived in Spain.
Pretty damn hot for us Kiwi's who have just come from -4deg C to around 25-30degC here!

Getting the rental car from Barcelona and navigating our way out from the airport was a nightmare, not being used to driving on the opposite side of the roads or understanding the lingo... but somehow we made it down to El Vendrell where we spent our first night.

Then we headed inland to stay at (in my opinion) the best place ever yet - a little village called San Felices, way up in the mountains, population of around 50 and what a blast!

Since then we have somehow managed to work our way up to San Sebastian, and back down to where I am currently sitting in a lounge in the hotel in Almendralejo, just South of Merida.

I have to say the roads are fab. Apart from getting lost quite a few times due to taking wrong turnoffs etc. driving has been good so far.
(We have managed to keep out of the cities too but I am sure a have a good many more grey hairs since when we arrived here. 😊 )

We are still heading South to Tarifa where we will spend a week before working our way back up to Barcelona again where will be spending our last week visiting around the area.

So, Mikel, as you have probably guessed, we have changed our travel plans quite a bit as we go....
We decided to not go via Peubla de Sanabria/Portugal as our (my) initial travel plans were way to ambitious and the driving is just too much each day.

We decided to have more free days sitting around or swimming or just relaxing instead of continually driving each day. Just too much stress for a holiday lol.

One thing I still find extremely frustrating here is the afternoon "Siesta" time where everything closes up .
Just when we get to our destinations and want to go wandering around and doing some shopping.

We have not yet done any decent shopping - well, Annelize hasn't, I am quite happy to just sit and watch the people but she wants to visit shops and buy things, typical woman pastime I guess lol.

I must say though, except where we are currently traveling where it is very dry, the countryside around the rest of Spain has been exceptionally beautiful and green, especially up North and through Basque Country.

The Coastline along Northern Spain was just fab and our stopovers in Lekeitio & Islares were fantastic.
(Thanks once again Mikel for your suggestions along that part of the country)

Mark Reply to this

15 years ago, September 15th 2008 No: 24 Msg: #48808 Delete Edit

mikelm
mikel martin

N Posts: 15

Hi Mark,
Glad you are having good time. Well, I forgot to give you a tip regarding SIESTA time. Specially August-September!!!.
Last week I was wondering about you, as I was with 2 people at Culebra Mountains watching a group of 10 wolves!!!. Telling you the truth, it has been first time I have seen such a big group. Usually I have seen 1,2 or 4 wolves but 10.
People got amazed.

Other friend of mine has a couple of free days and he asked me to take him there. 2 days is not much time, so chances are low. At least we need 4 days.

I am very happy you like Spain. So many things to see and so different.

Just let me know how things are going.
Mikel Reply to this

15 years ago, September 21st 2008 No: 25 Msg: #49334 Delete Edit

Charley2
Charley Varley

N Posts: 2

If you are driving from Almeria to Barcelona you should take in Vinaros a very old fishing village although it is getting more of a town now. There is a lovely food market in the town square and a street market every Thursday with the ocassional Brits, but no Kiwis or Americans. Vinaros is a working town and doesn't get big influxes of visitors because it is too far away from the airports.

Vinaros Camping on the main roadthrough it great, It's run by two Belguim girls who are great fun.It is often very full so email ahead to book if you go. Reply to this

15 years ago, September 22nd 2008 No: 26 Msg: #49522 Delete Edit

MarkV
Mark Venter

N Posts: 14

Too bad I did not get this earlier 😞

Internet has been poor at times and we are in Sitges now for the next 5 days until we fly out from Barcelona.

We take the car back tomorrow to the Airport (Barcelona) and then back by train, our Hotel in Sitges is about 300m from the station so we have some time to 'unwind' after our long trip, have done about 3500km all up so far and although the driving was difficult to get sorted initially the roads are absolutely magic to drive - as long as you know where you are going lol.

We will be doing a couple of day trips into Barcelona to explore and also visit Montserrat.

We have just come up from a 5 day stay in Tarifa which was amazing but too hot for my liking.

Today we drove up from Alicante and stopped somewhere near Vinaros for lunch, pity I did not know about it before today!

Yes, Spain has been amazing, very different as you travel around the regions but I think the Northern areas were the best for me. But it has all been good and I have heaps of photo's and memories and experiences to take back - that is what it is all about ultimately.

Mark Reply to this

15 years ago, November 30th 2008 No: 27 Msg: #56048 Delete Edit

liliram
liliram

B Posts: 847

hi mikelm, can you give me advice on San Sebastian? I have been to spain , but missed San Sebastian? If I have a week to spend, what are the areas i can visit around San Sebastian that are worth visiting? Would you also recommend we hire a car ? There would be 2 of us. Reply to this

15 years ago, January 19th 2009 No: 28 Msg: #60711 Delete Edit

joy seeker
betty ostermann

B Posts: 1

Mikel,

Perhaps yopu can give me advise in planning a trip to Spain and/or Portugal. I would like to travel in March or April. I am a single traveler and do not speak Spanish or Portugese, though I will start listening to tapes in the next weeks. From your notes, I understand that one must know the language to visit rural areas. So, I suppose I should stay away from the smaller towns unless I have a guide. I love art, history, wine, food, cooking, and easy hikes or long walks are fine. Can you suggest a path for me to take, or ways I can get in touch with local small tours.

Thank you!
Betty Reply to this

15 years ago, January 21st 2009 No: 29 Msg: #60898 Delete Edit

mikelm
mikel martin

N Posts: 15

Hi Bettty,
For sure in the rural areas and in small cities people don't speak english. Even in big cities like in Madrid and Barcelona you have to ask about 10 people to find 1 who can speak in english.

Well, I would recommend you visiting northern spain, as you will find the best wine, the best food, history and nice walks.

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15 years ago, January 21st 2009 No: 30 Msg: #60901 Delete Edit

Lcollins
Laura C.

B Posts: 4

Hi Betty,

My husband and I spent a month in Spain and Portugal last fall and we do not speak Spanish or Portuguese. We knew enough to say thank you and please, but that was about it. We were mostly in small villages and we managed. I think that we missed out on some things by not knowing the language, but people were very helpful and we even had a complete personal tour of a family-run chocolate factory and, although the guide did not know any English, we picked up lots by his enthusiasm and gestures. You really can manage without knowing the language. I recommend learning what you can and carrying a dictionary (especially helpful for menus) - but I would not avoid small villages, etc. because of the language barrier.

Have a great trip!
Laura Reply to this

15 years ago, February 23rd 2009 No: 31 Msg: #63852 Delete Edit

walksntalks
Roy Arnold

B Posts: 30

Lcollins,
I strongly agree with you. The Spaniards are used to the foreigers and usually they already know what you are looking for before you know it yourself. And, they are very good with those hand signs:-)
Small villages - and the fantastic hiking routes - in the mountain resorts are my favourite thing in Spain.
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13 years ago, September 2nd 2010 No: 32 Msg: #118603 Delete Edit

salamsony
MOHAMMAD ABDUS SALAM

N Posts: 5

Dear all of my forum friend
i am abdus salam sony from Bangladesh.
i am very interested to visit various country.
on the part of that i want to visit Spain for known the history of civilization.
if any body have own suggestion how can i arrange my visa and paper for submitted visa request.

please give me your opinion.
or
guide

send e-mail:
fell free call or sms :

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13 years ago, February 9th 2011 No: 33 Msg: #128598 Delete Edit

MylesZ
Myles Mudge

N Posts: 3

Mikel, or anyone else
I will be traveling to Spain and Portugal this month and into march. I have a week from when I leave the Algarve in Portugal before I am arriving in Cadiz for carnival. What towns or villages can you recommend I visit in that part of Spain. I don't mind being in places where they don't speak English. I actually prefer it so I can practice my terrible spanish. I mostly am interested in meeting people and getting a little taste of spainish culture. Reply to this

13 years ago, February 9th 2011 No: 34 Msg: #128607 Delete Edit

mikelm
mikel martin

N Posts: 15

Hi Myles,
For me March, April, May are very beautiful season to visit EXTREMADURA. All the landscape is green and you can enjoy with the views of the famous DEHESAS. In Monfragüe National Park there is a "ganaderia de toros bravos" (you know, the land of the bull) and it is very common to see the big bulls from the road.
Extremadura is just at the border with Portugal. You can start visiting the City of Plasencia, drive down to the capital of the region CACERES. Driving on southwards, stop at the MONFRAGÜE NATIONAL PARK and stop in MERIDA. Merida was the capital of the romanic Impire and you will find a stuning ruins, like the theather, and others. From there you are in the right direction to Andalucia. First you will enter in Huelva and Cadiz is besides.

The distances are not big, so that is what I would do this.
Cheers
Mikel Reply to this

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