Next section in the Fodor’s Spain is top experiences.
It mentions Feria de Abril in Sevilla – definitely an experience with horses and costumes and more.
Fresh markets – it’s where I did most of my shopping when I lived there. Sadly, hitting the farmer’s market isn’t as routine a thing for me here in the US. It mentions that the Boqueria in Barcelona is a great place to browse.
More about getting outdoors. There is a 57,000 acre National Park in the Pyrenees with waterfalls, caves, forests, meadows, etc… They mention hiking, El Camino (The Way), and another national park down in Andalusia.
Apparently the government-run hotels called paradors are unique and consistently receive rave reviews.
And of course the beach. Right after I got to Spain, the family I was staying with went to the beach and took me along. It was the first rocky beach I had ever been to.
Museums include the Prado in Madrid, the Picasso in Barcelona, a Miro museum in Barcelona, the Guggenheim in Bilboa, and a few others. The Museum of National Art of Catalonia has frescoes saved from the walls of abandoned chapels in the Pyrenees. They don’t mention anything about the Salvador Dali museum in Figueres.
Getting into travel advice – in Barcelona it’s better to walk or take the subway than a cab.
Food in Barcelona: instead of champagne order Cava, a sparkling wine from the Penedes region. (Noting this for Anthony, as neither champagne or Cava appeals to me.) Crema Catalana (Catalan cream) for dessert – a custard dusted with cinnamon and confectioners sugar and burned with a blowtorch. (a la creme brulee)
Next up – Fun in Barcelona with kids. (Which is a great way to avoid the bars and overload of museums.)
