Stuff to do in Spain

[Ostrinski]

My grandfather and I are doing the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Spain in a couple months. We're gonna have ten days after the hike to rent a car and do whatever the hell we wanna do in Spain. Of course, as a leftist, my first thought was Catalonia. Is there anywhere to see some good history on the Spanish civil war there? What else do you recommend seeing, historically speaking. I'm a history nerd/museum type guy.

[Franz Fanonipants]

Its pretty far from where you'll be, but the Alhambra is worth going to.

the la meziquita mosque too.

[Zav]

You could stop in at the CGT in Barcelona. There isn't a museum for the war that I know of. Franco did win, unfortunately, rather completely.

[ellipsis]

U could just smoke lots of hash with Moroccans and drink in the plazas. Also Picasso museum in Barcelona.

[CommieTroll]

Buy as much weed as you can in Las Ramblas:)

[Veovis]

Get fucked up at a botellón.

[dodger]

If you have any Celtic blood in you the Celtic Pipes of Galicia will have you covered in goosebumps.



fBbfeMjtc04


After crossing Biscay we were forced into A Coruna by storm. A very warm welcome, most hospitable, considering Sir Francis Drake had sacked the town earlier. Great food then, coastal scenery, epic walking in hills. The people are the impression that remains, modest and hospitable. Most of the Spanish who emigrated to UK originate from here. Strong ties to the sea.

You will have a splendid time!!

[ParaRevolutionary]

What isnt there to do in Spain, i spent a few years growing up there and of what i can remember it was pretty cool.

[ColonelCossack]

If you go to Andalusia (despite the fact it's not that close to where you'll be I think :confused:, Ronda (with the ravine) is amazing, Granada is beautiful and has the Alhambra (which is stunning), and Seville is pretty nice too. Just BY GOD don't stay in/go to/look at Torremolinos. :cursing:

[dodger]

If you go to Andalusia (despite the fact it's not that close to where you'll be I think :confused:, Ronda (with the ravine) is amazing, Granada is beautiful and has the Alhambra (which is stunning), and Seville is pretty nice too. Just BY GOD don't stay in/go to/look at Torremolinos. :cursing:

TORREMOLINOS.......COLONELCOSSACK.....There is no finer place for eating English...................


FISH and CHIPS

[ColonelCossack]

TORREMOLINOS.......COLONELCOSSACK.....There is no finer place for eating English...................


FISH and CHIPS

That might be the only good thing. It's just so touristy.

[dodger]

That might be the only good thing. It's just so touristy.

Tourist hell is not too strong.....!!!

[lombas]

From Santiago, drive to the coast (Vigo or A Coruña). Go to Madrid via Salamancas. Head south and see Caceres and Badajoz (in Extremaduras). From there, drive to Andalucia to see Sevilla, Cadiz (!!), Granada and don't forget Cordoba. Don't go to the Italica ruins near Sevilla, there's not much to see. Continue to Murcia and Cartagena. Go upwards to Valencia and be sure to check out Sagunto (wonderful castle + this is were Hannibal launched his career). End the trip in Barcelona.

So this is impossible in ten days. Drop Madrid and Extramaduras, and Barcelona as well. See the real Spain. Head south to check out the four cities in Andalucia I mentioned, and don't forget Valencia.

Do you take the northern route to Santiago or the southern one?

[Rooster]

Drink beer in a McDonalds. You could go to the Salvador Dali gallery or his house. I think one of them (or both) is in Catalonia. And there's a Civil War Museum in Cartagena. I think. You might have to google that. I'm not very good with the geography of Spain.

[brigadista]

That might be the only good thing. It's just so touristy.

there used to be some spanish gay clubs in the old town..

[ellipsis]

+1 fast food with beer, it's awesome, or was when I was 16.

[manic expression]

I haven't been to the north but I think it might be cool to make your way down to Madrid, seeing Ponferrada, Leon, Burgos, Sergovia (plus the Escorial if you're so inclined) and other places along the way...I've always wanted to see Frias and with a car you can actually get there which would make a pretty neat day or half-day trip from Burgos if you're into very small medievalesque towns. Basically find a bunch of places in the north you want to see, connect the dots and go. Andalucia and Catalonia are awesome but from Santiago de Compostela you're basically too far to drive to either of them...but the regions north of Madrid are extremely underrated and not as touristed so I think you have an opportunity to see an amazing part of Spain.

Another idea would be to head due south through Vigo and into Portugal. Porto is supposed to be very nice, then Coimbra and then Lisbon. Just an idea.

[lombas]

I haven't been to the north but I think it might be cool to make your way down to Madrid, seeing Ponferrada, Leon, Burgos, Sergovia (plus the Escorial if you're so inclined) and other places along the way...I've always wanted to see Frias and with a car you can actually get there which would make a pretty neat day or half-day trip from Burgos if you're into very small medievalesque towns. Basically find a bunch of places in the north you want to see, connect the dots and go. Andalucia and Catalonia are awesome but from Santiago de Compostela you're basically too far to drive to either of them...but the regions north of Madrid are extremely underrated and not as touristed so I think you have an opportunity to see an amazing part of Spain.

Another idea would be to head due south through Vigo and into Portugal. Porto is supposed to be very nice, then Coimbra and then Lisbon. Just an idea.

He has ten days, driving to Andalucia might be worth the trip - I guess it takes a day, but you can do a scenic tour. Also, there's no point in doing Leon or Burgos as they're already in the Camino (if he takes the southern route).

[manic expression]

True, though it would be a hike, a full day's drive at least (which could be broken up by visiting Madrid)...Brospierre which route are you planning on taking?

[lombas]

True, though it would be a hike, a full day's drive at least (which could be broken up by visiting Madrid)...Brospierre which route are you planning on taking?

I would drop Madrid and drive through Northern Portugal (quick stop at Guimaraes) and Extremaduras.

Alternatively, a straight drive from Santiago to Andalucia, but a return via Valencia.

I don't consider visiting Madrid crucial when visiting Spain. I went there only after visiting Spain tens of times over fifteen years, and I didn't feel I had missed much.

[ParaRevolutionary]

If you go to Andalusia (despite the fact it's not that close to where you'll be I think :confused:, Ronda (with the ravine) is amazing, Granada is beautiful and has the Alhambra (which is stunning), and Seville is pretty nice too. Just BY GOD don't stay in/go to/look at Torremolinos. :cursing:

Or Rota, which is where i spent some time growing up.

[manic expression]

I don't consider visiting Madrid crucial when visiting Spain. I went there only after visiting Spain tens of times over fifteen years, and I didn't feel I had missed much.
No, it's not crucial, it's not like Paris is to France or anything...still, though, the Prado is easily one of Europe's finest museums (and the Thyssen-Bornemisza isn't shabby either), and Madrid's nightlife is hard to beat. Segovia, El Escorial and Toledo make for very fine day-trips as well. IMO it's certainly worthwhile depending on one's interests.

[lombas]

No, it's not crucial, it's not like Paris is to France or anything...still, though, the Prado is easily one of Europe's finest museums (and the Thyssen-Bornemisza isn't shabby either), and Madrid's nightlife is hard to beat. Segovia, El Escorial and Toledo make for very fine day-trips as well. IMO it's certainly worthwhile depending on one's interests.

If he's into museums &c. Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofia might offer something, but you can't beat the mass of history coming at you in Cadiz, Sevilla, or Granada.

Madrid is very hard to cross, distances are wide on foot and using public transport. The people are also generally less friendly, it's more expensive - and very crowed in popular seasons (the Prado was killing me, and it was April!).

If you're looking to end your Camino well --- a period of quietness and self-reflection: you can spend your ten days better than in Madrid.

But hey, it's just my opinion: I loved Madrid as a citytrip, but I was making a proposal for someone doing the Camino and having another ten days to spend with a rental car...

:)

[Buitraker]

Tomorrow i read this again and reply you

[Buitraker]

U could just smoke lots of hash with Moroccans and drink in the plazas. Also Picasso museum in Barcelona.
Hash with moroccans?

:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

Buy as much weed as you can in Las Ramblas:)
Dont buy weed in Las Ramblas its too expensive and shit


TORREMOLINOS.......COLONELCOSSACK.....There is no finer place for eating English...................


FISH and CHIPS
I spend all of my 20 summers on torremolinos(I have a uncle living) and its so fuck up.
The sea its a dump, public transport dont exist, restaraunts change the prices by lenguages(In spanish a hamburges was 10$, in english or france 16$),etc...

[Ostrinski]

True, though it would be a hike, a full day's drive at least (which could be broken up by visiting Madrid)...Brospierre which route are you planning on taking?Starting at St. Jean-Pied-de-Port and ending at Finisterre. That is all I know. He said after that we'd have ten days to do whatever we want.

Also thanks for the suggestions everyone.

[dodger]

Finisterre I have only seen , by following the coastline From A Coruna down to Lisbon. The coastal scenery carved out by the Atlantic is dramatic. Though it could have been the fact we were bouncing like corks in 36footer and it was blowing a hooley. Still it was July and we were heading for warmer climes, we did not care....Have a good one....you'll certainly see Dolphins Basking Sharks battling around the Cape Finisterre.

[Buitraker]

Starting at St. Jean-Pied-de-Port and ending at Finisterre. That is all I know. He said after that we'd have ten days to do whatever we want.

Also thanks for the suggestions everyone.
Maybe you do this route
http://www.campings.net/camino-santiago-ruta-camino-frances-ID2.htm

If is this route, i can help you with Burgos, Leon or Pamplona.

[seventeethdecember2016]

My grandfather and I are doing the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Spain in a couple months. We're gonna have ten days after the hike to rent a car and do whatever the hell we wanna do in Spain. Of course, as a leftist, my first thought was Catalonia. Is there anywhere to see some good history on the Spanish civil war there? What else do you recommend seeing, historically speaking. I'm a history nerd/museum type guy.
I suggest watching Rick Steves' Europe to learn about some destinations in Spain. Steves goes into good detail about activities in European countries, so I you may want to watch one or some of his episodes on Spain.

[Firebrand]

Give the north a miss and head south. The people are friendlier, the food is cheaper and there is more to see. Don't miss granada, it's amazing and if I were you i'd also go to Cordoba and Cadiz. The festival in Cadiz is legend although I think you've missed it this year.

If you want to find old civil war stuff your best bet is to head out to rural mountain towns in andalucia, where you can sometimes see the old trenches from the civil war. Thats pretty much all franco left. Get a guidebook or something to tell you where they are, and while you're at it you can check out the cave paintings. Wear proper shoes not sandals though, the terrain is really rough. But I randomly found this awesome site up in the mountains where they had civil war trenches, old moorish graves, roman grain silos and neolithic remains. There were also some cave paintings but I had completely the wrong shoes and they were on the other side of the valley so I didn't go and see them. They were still working on a visitor centre when I went.

Oh and whatever you do stay away from the british ex pats.

[sithsaber]

You could always get some experience in rioting.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/03/2012330101558497711.html

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http://www.aljazeera.com/Media/ver2/Images/1pximage.png (http://www.aljazeera.com/)




Spain's government has announced $36 billion in new budget cuts, as it attempts to reassure the European Union that it will not need a financial bailout.
The budget savings will take the form of a freezing of civil servant wages, ministerial spending cuts and new corporate taxes, announced Soraya Saenz de Santamaria, the country's deputy prime minister, on Friday.
"The ministries will see an average reduction of 16.9 per cent ... there will be adjustments of over 27 billion euros [$36 billion] through revenues and through spending," she said, after she and her cabinet colleagues passed the draft budget at a meeting in Madrid.
"This government will not raise value added tax but is calling for an extra effort within corporate taxes," she said. Overall, government spending cuts will amount to $22.7 billion.
The government has also decided to freeze civil servants' salaries, but to maintain unemployment benefits and planned pension increases.
Jose Manuel Soria, the country's industry minister, further announced that electricity bills for small consumers will also rise by seven per cent during a quarterly review due in April.
De Santamaria termed the budget proposal severely austere, but essential. The measure is to go to parliament on Tuesday, and is expected to be formally passed in June.
"Spain is going to stop being a problem, especially for the Spanish people but also for the European Union," Luis de Guindos, the economy minister, said as he entered an informal meeting of eurozone colleagues in Copenhagen earlier on Friday.
The passage of the new budget comes a day after a general strike against labour reforms that crippled public transport and industry and brought hundreds of thousands of people out in protest, but fell short of bringing the country to a standstill.
Spanish government estimates put the number of people attending rallies staged across the country at about 800,000.
Bailout fears
Friday's package of budget cuts is designed to satisfy EU requirements and calm investors worried about Spain's public finances.
IN VIDEO
Al Jazeera's Barnaby Phillips speaks to Spanish citizens about the new round of budget cuts Investors' appetite for Spanish debt determines the country's borrowing costs.
If the costs are too high, Spain would find it increasingly difficult to finance itself at an affordable rate, and could eventually follow Greece, Ireland and Portugal in seeking a bailout.
The package will draw money out of the Spanish economy at a time when it is entering recession for the second time in three years.
Spain has committed to cut its budget deficit to 5.3 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product, from 8.5 per cent last year. The challenge for the country is to do so as the economy shrinks, and unemployment is at 23 per cent.
The new cuts come on top of $11.9 billion in spending cuts and $8.4 billion in tax increases already announced earlier this year.
De Guindos said he trusted his eurozone counterparts to "understand perfectly the effort that the Spanish government is making".
At the meeting in Copenhagen, European finance ministers were discussing the size of a planned "financial firewall" for the EU, which would ensure that adequate funds would be available to weaker economies in the eurozone if they need to meet debt requirements.
They decided to increase the size of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) and European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) to 700 billion euros ($932 billion).
The possibility of using the eurozone's financial firewall to help Spain, however, is "not an option on the table", Italy's deputy economy minister Vittorio Grilli said.
Disruption
Thursday's strike resulted in clashes between protesters and police that led to nine people injured and 58 being arrested.
"[Protesters] have succeeded in bringing a lot of disruption around Spain today, there's no doubt about that," said Al Jazeera's Barnaby Phillips, reporting from Madrid on Thursday.
"People have talked about trade union influence being on the wane in Spain ... but they've hit transport links very hard across the country, many businesses, many factories have been closed.
"The new laws would make it easier for companies to fire workers, but the government argues that in the long run the liberalisation of labour laws will bring unemployment down."

Source:
Al Jazeera and agencies

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