Spain
I visited Spain with three of my friends from Cornell during spring break of 1998, which was the second week of March. We flew into Madrid, stayed there for about four days, took a train over to Barcelona, and stayed there for another four days. You can read about some of the things we did and see a few pictures below.
Madrid is a beautiful city and not at all touristy. Located in the middle of Spain, the level of tourism seen in Paris and London haven't reached this capital yet. And, as a consequence, it is a little harder for non-Spanish speaking visitors to get around. But just be patient and give it your best shot, and most people will be really friendly with you.
Spain has a royal family, with Juan Carlos I as king. The family resides in the outskirts of Madrid, but the Royal Palace shown below was the residence for previous generations. The palace is a must-see if you are in Madrid, along with the Prado and the various plazas downtown.
While we were in Madrid, we took a day trip over to Toledo, which is about an hour bus ride away. If you decide to take the trip, do it through one of the tour companies. You'll learn a lot more about all of the churches and palaces if you have a guide with you. The following picture shows the town of Toledo taken from the bank of a nearby river.
And the following picture was taken from the same location, but looking to the left.
Barcelona is very different from Madrid. For one thing, it is more geared towards tourism and easier for English speaking visitors to get around. This is probably due to the city's location and the 1992 Summer Olympics. The culture is also very different here, with less partying, different cuisine, and some very interesting architecture. The city has many different styles, with the two main ones being Gothic and Gaudi. Antonio Gaudí y Cornet was a local architect, and as the locals like to say, we get the word "gaudy" from his last name. Take a look at one of the buildings he designed and you'll see why.
Gaudi is also responsible for the Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia, a church that has been under construction for many decades, and is one of Barcelona's most popular destinations next to the Ramblas. The Ramblas is the main street through town and is essentially a 24-hour market place with flower and bird stalls, restaurants, street performers, and hookers looking for customers.
If you travel to Barcelona, make sure to spend some time wandering the streets of the gothic quarter, see some of Gaudi's buildings, walk up and down the Ramblas at least once a day, and pay a visit to the Picasso museum.
While we were in Barcelona, we took a day trip over to Montserrat, which is about an hour away by train. Montserrat is an ancient monastery originally built sometime around the 9th-11th century. This picture was taken from a trail that overlooks the site.
Some Internet sites about Spain...
Hotel Martin This is where we stayed in Madrid. The rooms were okay, a little small, but the price was right.
Hosteria Grau This is where we stayed in Barcelona. This hotel was quite nice for the price we paid. It is located right in the heart of town too.
© 1999 by Jason A. Carter
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