Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.
This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.
We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.
My flight points expire at the end of the month, so I'm forced to FINALLY book my many times planned and then cancelled trip to Spain!! It's only taken me 13 years or so!
I'm trying to decide between going to Granada for my birthday in November and studying at Carmen de Las Cuevas for a couple of weeks, while taking in the Granada jazz festival...
Or, going to Jerez in February for the festival de Jerez!
I really wanted to go this July for Gerardo's course in Sanlucar, but the timing just ain't gonna work :(
Any locals, or people who've been to those places at those times with any opinions one way or the other? Weather? Quality of festivals? How crowded and expensive at respective times of year? Better city in general? ....whatever
Posts: 407
Joined: May 26 2010
From: Sarpsborg,Norway
RE: Granada in November, or Jerez in... (in reply to Jayananda)
I cant really comment on the festivals or anything, but I have myself decided to move to Granada, among things i want to see and experience is the alhambra, the cathedral, though i am very interested in architecture
I think you will get a nice time both places, But i think you should go to the place wich appeals to you the most. good luck by the way
RE: Granada in November, or Jerez in... (in reply to krichards)
Yeah I've been getting the Carmen newsletters for over a decade now! So it's pretty high on my list ....and I've been obsessing about Granada for just as long! I just know this will probably be my one trip for quite a while, so I want to make sure I squeeeeze as much flamenco and culture as I possibly can out of it! ;)
Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A
RE: Granada in November, or Jerez in... (in reply to Jayananda)
There's so much flamenco to see in Jerez during the festival. You can probably squeeze in 2-3 shows everyday. It can get pretty expensive.... If you want to go to Jerez, you should book everything WAAAY ahead of time, especially hotels and tickets for the big shows.
However, Granada has a certain charm that will make you never want to leave. The food is better and it's a better place to learn. And of course, the Alhambra is there. The people are easier to understand as well... ;)
RE: Granada in November, or Jerez in... (in reply to at_leo_87)
So do they jack up all of the hotel prices during the festival in Jerez?
Maybe my best option would be to go in Feb, check out the festival for a week and then, before I run out of $ completely, head over to Granada and stay at Carmen for another week or two. It's actually incredibly reasonable to stay in their apartments at Carmen!
Is late Feb/early March a nice time to be in Andalucia?
RE: Granada in November, or Jerez in... (in reply to Jayananda)
I wonder if you have considered Jerez in September? I really like the Fiestas de Otono. It usually starts with the Fiesta de Buleria in the Plaza de Toros round about the middle of the month. Then there's a couple of weeks with music in the Plaza de la Asuncion most nights. The penas are open to all comers during this period and the best stuff is usually in the penas, in my experience. You can probably get more info from the Jerez Turismo. The good news is that it is all free - I think local sponsors and the ayuntamiento foot the bill - so you can really sicken yourself with it!
The weather in Jerez in September can be stormy with the occasional flash flood. That said, I've always been comfortable sitting outside in shirtsleeves. In terms of crowds, if somebody really good is on - say, Agujetas - then people start claiming the front seats well before the performance starts, hours, in fact.
I hope this is useful. Very best of luck with your trip. You're definitely doing the right thing.
RE: Granada in November, or Jerez in... (in reply to Jayananda)
Thanks for all of the advice everyone! Yes, September would be great, but I need a bit more time to save up! I think I will wait til February, when I'm totally fried on the Canadian winter and then escape! I'll catch a bit of festival de Jerez and a bit of Granada and C.D.L.C. at a time when it should be relatively tourist free!
Here's hoping nothing impedes my plan this time!! ;)
Printable Version
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread