Spanish Vacation

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Spanish Vacation

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NeZ

Posts: 96
Joined: Feb. 14 2007

Spanish Vacation

I'm getting married this summer and my fiance and I are considering Spain for our honeymoon.

We both think it'd be cool to see some good Flamenco while we're there.

Is Seville the best place for this or can you get good Flamenco in Barcelona as well?

Also, any recommendations on things to do, places to stay, restaurants, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

What other Flamenco and Guitar related activities are available?

I think I remember a poster on here that had a place to rent somewhere in Spain. Is he still around?

Thanks!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 26 2008 12:21:58

Romanza

Posts: 296
Joined: Oct. 24 2005

RE: Spanish Vacation (in reply to NeZ)

Hi NeZ

I'm sure some of our Spanish residents could advise you better but I would definitely say Andalucia, the home of flamenco!

Barcelona is a great city but Andalucia is more rustic and romantic in my opinion. It has great flamenco, beautiful Moorish monuments and architecture, better weather and beaches. Its also easy to travel round from city to city (by train).

Outside of the south, Madrid would probably be a better bet than Barcelona if you're thinking about flamenco (although I've never been to Madrid so cannot comment further!).

Hope this helps!
Romanza

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 26 2008 20:40:14

Guest

RE: Spanish Vacation (in reply to NeZ)

Hola NeZ

You should be aware that most Spaniards have their main holidays in July and August. The result is a mass exodus from the cities, (where the temperature climbs into the mid 40s), to the seaside. Towns like Chipiona or Zahara de los Atunes are ghost town in winter and bursting at the seams in summer.

Entertainment moves with them, so the main flamenco and taurine festivals are on the coast as well. Cádiz has its Jueves Flamencos, a festival-type event featuring the most important artists in Spain. Jerez has its Viernes Flamencos, more intimate and featuring mostly artists from Jerez. The Plaza de Toros in el Puerto de Santa María has an important summerlong festival.

The main flamenco cities of Madrid and Sevilla are lifeless in summer: easy to find a hotel, but nothing to do.

Costal towns are probably well booked already. I have a couple of German friends who come to Cádiz every summer. They find their accommodation by internet and drive to every flamenco event within reasonable distance.

Suerte

Seán

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 26 2008 21:28:09

Pimientito

Posts: 2481
Joined: Jul. 30 2007
From: Marbella

RE: Spanish Vacation (in reply to Guest)

Hey Nez
Good advice from Sean. Spaniards generally take the month of August off for holidays and go to the coast if they can afford to. Madrid is empty and mostly shut and stifflingly hot. Same for Seville (except even hotter)
Barcelona is not known for having a great flamenco scene (although there may be some somewhere) but definately Andalucia is where its all happening.
In July and August, check out whats happening in Malaga, the flamenco scene is definately improving thanks to the junta de Andalucia. The second week of July has the international guitar festival in Cordoba which is always amazing and has courses including Manolo sanlucar and paco serrano. Gerardo nuñez has his course in July in Sanlucar de Barrameda but this is a great town to visit anyway and there are always concerts throughout Summer as well as the contratiempos club.
Granada is much emtier in august too although at least there is a cooler breeze at night so you can sleep. Generally though may/june and Sept/ oct are better months to visit inland spain

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 28 2008 1:27:40

NeZ

Posts: 96
Joined: Feb. 14 2007

RE: Spanish Vacation (in reply to NeZ)

Thanks all. We're getting married June 28th so if everything goes well, we'd be heading out for our honeymoon in early July.

From the above posts it sounds like if we can't do July we should wait until fall.

I'm very excited about the whole thing.

Where can I find out about these various festivals, courses, and general stuff like hotels/apartments, etc.? I've found a few websites but if you all can recommend any that'd be great.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 28 2008 6:15:34

NeZ

Posts: 96
Joined: Feb. 14 2007

RE: Spanish Vacation (in reply to NeZ)

It looks like we'll be planning this trip for early July, I realize that may not be the best time if some of the locals will be on holiday, but life being what it is you gotta take it when you can get it and with kids and work schedules this is the only time that works for us.

We're definitely planning on Andalucia for the trip. I think we'll rent an apartment in one city for the duration of our stay and then take day trips to other places if needed.

Would you recommend Granada or Seville as a home base?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 7 2008 21:55:02

Kate

Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: Living in Granada, Andalucía

RE: Spanish Vacation (in reply to NeZ)

Hi Nez

I'm biased as I live here but I'd go for Granada as it is so romantic and there is so much to do, walking in the Albaicin, dining alfresco with views of the Alhambra, visiting the Alhambra, day trips to the mountains or beach, flamenco, hanging out in the caves of the Sacromonte watching the locals from the Tablaos, arab spa baths, sunsets on the Mirador.

You can always do a day trips to Cordoba or get the train to Sevilla and stop overnight. Sevilla is much bigger and more of a city. Granada has much more packed in and the tapas are free !!!!! I'd say it is a great place for a honeymoon. Right now I am watching the sun rise over the Alhambra, amazing sight.

Kate

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 11 2008 5:51:01

Ailsa

Posts: 2277
Joined: Apr. 17 2007
From: South East England

RE: Spanish Vacation (in reply to NeZ)

Having spent a bit of time in both I would agree with Kate - Granada definitely. Seville is much bigger and spread out and feels much more impersonal. We were two weeks in Granada and started to see the same people wandering around each day. Well wandering in and out of the bars actually

But it felt like much more of a community.

We were also there first two weeks of July year before last and there was flamenco going on, though maybe less than usual. We went to four clubs that I can think of off the top of my head including Upsetter, Pena la Plateria. And there was a really good show one night at an open air venue in the Sacromonte. Can't remember it's name but Kate would know.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 11 2008 13:19:57

hannabach

Posts: 50
Joined: Feb. 11 2008

RE: Spanish Vacation (in reply to NeZ)

Hi,
Just reurned from spain today...I would say Jerez and Granada and also Cordoba...James

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 12 2008 8:27:15

Kate

Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: Living in Granada, Andalucía

RE: Spanish Vacation (in reply to Ailsa)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ailsa
And there was a really good show one night at an open air venue in the Sacromonte. Can't remember it's name but Kate would know.

Centro de Interpretación, it's a sort of museum with caves showing the lives of the Gitanos. There's a bar and an open air stage and they put on some good shows. Another venue in the Sacromonte is La Chumbera which puts on flamenco every Saturday night. Last show I saw there was the dancer Luis de Luis. I went with Pimiento and it was amazing.

Kate

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 12 2008 10:25:56