A loop through Spain

The Prado museum in Madrid is very impressive, with many works by El Greco, Velasquez, and Goya. There is a large, hilly park in downtown Madrid with a pond in the middle that is gorgeous as well.

Toledo is in itself impressive, as it is a walled city with steep roads originally designed to protect it against invaders. It is famous for its gold, which can be purchased (in the form of jewelry) for reasonable prices.

The mosque in Cordoba is striking in its size alone; it covers several city blocks. The inside is quite beautiful as well, with many shrines and elegant architecture.

The true highlight of the trip, however, was La Alhambra in Granada, a completely breaktaking palace with gardens, fountains, and amazing rooms set high above the city.

Quick Tips:

Though Madrid is supposed to be cool in March, when we traveled there, it was 80 degrees (F), which took us aback, quickly giving us all sunburns because we were unprepared. It is therefore wise to pack clothing and other items like sunscreen for a range of temperatures.

Vegetarians should also be aware that meat is a prominent part of the Spanish diet, and the alternative (especially if you are working with a set menu for the tour as we were)is usually an omelette. Vegetarian dishes can certainly be found, but they take a little work.

Best Way To Get Around:

We travelled mainly by tour bus, which was great, though public transportation is available in Madrid. The streets in many of these places are extremely narrow and curvy, however, so drivers unexperienced in European driving should be cautious.

The word breathtaking is hardly sufficient to describe La Alhambra. It is a palace set high above the city of Granada, with absolutely incredible architecture. There are open gardens with fountains and ponds to walk through, as well as gardens within the palace walls with exotic fish ponds and flowers. The palace is quite large, with several pleasant winding paths through the grounds. The view from the highest gardens is a striking panorama of the incline, filled with tiny houses, down to downtown Granada.

When touring La Alhambra, you have the option of simply viewing the grounds for the beautiful sights or learning about the history of the palace through guide pamphlets and tours. There are on-site casual restaurants and giftshops selling memorabilia and disposable cameras for those who forgot their own! This is a great spot for those of all ages, with any amount of interest in historical sights. It is simply amazing.

The Museo del Prado is a fantastic way to get a feeling for Spanish art and culture. Some extremely famous paitings can be seen here, as well as significants portions of the bodies of work of individual artists. In particular, Velasquez is famous for his portaits of Spanish royalty, and viewing his works is both an opportunity to view incredible artwork and a means of understanding the character of the royal families of Spain (or at least Velaquez's views on them). A tour through the Prado is a very enjoyable experience, and with its central location it is not difficult to get there.

Toledo is a fantastic city to visit. It is a walled city of very manageable size, definitely meriting a long walking tour. An overnight stay would be enjoyable, though it is a perfect city for a day trip, given its size and proximity to Madrid. Toledo was designed to be impenetrable to invaders; it was constructed on a hill and later walled around the perimeter, creating a striking impression from a distance. The streets are steep and serpentine, peeking around the corners of historic, ancient buildings.

Toledo is a great example of the three cultures that have been dominant/present in Spain throughout its history, Christian (mainly Catholic), Muslim, and Jewish. There are a number of small churches, mosques, and synagogues that can be toured, and the presence of all three in this city gives a nice sense of Spain's history. For those who are not interested in history, these sites are simply beautiful!

Toledo is famous for its gold, and our group took advantage of this fact to buy gold earrings, pill boxes, necklaces, and cufflinks for reasonable prices (this makes Toledo a good spot to buy travel gifts and mementos). There is a small open-air market near several casual eating establishments, providing a perfect place to sit, talk and relax while touring the city. In addition, the quiet history and untouched architecture make Toledo quite a romantic place to spend the day. In general, Toledo is a great spot for an overnight or day trip from Madrid. I recommend it!