âThe rain in Spain falls mainly on the …â well, you know the story and the rest of the line so weâll move on to outline the trip to Spain and Portugal, with a side venture to Morocco, enjoyed by Grant and Linda, N-24.
Their 18-day tour via Grand Circle Travel started in Madrid. This was an âactiveâ tour, which means that you will be required to walk to many of the sites from scheduled stops and most are NOT handicap enabled nor are they easy for those with limited mobility. This is ancient Europe, for most of the tour, and not modernized, so be aware should you plan a trip to this or any other similar region. This was Grant and Linda’s fifth trip with Grand Circle and they have been very pleased with this tour operator. They arrived early in Barcelona, did a quick tour of the sights and then moved on to Madrid to meet the other travelers. Barcelona in itself is worth a few days, so if you do plan on going, take the time to marvel at the architecture and sites it offers, but on to Madrid.
Alhambra Carvings. (Photos provided)
With near-perfect weather, they took an orientation walk after their arrival to prepare for the next day. Their group consisted of about 40 people and transportation was provided by a large, comfortable motor coach.
Sites visited included the Retiro Park and Oeste Park, where they toured the oldest monument in Madrid – the Debold Temple. The Temple (over 2,000 years old) was a gift from the Egyptian government due to its potential destruction when the Aswan dam was being built. It was transported stone by stone from its original location and rebuilt, opening to the public in 1972. They also visited the Prado Museum with its masterpieces by Velazquez and Goya. With a full day behind them, the tasty Spanish meal at Galopins was a welcome treat. One reason they used and have used Grand Circle is because they cater to American tourists. They only use English speaking personnel and understand what the US travelers expect in dining quality and accommodations. They do want you to observe and enjoy the local cultures and food, so everyone had a great Spanish meal at Galopin restaurant. Please understand that Spanish is not Mexican though there may be some similarities.
The El Escorial was on tap for the following day. A huge complex built by King Philip II in the 1500âs, it includes a monastery, palace, basilica, library, museum, and pantheon. Construction started in 1563 and took 21 years to complete. Home to the King until his death, it is now home to the Order of Saint Augustine monks. At over 330,000 square feet, thatâs a lot of space to cover so wear comfortable shoes!
De la Alhambra in Granada, Andalusia.
Many may remember the Franco years of Spain and part of the tour included visiting the Valley of the Fallen with a discussion of the Spanish Civil War. This was followed by a walking tour of old Madrid and treated with a visit to a chocolateria and Chocolate Churros, a local favorite. Buoyed with the treats, they then walked to the Plaza Mayor, the historical plaza and center of Madrid whose construction began in 1577. Next, they toured San Miguelâs market when there were various foods and other items on display. With all the walking, the food was a welcoming energy boost.
Next stop, the city of Toledo. High on a mountain top, the walled city is well known as the âcity with 3 religionsâ: Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim. The centerpiece of Toledo is the Catedral de Toledo, often referred to as the âmost beautifulâ in Spain. Talk about construction delays – the church took 227 years to complete! Started in 1226, and wasnât finished until 1493! The altar area is a remarkable example of Gothic design with masterpieces by El Greco in the sacristy. Walking through the medieval streets, they also visited the Santa Maria La Blanca synagogue, now a national monument. Erected in 1180, it is considered the oldest synagogue building in Europe and surprisingly, now owned and preserved by the Catholic Church. After a full day, they were glad to board the bus for Granada. On the way, they passed through La Mancha, the land of Don Quixote, in Andalusia. Located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada range, they were now in the land of bullfights, tapas, and flamenco. Get your castanets ready!
Granada is known for its grand examples of medieval architecture dating to the Moorish occupation and especially Alhambra. The residence of the last Sultan to rule over the Al Andaluz (thus the name of the region, maybe?) it was actually a walled city within the city of Granada. Now a World Heritage site, Alhambra was once part palace, part fort, and is now considered one of the âmust seeâ places in Europe. Because of its age and background, most of the original design is now gone due to conquests and changing religious orders, but what remains is remarkable. Because of the heritage distinction, you can expect summer crowds so if you have a chance to travel off-season, do so. You could spend a whole day at Alhambra and marvel at every turn. Pull out the textbooks as many of the design features incorporate the âgolden ratio,â a design feature as old as the pyramids and an integral part of nature.
So, after a wonderful lunch of tapas, fried eggplant with honey, paella, and potatoes topped off with the local pastry, piononos, they were re-energized and ready for the next adventure in Granada, Spain. But wait, thatâs part 2 of their trip so stay tuned.
