Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States
Spain has been on my travel bucket list for years, especially since the 1992 Summer Olympics. I've always heard how beautiful Barcelona is - the cathedrals, the port, the coastline. When I saw a very reasonable flight in August via Pakistan International airlines (yes, that is correct!) non-stop from Chicago to Barcelona, I jumped on it. PIA only flies out of Chicago on Saturdays and Wednesdays, so I was a bit limited on travel dates, but it actually worked out fine. Next thing I knew, I had a flight booked for 9 solo nights in Spain!
I had to decide what I would do, where I would go and how would I get there. Stay in Barcelona and its vicinity? Travel around Spain? Go to Morocco for a day or two and see friends from my time there in 2009? Take a quick jaunt to Portugal? Head to the beaches of southern France? In the end I figured my best bet was to stay in Spain, as there would be MORE than enough to see and experience.
Valencia, Seville and Granada also intrigued me. After some digging, I found a coach bus tour through a company that departs and ends in Barcelona, within my time period. Better yet, it covers a large area. It will be a lot of moving, but I won't be doing the work. All I have to do is get on the bus and relax. The tour also covers some tours and meals, as well as hotels. The price seemed good when I took a look at going to the same places on my own.
Here's the plan: I will depart ORD on the evening of the 28th, arrive in Barcelona on Thursday morning (9-hour flight with time change). I will stay in Barcelona at a hostal (not to be confused with a hostel...) for three nights and explore on my own. While there, I'm toying with taking a train to the nearby medieval town of Girona for a day. On Sunday morning, my tour departs for Madrid. After spending a night in Madrid, we will see some of Cordoba, spend two nights in Seville, one night in Granada and one night in Valencia. On April 6th, we'll head back to Barcelona, where I will spend another night before departing for home.
It will be A LOT of moving - six hotels in 9 evenings. Yikes! But, as most of my trips, I'm not going to sit on my butt. I want to see as much as I possibly can.I do think it will be a nice combination of time on my own and some structured activities. Hopefully there will be some cool people on the tour bus.
It should be an exciting adventure. Thanks for following me along!
- Jamie
It Rhymes With Rain
Tuesday, March 06, 2012
Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States
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Comments
2023-09-26
Marcia Sarnowski
2012-03-07
What is the difference between a hostal and a hostel?
jmatczak
2012-03-07
A hostal is more like a hotel/guesthouse, but smaller, and probably locally-owned or family-run. Prices are usually bit lower than hotels. A hostel is a youth hostel, where 6-10 people share a room and you basically rent a bed (which I refuse to do! :) Hostals are also called pensions in Spain, but they mean the same thing.
Joe Feliciano
2012-03-07
what a great game plan! and i wasn't aware pakistani airlines served o'hare. i will definitely check them out!
jmatczak
2012-03-07
It serves O'Hare and New York, the only two US airports. Apparently no alcohol is served (for obvious reasons) but you can bring your own? Haha.
Felice
2012-03-08
Lucky you! And yes, please go to Girona. I hear it is awesome. WHile you are in Barcelona go to la Bouqueria, the Picasso museum and if you can, Montserrat. Be sure to drink horchate at a cafe on las Ramblas. I wish I was going!
Abrazos,
Felice
jmatczak
2012-03-08
Definitely going to Boqueria, as my hostal is very close. Not sure if I will get to Picasso or Montserrat, as Girona will take up most of a day. Planning on Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, taking the cable up Montjuic, strolling Ramblas and Barri Gotic. I'm sure Picasso is awesome, but I'm not much of a "museum" person. I like being outside, meandering and people-watching. :) Will try the horchate and lots of tapas!
Scott Bader
2012-03-10
I hope you're having a good time....stay safe!! If you happen to run into Rafael Nadal, tell him to quit pulling at himself on the tennis courts. It really grosses people out.
jmatczak
2012-03-10
I'm not there yet. I leave on the 28th. Dork. :)
Scott Bader
2012-03-10
Sorry....I meant to say, "when you're there, I hope you have a good time." Yeah....that's what I meant to say. And don't call me a dork....it hurts. :)