Spain

Madrid, Spain

Madrid, Spain is filled with fascinating areas to explore. There are the wide, gracefully tree lined major avenues and boulevards, the trendy and cosmopolitan buildings, and, in contrast, the old areas that twist and wind with quaint streets and cozy cafes. Together, these combine to provide many days of discovery of the treasured past and the exciting present of Madrid.

Madrid is located in the center of the Iberian Peninsula and has served as the capital of Spain since 1562. Its southern and elevated location allows for warm, dry summers and cool winters, providing excellent traveling weather all year round.

One cannot help but notice a prominent green expanse on the map of Madrid. Parque Del Retiro is more than a nature walk. In fact, many visitors return several times during their stay for the wide variety of entertainment provided by street performers, boaters, skaters, and puppeteers.

The city offers many interesting museums, with the world-famous Prado National Museum leading the way. Housed in an 18th-century building, the Prado features the works of Rubens, Goya, El Greco, Bosch, Velazquez, Titian and many others. Madrid's most famous contemporary art museum is the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia. Its centerpiece is Picasso's enormous antiwar masterpiece, Guernica. The highly acclaimed works of the Thyssen-Bornemisza collection are displayed at the Villahermosa Palace.

The historic quarters of Madrid are filled with interesting sights and structures. Columns, arches, churches, fountains, even an Egyptian Temple await the traveler. The Madrid Card is a wise purchase, as it combines a transportation pass with free entry to various museums and attractions, among other discounts.

Madrid has hills and mountains in abundance for the climber and hiker. There are twenty local golf courses, some of which welcome nonmembers. Parque de Nieve is the amateur athlete's dream. This is an indoor, artificial slope that can be configured with different terrains. There are separate areas for skiing, snowboarding and tubing, as well as an ice wall for climbers. Bicycling is also a popular sport, and bike trails are available. Spain's national sport is futbol (soccer), and Madrid boasts three home teams. The season runs from September to June. A close second in the hearts of Madrilenos and Spaniards is the corrida (bullfight), for which the season is from March to October.

Madrid has impressive venues and well-regarded companies providing ballet, contemporary dance, orchestral concerts, opera, and theatrical productions. Shopping in Madrid is a delight. The shopping area of Serrano, just east of Paseo de la Castellana, is where shoppers will discover boutiques, home-decorating stores and stylish shops, including Chanel and Armani. Calle Ribera de Curtidores located in the heart of the Rastro market, has the largest concentration of antique shops in Madrid. The streets around Puerta del Sol form a more traditional (less exclusive) shopping area, where you can still find shops that have been in business since the 1800s.

Long lunches will be a necessity, as the rich variety of sights and sounds of this fabulous city require time for assimilation and reflection. Fortunately, to relax is to be Spanish. People sleep late. Shops seem to open and close of their own accord. Hundreds of restaurants, cafes and bars line the streets, not for the purpose of continuous eating and drinking, but because sociability and enjoyment of life as a community are cultural necessities. Lunch is more than a meal; in the right company, it can become an all-day activity.

Madrid by day is a social city, but the fun doesn't end with the sunset. It is nearly impossible to describe Madrid's unending list of evening activities. Nightspots in Madrid generally stay open until 4AM, giving visitors plenty of time to explore the excellent restaurants, tapas bars, open-air cafes, jazz and night clubs.

Most travelers arrive in Madrid with plans to stay for a day or two before striking out for other parts of Spain. Many, however, stay longer once they realize the infinite possibilities Madrid offers for fine cuisine, great sightseeing and shopping, outstanding sports venues, and a vacation to remember.

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is the most cosmopolitan and economically active city in Spain, and has always managed to stay ahead or abreast of the latest international trends. This is evident in the architecture, which so accurately reflects the zest for life of this city of vivid colors and boundless energy.

Barcelona is stretched out on a plain next to the Mediterranean sea in the very north of the Spanish coast, bordering France, between the rivers Llobregat and Besos and between two mountains, Collserola and Montjuïc.The result is scenic beauty beyond measure.

Barcelona is steeped in history, as witnessed by the grandeur of its architectural treasures from the Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance periods. During the last century, Antoní Gaudí, led his contemporaries in adding new and exciting strokes to the pallatte as Modernist themes were blended with those of the past. Modernism is characterized by the predominance of curves over straight lines, the richness and detail of decoration, the frequent use of floral motifs, the taste for asymmetry, the use of a refined aestheticism and the dynamism of forms. Checking this list against any building designed or built by Gaudí will have the viewer nodding vigorously in agreement!

Barcelona is a progressive, commercially sophisticated, upper middle class European city, while at the same time being traditionalist and typically Mediterranean. This dichotomy between tradition and progress is a characteristic of the city and of its nearly two million inhabitants. In preparation for the 1992 Olympics 250 acres were cleared along the commercial waterfront, and a total transformation took place. The result was a spectacular five mile long beach and promenade that are now enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. As usual, this ultimate designer city, again reinvented itself.

Wherever you stay in Barcelona, the excellent public transportation system gives easy access to the entire city. A visitor might choose to stay in the old town near the bustling boulevard known as La Rambla within walking distance of centuries old, architecturally splendid buildings. Another choice would be the spacious Eixample district with its wealth of shopping opportunities and fine restaurants. Whatever the choice, Barcelonians will be delighted to have you sharing the beauty of their city.

English is not widely spoken and all signs are in Catalan and also in Spanish. However, there are many guided tours of the city and its sights that are available with English speaking guides. Barcelona has over 50 museums and galleries, many parks and a wide selection of waterfront noteworthy attractions. Modern art lovers shouldn't miss the Contemporary Art Museum and the Modern Art Museum. Barcelona hosts some of the world's greatest classical musicians including Montserrat Caballé and José Carreras. Many contemporary theater and dance companies perform year round. Modern music fans will enjoy the rock, jazz and salsa clubs. The tradition of dance halls also lives on in Barcelona.

Sports enthusiasts will find plenty of action in Barcelona. Sea fishing, hiking, water sports golf and cycling are some of the favorite forms of recreation. Soccer is the national sport and is almost elevated to a religion in Barcelona. Basketball, hockey and handball are also popular team sports that fill the local arenas.

Catalonia is a society, with deep-rooted relationships, in which great importance is given to the family. Children are loved and welcomed. When traveling with children, visitors may prefer a slower pace. One way to spend a relaxing and refreshing family day is to visit The Parc de la Ciutadella which is located near the Old Town and the waterfront. It has shade trees, acres of lawn, a boating lake and Spain's best zoo with over 7,000 animals. Beautiful beaches are within easy reach, and Barcelona also has many fine swimming pools. The weather is mild and sunny most of the year. Gaudí's fairy tale-like buildings, the 200 foot statue of Christopher Columbus pointing out to sea, much of what makes Barcelona so appealing to adults is also inherently appealing to children.

In the shopping districts, the windows display the latest fashions for the very slim, but extravagently delicious culinary delights are everywhere. Hundreds of restaurants and cafés in every price range are conveniently located in all parts of the city and surrounding area. Crafts, antiques, ceramics, art objects, fashions, books: there is no limit to the wide array of offerings at the shops, markets, and stalls throughout the city.

Festivals and carnivals brighten every season. There is always something to celebrate in Barcelona from the grape harvest in the Fall to the Feast of Santa Eulalia in the winter and the marvelous Terrassa Jazz Festival in the Spring, followed by the summer arts festival and many more.
There is no question that Barcelona seems to have discovered the secret to eternal youth!

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