We flew SAS airlines and had a 2 hr layover in Stockholm. Our trip was just a week after the United incident where a passenger was violently dragged off the plane because the flight was overbooked so we were a little scared but it was a pleasant flight. We didn’t get dragged off the airplane, no turbulence, peaceful sleep…..lot to be thankful for.
The only “goof-up” was that the catering company delivered the wrong day’s special meals so we didn’t get our Asian vegetarian meal which is no big deal. The crew was very nice and offered to give up their own meal if needed be which was an extremely nice gesture.
Chander did his favorite thing at the airport. No matter which airport he always stops to check out his passion.
We arrived, Bag didn’t 🙁
We made it to Malaga but without the bag. It was a long journey, same as flying from Chicago to Delhi. Airline comforted us saying our bags will be delivered next day. Spent first few hours in foreign land buying basic necessities.
We stayed at Nono Charming Stay which is located in heart of the city and everything is walking distance.. The hotel was nice except that gym opened at 9am. I used to give LA Fitness a hard time for opening at 8 on weekends. Oh well !!! Our bag did arrive the next day and we were so relieved !!! This is me before and after.
We were in Malaga for 3 days. Highlights of the trip included visiting the historical monuments Alcazaba and Gibralfaro castle. The gardens are very well maintained and you get unparalleled views of the city. There are two cafes at the top to buy water or have a glass of wine. Restrooms are also available up top. There is also the Roman theater adjacent to Alcazaba which looks very nice at night. Entry fee is 2.25€ per person for one monument and 3.55€ per person for both monuments. I recommend seeing both and buying the ticket at the start to avoid lines. Gibralfaro castle is a little bit of hike but totally worth it.
Best way to tour Malaga is by foot. The city is walkable and also bike friendly. As you walk through the narrow streets of Malaga you uncover memorable sights, rich culture. Visit the local market, eat churros, experience wine tasting, walk the boardwalk along the port, walk the gardens. Check out local artists. This tailor sewed my name on a piece of paper as a gift and this other guy outside the cathedral painted stunning landscapes on glass in under 3 minutes.
Don’t miss out on the nightlife. Calle Larios and Calle Nueva are the main streets, always hustling and bustling with people and activity. Tour the Cathedral and Roman theater during day and night to see the difference.
Another interesting site in Malaga is the murals and the boardwalk
No trip is complete without tasting local food. Chander and I are both foodies and love / live to eat . We like taking recommendations from the locals and also rely on trip advisor and Yelp for reviews. The seafood in Malaga is excellent, very tender and juicy.
Had Clams and Malaga shrimp at Doramar. Lunch at Garvm was squid ink croquettes, mediterranean spiced tuna with couscous and grilled Octopus. Highly recommend. One day we ate at this Italian place called Mura Mura. It was unique in many ways. The menu was a hand written book with pictures and the bill was written on a slate along with a special thank you note. We ate the Octopus, Burrata and Beef filled Tortellini here. Everything was flavorful. The salt content in the food everywhere in Spain is pretty high for my taste. My palette is used to very little salt so it was hard for me to each a lot. Spain is famous for Iberico ham. It is a common site to see pork legs hanging from the ceiling in markets and restaurants.
Next stop on the itinerary was Granada. Caught a bus from Malaga to Granada. Buses leave every hour and it is a 1 hr trip. You can buy tickets from the bus terminal or purchase in advance at http://www.alsa.es. The buses are very punctual, more so than flights.
Granada is famous for the Alhambra which is a palace with Islamic roots and is a popular tourist attraction. The palace is filled with beautifully manicured colorful gardens and roses that actually have a rosy aroma (reminds me of India). The architecture and intricate carvings on the wall are absolutely stunning. Definitely recommend buying tickets on the day you book your flights. The tickets are sold out months in advance.
We stayed at the Eurostars Washington Irving hotel located at the top of a hill. We chose to stay away from the city as several people said hotels in the city are noisy and it is hard to sleep at night. It is walking distance from The Alhambra and the best part was the 15-minute walk up and down the hill to/from the city. The path had streams flowing on both sides and it was very tranquil and soothing to hear the sound of of the flowing water.
We walked around the city of Granada. Saw the Royal Chapel and Cathedral, toured the market and watched the Alhambra during sunset. Enjoyed the night vibe by taking public transport / city guide bus which drove us around the city. The city is full of historic neighborhoods, restaurants, bars, fountains and colors everywhere. We ate at a Japanese restaurant called Burbu. It is interesting that restaurants open pretty late for lunch and dinner. Burbu opened at 8pm (thats my sleep time :)). Had a good meal and then walked the hilly terrain of the city to digest the food. Saw some awesome sights on the walk.
Life in Granada.
It is very difficult to put your camera down in Seville. The architecture is stunning. We walked 14 miles exploring all the nooks and corners of the city. Each day we would pick a favorite spot toured during the day and go back at night to capture the beauty at sunset / blue hour.
We stayed at Hotel Monte Triana located closed to the Mercado De Triana (local market) where we would every morning and get fresh fruit for breakfast.
Seville is famous for its Roman Catholic Cathedral. The gothic architecture is breathtaking. Apart from having the distinction of being the third-largest church in the world, the Seville Cathedral is also home to what is believed to be the remains of Christopher Columbus. On Sundays the Cathedral does not open to visitors until 2:30pm. For the most classic view of Seville, you'll want to scale its most famous tower, the Giralda, which was originally built as a minaret in the 1100s. It's an easy 33 floor climb to the top with wide ramps instead of stairs.
Another great place to visit to see Moorish architecture is the palace of Real Alcazar which is located right next to the cathedral. The courtyards and gardens are beautiful. It's a paradise of Mudejar architecture and tranquil palm tree and fountain filled gardens. It also gains modern day fame having served as a set for the hit TV series Game of Thrones. Note that you can spend at least a couple hours exploring the complex, so if you need to refuel, there's a cafe in the garden.
When you walk the neighborhood of Barrio Santa Cruz, plan to inevitably get lost in this neighborhood that is so emblematic of Seville. Formerly the city's Jewish quarter, Santa Cruz is a tangle of streets filled with yellow and tile trimmed buildings and dotted by tiny, orange blossom tree shaded plazas.
Plaza de Espana was one of my favorite spots which is worth seeing in the daytime and returning at night. It is located in Maria Luisa Park and has a mix of Renaissance and Moorish styles of architecture.The reflection of the south tower in the pool is stunning at blue hour.
Trip to Seville is incomplete without visiting the bull fighting stadium Plaza de toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions.
The Metropol Parasol, a wooden architecture located at La Encarnacion Square is a site worth visiting during day and night. It claims to be the largest wooden architecture in the world. It looks like a giant mushroom. It has 4 levels, underground is a museum, street level is the market. Levels above the street are terraces from where you can enjoy views of the city. Plan to go there an hour before sunset and stay after sunset when the lights turn on.
One restaurant I would recommend in Seville is Lguana Ranas, a Mexican joint. The Cochinita Pibill tacos are the best
And lastly don't miss enjoying the local dances in the street
This city I will write the least about. Quiet honestly I would skip this if I had to plan my trip all over again. There is not much to do here. We stayed at HOSPES Palau de la Mar which I would recommend.
Couple of things in Valencia worth talking about are the :
- Valencia Cathedral which is built over a muslim mosque. Don't miss out on the chance to climb up El Miguelete, the cathedral tower, from which you will enjoy excellent views of the city and the Mediterranean.
- The La Lonja de la Seda is probably the finest example of a civil Gothic building in Spain.
- Torres de Serranos is one of the former twelve gates to the city, this pair of towers dates back to the 14th-century. The towers were built as part of the medieval wall surrounding the city. Climb up the towers for an excellent view of Valencia!
- Mercado De Colon is a public market located in the city center
- Bullfighting ring which I liked better than the one in Seville. The exterior architecture reminded me of the Roman colosseum
- Parliament house - The entry way reminded me of the old wing of Chicago’s Art Institute. Rooms were adorned with beautifully carved ceilings and chandeliers
- City of Arts and Sciences is an entertainment-based cultural and architectural complex. This place is worth visiting at night. L'Hemisfèric is a building meant to resemble a giant eye. The Hemesferic also known as the planetarium or the “eye of knowledge,” is the centerpiece of the City of Arts and Sciences. El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe is an interactive museum of science that resembles the skeleton of a whale. L'Umbracle is an open structure enveloping a landscaped walk with plant species indigenous to Valencia. L'Oceanogràfic is an open-air oceanographic parkand is the largest oceanographic aquarium in Europe
Warning :
Chander made reservations at Navarro which was this hyped up paella place. They are always booked day and night and have 4.5 stars from over thousand people on trip advisor. We ordered a shrimp appetizer and the shrimp was not deveined and was cooked like rubber. I refused to eat it. Chander being a nice guy and not turning down food used his hands to remove the shrimp poop. The paella was overly salty and rice was undercooked. I didn’t eat it. Chander forgot to wash his hands after deveining the shrimp and accidentally put his hand in his mouth. That was it. He was sick remainder of the trip.
Landed in Barcelona. We chose to fly from Valencia but in hindsight taking the bus would have been a better option. It takes same amount of time door to door, its much cheaper and you don’t have to worry about baggage fees in the bus. Our bag was the only bag checked-in in the whole flight and we paid 72€ in excess baggage.
Barcelona is known its “Gaudi” architecture. Antoni Gaudi was a Spanish architect who had very distinctive style. His work includes stained glass, colors, ceramics and off shapes. This colorful modernist building is one of Barcelona's most recognizable sites. My favorite time to pass by Casa Batllo is at night, just before 10 pm, when its facade is illuminated and its colors. Always good to buy tickets in advance to avoid long lines and get entry through the fast lane.
Next stop was Park Guell, again designed by Antoni Gaudi. It is a public park located on Carmel hill. Thank God for the escalators which make the climb to the hill easy. As we walked to the park from the train station we realized that the people in the city are not very happy with tourists. There is graffiti everywhere and sings to the park pointing in the wrong direction.
There is no food / water available beyond the ticket office. Most surrounding shops sell “picnic packs” which you can carry inside the park. The park is free to enter but there is a “monument” section which requires a 7€ ticket. There are time restrictions to enter this area and you can only enter at the time printed on your ticket. So, plan your trip to the park accordingly. You will see Gaudi’s style depicted front and center throughout the park with odd shaped walls, columns, ceramic and glass structures. You get a good view of the city from the hill and most people like to stay there for sunset.
Sagrada Familia was a jaw dropping experience. It is a temple / basilica designed by Antoni Gaudi. Construction of the monument started in 1882 and faced some interruptions. It was half way complete in 2010. Estimated completion is in 2026. The site is right outside the Sagrada Familia train station. When you step out of the station the gigantic monument hits you in the face and you go “Holy Crap !!!”.
Buy tickets in advance to avoid long lines. When you enter through the doors your jaw is guaranteed to drop. The immensity of the monument is hard to capture in words or in pictures. No words / picture can do justice to what your eyes will see. I stood inside with my mouth wide open and just looked in awe. The room had gigantic pillars, intricate carvings and stained glass designs. It took me a while before I lifted my camera to take pictures. Two of the three planned facades have been built. Each facade is dedicated to a period in history. The Nativity facade (dedicated to the birth of Jesus) and Passion facades (dedicated to the crucification of Jesus) are complete and the Glory facade (dedicated to ascension to God) is under construction. We had tickets to the Tower of Passion but the tower was closed because of the weather.
Other notable areas to visit are :
- Passeig de Gracia, the ´shopping mile´ of Barcelona. This street is beautiful to walk down at night, when both the streetlights and the buildings are illuminated
- Las Ramblas, An iconic landmark and the most famous street in Barcelona. You'll find small street markets, street artists and, of course, the harbor. There are dozens of small churches and buildings you can visit when walking down Las Ramblas
- Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, This huge, fresh produce market is a tourist magnet
- Camp Nou, This stadium is a breathtaking experience
Spent the last day in Barcelona (and the last day of our vacation) at Plaza de España, a plaza in the center of the city. It is a major intersection of important roads. Right at the center of the intersection is a fountain with ornamental decoration. There is also a bull fighting stadium which has been converted to Las Arenas commercial center. You can go up to the top and get 360 panoramic view of the city. One of the major architectural attractions there is the Museum of Catalan art. Its a beautiful building overlooking fountains and waterfalls. You can go up to the terrace of the building and watch the sunset and view of the city. Behind the museum is a botanic garden and olympic stadiums all of which make it a great evening exploration walk.
The most popular attraction of the area is the Magic Fountain which offers a free light and music show. The show is offered only on certain nights and we were lucky to be there on the night of the show. The show is just amazing. Crowds start to gather from 6pm for a 9pm show. I must have taken at least 100 photos and several videos of the fountain. Its just not enough. It was a perfect ending to a perfect vacation.
