Comments

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  Erica Gott January 1, 2011 at 8:38pm

  Thanks, all. Have posted on the Ask a Travel Pro forum.

   

  Jose, thanks for the itinerary. However, I know I can't know the entire country in just a few months. For this trip, I'm going to spend 4 months in Spain. I'll stay in 4 different regions for a month each. I have no strict plans, so if I love a spot, I'll stay longer, and if I find I've exhausted what I wanted to learn in another spot, I'll move on.

   

  David, I will contact you, because I'd love to pick your brain about Asturias. The reason I said I was starting on the southern end of Spain is because I didn't want extreme cold weather. I live in north Texas now, and our winters are quite mild. I also don't want extreme heat, so didn't want to head south in summer.
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  Tripatini January 1, 2011 at 8:00pm

  Erica, another very good way to get varied input on this question is to post in in our Ask A Travel Pro forum, which allow the question to be visible on our home page for a few days. To give it a try, post at this link.
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  David Paul Appell January 1, 2011 at 7:56pm

  Very good answer, JR. Erica, I would add that if you have a particular interest in food, absolutely do not miss Asturias, a lovely, very historic mountainous region which lies on the north coast between Galicia and the Basque country.  Marvelous cheeses (especially cabrales, a lightish sheepsmilk blue cheese), sidra (cider), sausages, seafood, and dishes like fabada, a bean stew which is the quintessential regional dish. Contact me if you'd like more info, I can drone on and on, lol....
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  Jose R. Garrigo January 1, 2011 at 7:39pm

  Hi Erica,  With limited space it's difficult to suggest all the places you can visit in Spain.  You would need a couple of years to really know the country.  Every region is different in culture, people, food, dances, even language, etc.  I suggest you contact the local Tourist Office of Spain and ask for road maps, brochures and suggestions.  The Miami office is quite helpful.  As for a "place to begin" since you indicate you are starting in the south, I suggest going all the way to Algeciras in the Strait of Gibraltar and start driving north within Andalucia.  Visit Jerez de la Frontera, beautiful and best for sherries and tapas.  Great Corridas de Toros if you like that.  Close by is Puerto de Santa Maria with its waterfront, great fish market and places reminding us of Columbus departure to America.  Continue to Sevilla, worth staying 3-4 days.  Drive east to Cordoba (its Castle,the Jewish Quarter and the Mosque converted to Cathedral), keep on to Granada (don't miss the Alhambra, Cathedral and the Gypsy Quarter).  You may start your drive up north towards Madrid but stay a couple of days in Toledo (visit the Alcazar, the Cathedral with all its medieval art and paintings, the Old Town, two ancient Sinagogues, el Greco's House, the famous painting Conde de Ordaz, etc.).  In Madrid there are tons of things to do but you better get detailed information.  Around Madrid you have Aranjuez, el Valle de los Caídos, el Escorial, La Granja, etc.  Going north you may want to visit Segovia, Avila and Salamanca, Valladolid and Burgos, all about two hours drive from Madrid.  Buen Viaje!
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  Erica Gott January 1, 2011 at 7:15pm

  I'm heading to southern Spain in March, and will migrate northward with the warming weather. Can anyone point me to a good place to begin? I'm going to spend a year traveling the world in search of traditional foods.

   

  My goal is to spend a month (or more) in each region. I hope to live with families and get to know them and their culture and foods. Along the way, I'll be blogging about my adventures on http://globalforager.wordpress.com.

   

  For Spain, I am looking for ideas for which regions to visit. I'd like to see Galicia and the Basque region for sure. Where else? Thanks!
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  David Paul Appell January 1, 2011 at 6:17pm

  As someone who's been traveling to (and occasionally living in) Spain for more than 20 years, I never thought I'd see it: as of today, one of Europe's toughest anti-smoking regs, with puffing banned in indoor bars & restaurants!
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  Tripatini January 1, 2011 at 2:50am

  This week in the Tripatini blog: a Spain-flavored New Year's Eve blast from the past, courtesy of po....
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  Buzzy Gordon December 6, 2010 at 10:23pm

  Looking for a reasonable winter rental
  
  We are looking for place to spend Jan.-Feb. Expat community or typically local environment. Ideally, a property we can take care of in exchange for reduced rent, but all offers welcome.
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  John Rocky November 29, 2010 at 4:51pm

  If your looking for an off the beaten path take on touring then look no further than Medraft.com who supply 4x4 self drive jeep tours in the Spanish Pyrenees and other great destinations. We promise to give you an amazing cultural experience and feel the thrill off self drive jeep touring. contact the site or John Fowler on (uk) 02081500687/john@medraft.co.il.

  

  http://Medraft.com/
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  Velimira Velikova October 27, 2010 at 10:39am

  Spain may not be most people's first choice when it comes to skiing, but with ski resorts in five distinct regions of the country, skiing in Spain is gaining in popularity. As the second most mountainous country in Europe (after Switzerland), Spain offers excellent skiing despite its relatively southern latitude.
  Spanish winter sports resorts abound not only in the Pyrenees along the northern border, but as far south as the Sierra Nevada in the south of Spain. The temperatures might be a little bit higher, but nevertheless, snow still falls in Spain. Many resorts are easily accessible from major cities such as Madrid and Barcelona.The terrain and consistent snow cover make the country a reliable choice - with well groomed pistes, excellent facilities, high standard ski schools, a great choice of accommodation and buzzing nightlife.