Lisbon is one of those places my spouse and I’ve discussed on many occasions. It is intriguing because it is close to the things we love in Europe. But we seldom meet anyone who has been there. As an unexplored place we decided to visit as part of a recent trip to Spain. What we found was surprising. It is a city that has lagged behind Europe, but is now rushing headlong…
We had last been in Barcelona fifteen years ago. Oh, what a difference time makes. In that short time one of the key attractions in the city has transformed. We decided to make our first full day a Gaudi day. Antonin Gaudi is the legendary architect who transformed this city a century ago, and whose disciples are finishing his master work: Sagrada Familia. This landmark basilica was first conceived in 1866, but…
Your Urban Explorers chose to fly into Madrid, take a cab to the main train station (there are two so you need to go to the right one if going on to the major cities), Estacion de Puerta de Atocha, (about 30 Euros). There are no trains or public transport from the airport to the train station. We bought a Spain Pass. It is good for a month for about $200 USD,…
What can you say about Alhambra? It is as unexpected as it is magnificent. We arrived by car after an hour’s drive from La Herradura, a small village on the coast an hour east of Malaga, (see companion blog). We were told you need to buy your tickets a month in advance. The crowds are timed and strictly regulated to help preserve the condition of this monument where sections are more than…
La Herradura is a small (3,500 off-season and 15,000 high-season) Med-side community an hour east of Malaga, Spain. The best way to get there is by train from Madrid to Malaga and rent a car at the Malaga train station. The Back Roads Wanderer found this gem through a mutual friend who’s Ex owns an affordable three bedroom condo hanging off a cliff with just the Med and you from his wide…