Anna f or others-Restaurants/Flamenco in Madrid, Seville?

[Live the good life]

Anna f or other cruisers,
We will be visiting Madrid and Seville pre-cruise. Any name (s) of authentic Spanish tapas bars/restaurants/Flamenco music places in these areas would be greatly appreciated...Also, we will be there on June 23 (Madrid) and 24 (Seville), will there be eve celebration and holiday like in Barcelona? Thank you!
(Anna f, I will post on your Cancun question tomorrow when I have the info in front of me; I love that place and want to share with you on tons of good authentic restaurants and good sites for views)...

[This message was edited by Live the good life on 06-10-04 at 03:57 AM.]

[anna f]

Live the good life
I don't help you about Madrid but in Seville go to the Barrio de Santa Cruz or to the Barrio de Triana both are plenty of tapas bars and Flamenco shows. Seville is a very beautiful city you will enjoy it very much
Best regards / Anna

MSC LIRICA August 1, 2004

[AltaJoe]

Where are you staying in Mardrid?

Pacific Princess Oct. '95
Explorer of the Seas Nov. '03
See the Explorer Pics: [url="http://community.webshots.com/user/altajoe"]http://community.webshots.com/user/altajoe[/url]



Nordic Empress (Empress of the Seas) April '05

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800000&cdt=2005;04;11;20;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

[Live the good life]

Hi AltaJoe, we have tried Ritz Madrid in the past (near Prado museum), a five star with rooms like a royal palace. This time, we booked at a few different places, will decide which one to keep by next week! The other hotels near Prado museum are Ritz,Westin Palace and Wellington. Wellington is also a five star but almost 1/2 price of Westin or Ritz (very good value!) We are also considering staying near Puerta Del Sol, the fun place, at Tryp Cibeles or Senator Gran via (both 3-4 stars but highly recommended at tripadvisor.com site). Another one highly recommended is Best Western Carlos V, three minutes walking distance from the others also in Puerta Del Sol. We have seen all these hotels from the outside in the past, they look very nice and at a convenient location right on Gran Via 33, where there is a hop on hop off bus that goes everywhere including the Prado museum, the Royal Palace (not to be missed)...We were in Madrid during X-mas time 2003; Puerta Del Sol was so much fun at night with thousands of people walking, shopping, and dining late...This time we will check out Retiro Park. You can get more detailed info at [url="http://www.tripadvisor.com"]www.tripadvisor.com[/url] ...

[Live the good life]

Thank you Anna, we will check out the 2 Barrios in Seville...Also, regarding Cancun, one authentic restaurant I can remember is El Perico in downtown (15 minutes cab ride from hotel zone; one can also use the bus);it has delicious seafood, ceviche...very inexpensive, and has live mariachi...If you don't want to go all the way to downtown, at the tip of the L of the hotel zone is Punta Cana, where you can find Mexican restaurants with live popular band singing both Western and Spanish songs like La Bresa (inside El Camino Real hotel; this place is on the beach and gives you great views of the hotel zone skyline)...Maria Bonita is another restaurant inside El Camino Real hotel, has Mexican dishes and live mariachi...The hotel zone where you will be staying at has great beaches, and a very turquoise blue water color...Also, to get a great view of the entire island, you can go to "Top of the World", 10 minutes cab ride from hotel zone on the way to downtown, where from the top you can have 360 degrees view of Cancun (admission price five dollars)...Have fun, and if I can think of the names of other good restaurants we had been to, I'll post on your Cancun question post...

Kim "LTGL"

[AltaJoe]

Kim,

Sounds like you already know much more about Mardrid than I do!!! I was going to tell you that Casa Botin for the Roast Suckling Pig is a must.

We also had a most wonderful meal at Asador del Fronton (we dined with a Spanish Celeb) and the "Dorada baked in salt" at La Dorada was remarkable.

We'll be in Marbella and Barcelona this August. In Marbella we'll be with locals so the're running the show, but in Barcelona we're on our own. If you have any experiences there, I'd love to hear them.

Pacific Princess Oct. '95
Explorer of the Seas Nov. '03
See the Explorer Pics: [url="http://community.webshots.com/user/altajoe"]http://community.webshots.com/user/altajoe[/url]



Nordic Empress (Empress of the Seas) April '05

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800000&cdt=2005;04;11;20;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

[ClaudiaF]

For a wonderful restaurant in Seville (no Flamenco, but fabulous food ;-) try
La Raza.

Next stop:
Buenos Aires to Rio Oceania - "Insignia"
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2005;2;2;18;00;00&timezone=GMT-0300[/img]

[img]http://www.gifs.net/animate/mermaidswim.gif[/img]
[img]http://jammerbabe.com/images/gifs/icon_treasurebox.gif[/img]

[Aussie Gal]

We stayed at the Westin Palace in 2000 for a week and loved our time there. It is in a very central area, very close to all the musuems and the Retiro Park. We enjoyed Madrid and would love to return.

A great day trip was out to San Lorenzo el Escorial and Valle de los Caidos. We went by train and bus. This is where Franco built a church into the mountain and buried the dead from the civil war. In El Escorial there is a lovely palace and great places to eat.

Jennie.

The next cruise is always the best!

3RD OCTOBER, 2004 PRINSENDAM
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=228b22&cdt=2004;10;03;17;0;00&timezone=GMT+0100[/img]

[Live the good life]

Many Thanks to ClaudiaF and Aussie Gal; I have seen your posts many times before; your comments have always been so helpful...None of us had been to Seville before, so very excited and will try La Raza in Seville...We won't have much time in Madrid this time, but look forward to showing my mom and aunt around Madrid and BCN...They had never been to Spain...We will try Barceloneta and el Vaso de oro as recommended by Anna f.

Question: has anybody been to Pueblo Espanyol in BCN? This is the only place we did not have a chance to visit last X-mas when we were in BCN. Based on the ad, it is supposed to show us a sample of Spanish architecture...

AltaJoe, don't know whether you had visited BCN before, we love walking on La Rambla, lots of musicians on the street...We also love spending an afternoon on Port Olympic, lots of vendors, my daughter love those fake designer's bags...Do you speak Spanish? Seems like you travel Europe a lot like we do by land instead of cruise...That's great to dine with a celebrity and attending a wedding in Marbella...We originally wanted to visit Marbella and stay at Marbella hotel (very over priced), but changed our mind because we want to visit Seville instead...

We leave a week from tomorrow for the Millie 12 day cruise,with pre cruise in Spain and post cruise in Venice and Milan...

[Aussie Gal]

Kim,

Thanks for your kind words. We love travelling and I am happy to impart any knowledge I have gained along the way.

We went to Pueblo Espanyol one night for dinner in 2000. It was a wonderful night, we ate out under the stars. We arrived at dusk so that we could see the different types of architecture before our meal and then we had a great dinner and were entertained with Spanish dancing. etc.

I love Spain. The three cities you have mentioned are so different from each other. Barcelona is very cosmpolitan and more European. I adore all the Gaudi architecture and just love the city itself.
Seville is a very gracious city and reminds me so much of the opera Carmen - that is where the opera was set - with horses and carriages going along the beautiful wide streets. There is a great little area just near the Cathedral with tiny houses and narrow streets. It is well worth taking a walk around that area. We went on a carriage ride one night and it was very romantic. The city reinvented itself in the 1920's as it had Expo there at that time. Madrid is also beautiful and reminds me a lot of Paris, with its wide boulevards and wonderful fountains.

Have a great trip. I look forward to hearing about it when you return.

Jennie.

The next cruise is always the best!

3RD OCTOBER, 2004 PRINSENDAM
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=228b22&cdt=2004;10;03;17;0;00&timezone=GMT+0100[/img]

[AltaJoe]

Kim,

I do not speak Spanish, but I know enough phrases to get around. I make it a point to know some basics in the countries I visit. I have found that enough Europeans know, or have quick access to english that as long as I don't act like I expect them to cater to me, it works.

Madrid is a fun city. When I lived on the east coast, a trip to Madrid was an exercise in non-jetlag. The 6 hour time difference didn't apply because everything we did in Mardid was 6 hours behind. Wake up at 1:00 and have breakfast. Have lunch (tapas) at 6:00, dinner at 11:00 stay up and interact until 6:00.

Marbella is great. The micro-climate is wonderful. While the rest of Spain broils, Marbella is perfect.

The area around the Cathedral in Seville is so much fun. The Alcazar is so beautiful and peaceful.

I have to admit that I'm jealous. Your cruise, pre and post cruise stays. Yep, green with envy.

Enjoy.

Pacific Princess Oct. '95
Explorer of the Seas Nov. '03
See the Explorer Pics: [url="http://community.webshots.com/user/altajoe"]http://community.webshots.com/user/altajoe[/url]



Nordic Empress (Empress of the Seas) April '05

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800000&cdt=2005;04;11;20;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

[anna f]

Live the good life
Many thanks for your information about the Riviera Maya we will go there next saturday
I can't wait

MSC LIRICA August 1, 2004

[anna f]

Jennie
El Valle de los Caidos was built by the prisoners of the civil war, a lot of them died there during its construction, for the spanish people (like catalonians) that had relatives in the side that lost the war it is a very sad memorial.
Anna

MSC LIRICA August 1, 2004

[Aussie Gal]

Anna,

I am sorry I didn't mean to offend you re El Valle de los Caidos. I know a lot of Spanish people were killed during the Civil War but didn't realize a lot more were killed building that magnificent church/memorial.

I understood it was a memorial to all that were killed in the Civil War. That was what we read when we were there. I know Franco made sure of a spot for himself to be buried there and we did see the tombs of soldiers from both sides of the conflict.

Jennie

The next cruise is always the best!

3RD OCTOBER, 2004 PRINSENDAM
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=228b22&cdt=2004;10;03;17;0;00&timezone=GMT+0100[/img]

[anna f]

Jennie
Sorry because my comment could has been too passionate, sometimes it is difficult for me to find the exact words due to my poor english.
Don't worry, I'm not offended,of course we also don't know the complete history of the other countries, my idea was only explain that this memorial is not for all the deads of civil war but only for the side that wins.
Anyway the civil war it's a long way and fortunately if the politics don't turn over it, people is forgetting all the sadness of those period.
Anna

MSC LIRICA August 1, 2004