I hear that the rain in Spain may fall mainly on the plain

[beboots]

 Hey guys! If you've ever been to Spain before (or, as I know some of you, have lived/are living there right now), I was wondering if I could pick your brains for suggestions. 

You see... I may be going to Spain for a few weeks with my family. 

My mother has been intending on taking me and my (twin) sister on a celebratory vacation after we graduate this spring. We've been throwing around several ideas, and a little while back mum came up with one that seems to be sticking: Spain. 

My mother's father and his wife (whom he ran away with when he abandoned my mum's mum... when my mother was taking her last week of exams before university, so, uh, drama there) live there. They're British, but they apparently live in this small city on the Mediterranean that is composed of roughly 60% older British people. I'm told it's like England's Florida, but, well, more Spanish. ;) Anyway, mum wants to visit Granddad and Claire, mostly because Granddad now has cancer and me and my siblings haven't seen him since we were five. He's doing all right, but if we don't visit now we may never get to. 

So at the moment the plan is to visit Granddad & Claire for a few days, then... head off elsewhere for two weeks or so. The thing is, none of us have really ever been to Spain before. It was never ridiculously high on my "must visit" places in Europe, although I'd always figured I'd make my way there eventually. We may yet spend a week in Spain then fly over to Italy, but I know that there are definitely lots of attractions and awesome historic things in Spain. 

So I pose the question to you, friends list: where would you recommend going? What is awesome in Spain? I probably want to go to Granada because of the interesting Moorish history it has, but... I actually don't know much about Spanish history beyond the Reconquista and its colonial history. Also, wars with France. Some of which involved Hapsburgs. 

(Also, I need to brush off my tiny amount of Spanish gained in a single semester during grade ten... like nearly seven years ago? Holy crap I'm getting older...)

P.S.: I don't think that this post came out as enthusiastic as I'd like it to be. I'm actually thrilled to be going back to Europe! I'm just ridiculously tired right now. Also, I think I need to work up even more enthusiasm by doing research into travel plans. 

Comments

[dark-puck.livejournal.com]

I've been to Spain (twice!), but unfortunately I've only been to Ibiza both times. However, if you give me a couple days, I can call my mom and ask her for ideas -- I hit Ibiza with a youth group; Mama did the actual country tour thing.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

Yaaay recommendations from people who've been there! :D Yeah, no huge rush: we won't be leaving until the end of April... provided, of course, that we book the plane tickets while they're still left...

[shamanessa-wolf.livejournal.com]

Hey hey, don't forget that I'm living in Spain right now and of course you're more than welcome to visit us:) Hopefully we'll be moving soon to Barcelona, that's a city you'd surely like, as well as the Catalonian Community. The Asturias and Galicia are also very beautiful areas, especially that they look so much like Ireland which I know you like! So, let me know when you come:)

[beboots.livejournal.com]

I was actually thinking that! :D I would love to pop by and do lunch one day or something! I just have to convince my family that we should visit whatever city you happen to be in at the time. ;)

We would probably be flying out April 22nd, and be flying back to Canada sometime around May 2nd, possibly later. My mother has to teach a class on the 2nd or 3rd, but we may leave a little while after her so we don't cut the trip short. We'll see!

I would totally love to meet you in person. :D

[beboots.livejournal.com]

Oh hey, so we're probably flying into Barcelona (the current plan, provided we book in time, will be flying from Edmonton to Frankfurt to Barcelona), so perhaps I shall be able to spend some time with you then? I'm thinking the last week of April, and I can give you a more firm date in a week or two. :) It would be awesome to meet you in person!

[dayadhvam-triad.livejournal.com]

I've never been to Spain myself, but one of my friends went with her dad when he was on sabbatical and said she loved Madrid. Maybe the Andalucia region? Also, the pilgrimage of Santiago de Compostela is pretty cool. :)