March 10, 2025: Janet & I took a trip to Spain to visit both some new and old sites. Particularly, Madrid and Toledo and Barcelona.
8 Day Madrid & Barcelona by Rail (Monday Departure, New York)
DAY 1, Monday - Depart for Spain
DAY 2, Tuesday - Arrive in Madrid, capital of Spain, and home to the Spanish Royal family. Transfer independently to your hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure.
Overnight: Madrid
DAY 3, Wednesday - Meals: Breakfast Half Day Madrid Highlights (AM). Take a walking tour of the historic city center of Madrid. Stroll around Plaza de la Villa, the famous Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol and Plaza de Oriente. From here, board a bus and head to the magnificent Puerta de Toledo. See the oldest bridge in Madrid and drive next to the Manzanares River, from where you will have great views of the Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral. Pass by Mayor Street, Puerta del Sol square and the Las Cortes quarter on your way to Paseo del Prado. Admire the architecture of old Madrid arriving into Las Letras Quarter and continue to Cibeles Fountain. Do not miss Puerta de Alcalá, the most famous of the five ancient gates into the city. The last sights you will see on the tour are the Santiago Bernabéu stadium through Paseo de la Castellana street and Colon square
Madrid City Tour (i-phone movie) 03/12/2025 (5:51 min)
mercado de san miguel 03/12/2025 (0:45 min)
Bells of Almudena Cathedral 03/12/2025 (1:58 min)
Royal Palace in Madrid Changing of the Guard 03/12/2025 (2:40 min)
Overnight: Madrid
DAY 4, Thursday - Meals: Breakfast Half Day Toledo from Madrid (AM) Visit Toledo, the former capital city of Spain that still retains its medieval atmosphere and charm, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Begin with a walking tour among the most famous monuments, visiting the St. Tome Church with its El Greco masterpiece. Stroll amid the courtyard cloisters and royal coats of arms at the San Juan de los Reyes Monastery. Conclude the tour with views of the Cathedral of Toledo. Then, you will have free time to explore Toledo on your own before returning to Madrid
Toledo, Spain walking tour 03/13/2025 (4:50 min)(i-phone generated)
Cathedral of Toledo El Transparente 03/13/2025 (1:50 min)
Damasquinos Artesanales Toledo 03/13/2025 (1:50 min)
Novotel Commercial Shoot 03/13/2025 (13:47 min)
Overnight: Madrid
DAY 5, Friday - Meals: Breakfast High-Speed Train to Barcelona This morning, transfer on your own to the train station and board the high-speed train to Barcelona, the capital of Spain's Catalonia region. Upon arrival, make your way to the hotel and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.
Overnight: Barcelona
DAY 6, Saturday - Meals: Breakfast Full Day in Barcelona Half Day Panoramic Barcelona (AM). Embark on a walking tour of the Gothic Quarter and visit the impressive Cathedral of Barcelona. Afterward, continue the walking tour through the oldest part of the city and learn about its historic significance. Stroll down the narrow streets of the El Born neighborhood, and view Santa Maria del Mar Church. Then, board the bus for a panoramic tour through the city. See the Olympic Port, the beach and the fisherman's quarter, called Barceloneta. Head to Montjuïc Mountain, home to the 1992 Summer Olympic Games. Ride the cable car up the hill, for spectacular views over Barcelona. At the MNAC viewpoint, admire panoramic views of the city. Conclude the tour with a drive through Passeig de Gracia to see some of the most emblematic Gaudi buildings such as Casa Batlló and la Pedrera
Overnight: Barcelona
DAY 7, Sunday - Meals: Breakfast Full Day in Barcelona Sagrada Familia with Fast Track & Park Guell (AM). Take a guided tour of Park Guell, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the city's largest urban parks, a colorful and playful Gaudi creation. On arrival, admire the multi-colored mosaic dragon and learn about the park's history. Continue on to visit the iconic symbol of Barcelona, La Sagrada Familia, Gaudi's masterpiece; a colossal church that is legendary and still unfinished. Marvel at the astonishing interior, rich in symbolism inspired on natural wonders.
Of course, Janet and I had visited this 51 years ago in 1974. There were no crowds back then and no roof either.
Park Guell and Sagrada Familia (iPhone movie) 03/16/2025 (7:09 min)
Sagrada Familia movie clips 03/16/2025 (6:00 min)
Overnight: Barcelona
DAY 8, Monday - Meals: Breakfast Transfer to the airport and fly back home. Only took use 12 hours from takeoff to landing in Indianapolis, because we were able to just make an earlier (5 hours earlier!) flight to Indy. Sometimes the stars align.