In the end of October early November my wife and I are going to Spain! It's been a couple years since we have gotten to go on a vacation and this one is partly celebrating our 20 year anniversary.
I'm planning to go to at least one ACB Spanish league basketball game maybe more depending on how it fits into the schedule my wife has been working on. I looked at going to a soccer game but at this point ticket prices are a higher price than I care about the experience.
Is there any recommendations for things to see in Spain or tips for travel there? We are flying into Madrid and going a few places in Spain and doing a day trip to Morocco.
I've been to Spain a couple of times, but always as a part of cruise, never a "stay-and-explore" venture.
We did a Segway tour in Cartagena that I really enjoyed (first time on a Segway). I am not a "big city" guy, but Cartagena had a really nice feel to it.
I just got a ticket for BARÇA VS LEYMA CORUÑA in Barcelona. I'm kinda excited about going to this basketball game. It should be fun to see the basketball played there, see the arena and take in the vibe of basketball in Europe.
For the rest of the trip we are planning to fly into Madrid stay there for a couple days go to Barcelona be there for a few days then fly to Marakkesh Morroco. We will stay there for a few days then fly back to Madrid for a few days before flying out. In Marakkesh I believe we are planning to utilize a guide at least one of the days.
Let me know if there is anything I should go and see in any of these places. I need to do more research. Of course my wife has been planning for hours upon hours since we bought the plane tickets. Lol
I've been to Spain a few times (I live in Germany), but only for a week or so at a time, so take this for what it's worth.
Barcelona's pretty cool. The old city centre feels almost medieval and some of the architecture they've got there is pretty interesting. It was fairly touristy and there was a lot of shopping, but it was cool. A friend of mine got robbed there, so don't keep your wallet in a big loose pocket in a thick crowd!
Bilbao is rough around the edges, but I really liked it. Eat lots of Pinxtos. They've actually got some good beer there too. If you like eating and drinking and checking out cool stores and stuff, it's pretty nice. The Guggenheim museum was fine, but the building is the real attraction there. Guernica is not far away, but I didn't have time to visit it. There's a ton of history in Spain and I'd like to visit more sites like that in the future.
I also spent some time in Galicia, in Santiago and then on the coast this past summer. It was nice. Pretty green compared to other parts of Spain. Santiago is the destination of a lot of Catholic pilgrimages, so that was kind of cool to see all these groups arriving there. The seafood on the coast was really freakin' good. That might be more of a summer vacation spot, but it was great. The coast is rocky and really fun for hiking, and then you'll come to all these random nice sand beaches, some with people, some not. Some of the people were wearing swimsuits, some not. A not insignificant number of the women were topless, and it was just totally normal there. Just making observations!
I haven't been anywhere else in Spain, but I'd still like to get to the far south someday, and I'd also really like to go to Lisbon, which is not too far away (by American standards).
Good to see you're going to a basketball game. If I go again, I'd definitely like to check out some sports. European fans are generally really rowdy at live events, and the Spanish are nuts about sports. LaLiga would be the dream, but even a lower-level soccer game would probably be crazy. In Germany, the Bundesliga soccer games are crazy, but even like, the equivalent of minor-league hockey games feature extended chants, mass singing, large fan-based drumming groups, and yes, copious use of flares indoors. Bring earplugs just to be safe.
Have a good time!
EDIT: Whoops, just saw now where you're going, so never mind about Bilbao and Galicia (unless your trip is flexible). Still, I'm definitely going to try to go to Lisbon on my next trip over that way. Everybody I know who visits says they love it.
SameOldNudityDrew wrote: ↑Mon Oct 14, 2024 3:17 pm
I've been to Spain a few times (I live in Germany), but only for a week or so at a time, so take this for what it's worth.
Barcelona's pretty cool. The old city centre feels almost medieval and some of the architecture they've got there is pretty interesting. It was fairly touristy and there was a lot of shopping, but it was cool. A friend of mine got robbed there, so don't keep your wallet in a big loose pocket in a thick crowd!
Bilbao is rough around the edges, but I really liked it. Eat lots of Pinxtos. They've actually got some good beer there too. If you like eating and drinking and checking out cool stores and stuff, it's pretty nice. The Guggenheim museum was fine, but the building is the real attraction there. Guernica is not far away, but I didn't have time to visit it. There's a ton of history in Spain and I'd like to visit more sites like that in the future.
I also spent some time in Galicia, in Santiago and then on the coast this past summer. It was nice. Pretty green compared to other parts of Spain. Santiago is the destination of a lot of Catholic pilgrimages, so that was kind of cool to see all these groups arriving there. The seafood on the coast was really freakin' good. That might be more of a summer vacation spot, but it was great. The coast is rocky and really fun for hiking, and then you'll come to all these random nice sand beaches, some with people, some not. Some of the people were wearing swimsuits, some not. A not insignificant number of the women were topless, and it was just totally normal there. Just making observations!
I haven't been anywhere else in Spain, but I'd still like to get to the far south someday, and I'd also really like to go to Lisbon, which is not too far away (by American standards).
Good to see you're going to a basketball game. If I go again, I'd definitely like to check out some sports. European fans are generally really rowdy at live events, and the Spanish are nuts about sports. LaLiga would be the dream, but even a lower-level soccer game would probably be crazy. In Germany, the Bundesliga soccer games are crazy, but even like, the equivalent of minor-league hockey games feature extended chants, mass singing, large fan-based drumming groups, and yes, copious use of flares indoors. Bring earplugs just to be safe.
Have a good time!
EDIT: Whoops, just saw now where you're going, so never mind about Bilbao and Galicia (unless your trip is flexible). Still, I'm definitely going to try to go to Lisbon on my next trip over that way. Everybody I know who visits says they love it.
Thanks for all the info. I haven't even gone yet but I'm sure I would like to go back and see more. I prefer to see a couple places for longer periods of time than see a whole bunch of places for a little time.
I had looked at going to a Real Madrid Soccer game as a coworker mentioned there was a big time match when we would be in Spain but by the time I looked and was more serious about getting tickets they were around $200 and that was before fees on stub hub. My wife wanted to try and help me go but I honestly didn't want to go That bad and there are probably legit fans that are REALLY wanting to go so I'll let them. Lol I also didn't want to keep trying to plan around that possible date. I was pretty happy with going to the Spanish league basketball game and as you said I'll probably get some of the flavor of what other sports will be like. I'm really excited.
I looked at going to a soccer game but at this point ticket prices are a higher price than I care about the experience. 
