Me! me!!
About 10 years ago....Flew to Madrid...few days there, including Toledo,
Took the Ave to Seville, couple of days there, rented a car and drove to the Alhambra...and then on to Nerja and ultimatly to Fragilliana where wwe stayed for a week, we rented a villa just a little way down the hillside. We then drove to??? I forget, and caught a plane...or maybe drove....to Barcelona, few days there and on to Newark.
What do you want to know?
The Alhambra is not to be missed, the Balcon de Cologne is amazing, all the little villes blanco...just wander among them...
And antibiotics are at the corner drug store...if you know how to ask...one of our group had the awful creeping crud while we were there.
I have a cousin in Fragilliano...can't tell you her phone number...but if you will be near, I will tell you where she lives and tell you a couple of "secret words" to tell her so she knows it came from me.
Linda C

Maureen,
Tell us more about your trip. I was in that region a few years ago. My godson's grandmother has a condo near Malaga (just east of where you'll be). In general the Costa del Sol is highrises and British 2nd homeowners. But there are a few gems. East of where you'll be is a town called Nerja, some beautiful caves, good open air restaurants and nightlife (you can find real bars with flamenco that's not the floorshow variety), lots of tourists, but still a real local culture.

On your way to Portugal, if you go inland a bit, you'll pass through Jerez de la Frontera. This is a good visit in a day kind of town. You can see the famous Andalucian horses training at the School of Equestrian Art, you can go to the bodegas for sherry tasting, and it's really in the heart of flamenco. They have a huge festival that is at the end of February... will you be there then?

As for the coast... there's always a trip to Gibraltar. I didn't go. The towns nearest, Algeciras and Tarifa... windsurfers, Brits and tourists. If you go straight north of Estepona, there's the town of Ronda. Are you a Hemingway fan? This was supposedly the setting of "For Whom The Bell Tolls". The gorge, the restored Arab Baths, the architecture...I really enjoyed wandering around.

As you'll see, there's a distinct difference between the coast (German and British) and the interior (much more real Spain). But as you go inland, you also get more traditional. The sidewalks are rolled up on Sunday.

Will you be visiting Granada or Sevilla? I LOVED Sevilla. I can probably help with hotel/restaurants.

As for Portugal. I can't help. I spent most of my time around Porto and up to the Spanish border area of Santiago de Compostela. If you decide to go north, I can help you there.

Maureen I sure hope you and your dh are feeling better soon and that your trip will clear up any remaining cold symptoms.

I drove back and forth across southern Spain twelve times when I was working for a Spanish company years ago, and at the time I was familiar with every little bend in the road. But things will have changed since then. But here are some tips and must sees.

If you need a hotel, there is nothing better than the Spanish National Paradores......the government chain of inns located in old castles and modern buildings, in some of the most beautiful and historic places in the country. The menus in their dining rooms reflect the local cuisine and I can't praise them highly enough. Here's another site with info and photos of the Paradores.

Places not to miss:
- the white village in the province of Almeria.....a beautiful Moorish town perched on a hill, and looking down over the Parador of Mojacar.

NERJA - another charming town......albeit somewhat touristy now. The focal points are the caves and the Balcón de Europa, a magnificent viewpoint.

ANTEQUERA - a beautiful medieval town.

MIJAS - another lovely white village on the Costa del Sol.

RONDA - another must place to visit, having one of the oldest bullrings in Spain, now a museum. A historic and beautiful place with lots to see.

GRANADA - of course The famous

I'm sure the southern coast is now somewhat overdeveloped with holiday apartments and mass tourism, but once you get out into the villages you will still find much of that Andalucian charm. Food.....try places where the local folks are eating and avoid the eateries populated by tourists. Ask a local person....taxi or bus driver, news agent etc. where they would recommend trying the typical dishes of that area.

PS....Oh and if by unfortunate chance you are stricken by "travellers tummy" (hope not)...one of the best Spanish products to help you out are tablets of "Salvacolina" available at all pharmacists. And if your cold symptoms persist, a very good remedy is a medicated hot lemon drink which comes in a box of little pouches of powder which you dissolve in hot water called Frenadol which is what I use to stop cold symptoms. No prescription needed.

Good Trip....¡Buen Viaje!

SharonCb

Thanks for these tips.

Lol Linda...and on to Newark. Yes, that's how our trip is starting and ending. (DH is really feeling sick so I haven't asked if he decided to drive or take the train up. Hoping for the latter but...)But Linda, I was not reading GW 10 years ago, nor do I think you were posting but..

Linda do you mean Frigiliana ? I googled Fragilliano and the former came up, north of Nerja. Funny about the secret passwords. ;-) Yes, if we are talking about the same town.

We will be sure to see Granada and Sevilla, and I know the coasts were British/German meccas even back in the days I lived in England. I think soccer rowdies got their training then.

We won't be needing hotels except in the time between Spain and Lisbon. However depending on how we feel, we may extend our time at the villa in Estepona and just sleep. However, I would certainly try one of the paradors which I have heard so much of. Having lived in the Arab world so long, it will be interesting to see the things that strike a mental Aha! in Spain, and get to look at the blending of the two cultures.

Thanks for the meds tips Sharon! and for some towns to drive ut to. We usually do try to look for places where people who seem native are eating. (But then I'd look for wherever YOU were eating too!!)

Ann, yes I'd like places in Sevilla...that is one of the towns I've been anxious to see since my hs days, when a has friend went to see relatives...at Easter to boot with all the pomp and festivals.

Back to my steel cut oats. ;-) Maureen

btw Ann, often I'd like YOUR life, well no...just your house! I certainly don't want to be raising a short one anymore. ;-)

Frigilliana or however it's spelled;) has a fascinating history and there are tile murals through out the town that tell how the townspeople saved the town from the Arabs by rolling I believe it was mill stones down the hill.
And go to the Alhambra when you are feeling well....because there is a lot to see and a lot of walking, and if you are at all like me you don't want to miss even a corner!
And if you love Renaissance art be sure to take the time at the Cathedral de Seveilla. The treasore there has an unbelievable collection...all very casually displayed, un labelled and unprotected from the viewers. There was a huge El Greco in a room with a ladder that could have fallen over and punched a hole in the canvas!
Feel better!! Awful to be sick and be thinking of an 8 hour plane trip!
Linda C

My wife and I are planning a trip to southern Spain either next fall or about a year from now. I've found Frommer's guide to Andalusia pretty informative. We'll probably be flying in to Granada and out from Seville. (From where we live, doing it that way is about $500 per person cheaper than flying into Seville and out from Granada. Go figure.)

Another source of info is about.com. They have some opinions on what things are not to be missed. Check out the link.

I've always wanted to see the Alhambra. Have a great time. To get you in the mood, try listening to that wonderful guitar solo, "Recuerdos de l'Alhambra' by Tarrega. Lovely.

As far as chest congestion, I heartily recommend getting your doctor to prescribe a broad spectrum antibiotic to be used during the first part of the trip. The last two extended airline flights I took, I was sick as a dog for the first several days of the trip.

Here is a link that might be useful: andalusia

Spain is fabulous. We rented a house in Rosas, on the Mediterraean, close to Figueres (Salvidor Dali Museum). We toured by train and bus very easy, clean and on time!
Outside of Rosa's were anchient ruins and a grand Monistary. Take your liter bottle to the Wine coop and fillup for a couple of dollars. No sulphites in the wine, terrific. The olives and almonds at the local farmers markets were fabulous.