Far off in sunlit places, Sad are the Scottish faces, Yearning to feel the Kiss Of sweet Scottish rain"
Posted
We're planning a trip to Seville at end of August but have a few queries perhaps someone could help us with. Its a two week holiday and we're thinking of a few days in Seville and then moving on to the beach. How many days do you think Seville merits? We will be flying from there, so its "topping and tailing" our holiday. Also, where best to find the beach? We went to Nerja last year and found it too commercialised (and too full of Britains and Germans) for our taste. We were told Nerja was "very Spanish", and we know its not as commercialised as, say, Torremolinos, but will we find anything else more Spanish on the coast? A Spanish pal recommended Cadiz - does anyone know of it? Any ideas for an itinerary? Anyone? Help????
(Apologies, Jer, but submitted this message on MadridMan's site too . . . figured twice as much help couldn't hurt. Hope you don't mind!)
Glory, glory to the hibees . . .
Posts: 217 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 19 April 2002
To find a quieter and less comercialize beach, I recommend that you pull out a map and pick a smaller population to visit. In the Cadiz area, I have been to the beach at Rota - nice and quiet. I have friends who rave about Sanlucar de Barremeda. They have sent me beaufiful videos of their vacations at Sanlucar. I don't think it caters to foreign travelers as much as the larger populations do.
West of Sevilla, there is a wonderful beach where a river empties into the Atlantic Ocean. It is called Punta Umbria. During my many visits to Punta Umbria (many years ago), I saw very few American Tourists. I stayed in a private residence. I don't know what is offered for tourist lodging. It is close to the monastery of La Rabida. Punta Umbria seemed to be the summer retreat for the people of Andalucia.
West of downtown Torremolinos is a beach called La Carihuela. It is an old fishing village that literally is now part of Torremolinos. There was a beautiful church and nice shops in this area. It was commercialized as you might say, but still it had an enchanting atmosphere.
Even a commercialize beach population has it's historical center, unless it is a modern settlement. You just have to find it.
Sevilla is my favorite city in Spain. The locals will tell you to stay away in the summer months because it is so hot outdoors. I would go there first if I could return this summer. People like places for different reasons. I went to college for a semester in Sevilla and the memories of such a beautiful place are still strong. I tend to go there in the winter months.
Several hotels in Sevilla have a swimming pool on the roof top terrace. We stayed at Hotel Don Paco and they had a pool that overlooked the city. The bar next door has a famous flamenco singer tending bar. His name is Perejil. The neighborhood was a new and wonderful experience for me.
If you can avoid booking in advance and if you speak Spanish well, you will be free to find and explore off the beaten track.
I would love to hear what others say and recommend....
Posts: 37 | Location: upstate NY | Registered: 02 July 2001
Hello Elizabeth y todos! Just happened upon this site and noticed you were going visit close to where my heart is Between Rota (where I went to school) and San Lucar there is a small town, which is often overlooked, called "Chipiona" where I was raised as a teenager. It has beautifull beaches with a church and a lighthouse between the beaches. The people are mostly farmers and fishermen and very friendly. Or used to be. It has grown some since I was there. If ya like check out my website below with photos and info about that Andalucian part of Spain. Chipiona will always have a special place in my heart :l: Hope ya enjoy I envy you! Have FUN!!!
OH WOW Chipiona looks fabulous. Love the webcam as well. Made me feel homesick and I've never even lived in Spain Just adore the fact that it's night and its late and people are still wandering around enjoying life. Now I'm all depressed cos I have six long weeks to wait until I can go and I want to paseo NOW.
Sad, sad, sad . . .
Glory, glory to the hibees . . .
Posts: 217 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 19 April 2002
hahaha...yea like I say I sure do envy you! Has been 25 years for me since I was there so 6 weeks for me would be just 'una momento' but I know whacha mean when yer waitin' for something... Chipiona's site has one of the best 'streaming' web cams I've seen and for just a small town. Well 15,000 people there now... Looks like Sofia started her quest in Andalucia - Cadiz around the time I left. That same summer! I was just still in highschool then. Them were the days for me...hopefully someday I will be able to return... Be nice to hear of your experiences there when you return! Visit and join my new group site if you like for Chipiona y Rota at:
Fly to Malaga, then have arduous train journey first to Sevilla then on to Cadiz, where we are staying at the Hostal Fantoni (45 euros a night). Gonna spend few days getting rid of the milk bottle look everybody in Scotland has, then sightsee and then head off to Sevilla. Chipiona, Rota, Sanlucar, Puerto de Santa Maria . . .
4.5 weeks to go and counting . . .
Glory, glory to the hibees . . .
Posts: 217 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 19 April 2002
Just adore the fact that it's night and its late and people are still wandering around enjoying life. Now I'm all depressed cos I have six long weeks to wait until I can go and I want to paseo NOW.
but I know whacha mean when yer waitin' for something...
