Hey everyone! I am going to be studying in Madrid from late May through December. Naturally I am planning on seeing as much of Spain as I can. Lucky for me (Or unlucky for my bank account) I have a week off in June and a month off in August to go travel. Is there any place anyone would recomend going that the travel guides and tv shows might overlook?
Basically I am trying to kinda plan now, so I can reserve hotel rooms in places that get really booked around tourist season.
I also will have most fridays and weekends off. So I hope on those weekends, I can expereince the towns around Madrid.
I know this leaves alot to discuss. But any good suggestions would be apreciated.

Kyle

Hi!.

If you're going to stay here, in Madrid, you have got a lot of interesting places to visit during your weekends near Madrid.
Aranjuez , Alcal� de Henares , Chinch�n , El Escorial, Toledo.

A bit far but still near Madrid you'll find Segovia, Pedraza, �vila, Sig�enza. You can go to these cities and return to Madrid in the same day.

To spend a weekend at a half distance, you cannot ommit a visit to Salamanca (I love this city), C�ceres, M�rida, Trujillo.

Finally, the most remote cities are Barcelona, San Sebasti�n, Pamplona (San Ferm�n), Sevilla, Granada.

You should say us if you prefer to visit cities or if you like natural places too. There is a lot of amazing natural places , but to reach them somtimes you'll have to rent a car because of the lack of communications.

Bye!

Segovia is a great day trip as �vila is. Cant forget El Escorial, TOLEDO, or Aranjuez either. If you ever need to rent a car try www.easyrentacar.com. Way cheap (even cheaper with advanced notice).

If you head out to Granada (I HIGHLY recommend it) and you want to check out the Alhambra you need reservations. Like now. Maybe Jer can tell us where online we can do that. Its a great trip to Grananda, you can take the bullet train to Sevilla then rent a car for an incredible 2.5 hour drive. A cool place just down the hill from the Alhambra in the Albazin (an amazing moorish style mysterious city) is un ba�o arabe, Arabic style bath house. Totally cool. Its like �12 you go in and splash around in hot, warm, and cold water with arabic tiles and columns everywhere. There are only 3-4 people in there at a time. They have bathing suits for loan too. Also has a terrace on the roof with a fabulous and rare view of the Albazin. Prob is, I dont know the name or fone#. From the center of town at the bottom of the hill you follow the st. that is parrelle to the creek up towards the cuevas (caves). Then, about 75 yards up) there is a tiny bridge over the creek to go over to the Alhambra side, that leads to a small group of buildings. Turn right on that main st that goes into that tiny neighborhood. Its on the left. If you dont find it, ask around. If you need to rest, this is the place.

Another COOL thing about Grananda and the Albazin (sp?) are the t�terias (tea houses). AMAZING TEAS. Amazing Spanish-Arabic atmosphere. Of course some are better that others, make sure to try a lot of them. In some of them, if you ask, they will allow you to smoke your hash with your tea . If that happens, give 'em a good tip.

It�s great that you are going to make reservacions now, you�ll need them .

Until later,

LA