Spain Luxury Travel Review: Barcelona, Royal Palace of Madrid, Hike & Picnic in Ronda, Alhambra, Fine Dining, History & Culture

We began our trip on a very high note with a trip to the Hapsburg Place in Madrid.  We had a private tour with a very pleasant and knowledgeable guide.  Madrid is such a beautiful and elegant city, and our guide spent time showing us around the city and telling us the history of the beautiful buildings.  It was a wonderful way to start our vacation after a long flight.  We had dinner in Madrid at a Michelin restaurant that this company recommended, and it was our favorite food experience.  The staff was young, the food exciting, and the vibe casual and friendly which made for a unique experience.  Our planner at this company recommended a hike and picnic in Rondo, which turned out to be a favorite memory. The event was offered by a company of young folks who wanted to create experiences that would help immerse travelers in the culture of Spain.  We hiked around a gorge where we saw grapes, nuts, and fruits growing, and then had a picnic featuring a salad with some of those items.  Our host was pleasant and very friendly, and we enjoyed chatting with him during the picnic.  Another highlight was the guide we had for the Alhambra, who took a "science and math" approach to explaining the construction of the palace and the creation of the mosaics, relating them to logos used by companies today.  Finally, our hotel in Seville was magnificent.  It is so unique and lovely (the luxurious bathroom in our room overlooked the ruins of a fountain), and the service excellent.