Travel Review: Tour of Spain & Portugal, Madrid, Seville, Lison, Malaga, Ronda, Granada, Cadiz, Sintra, Alhambra Palace

Madrid:

Our guide was very knowledgeable in his details and in answering our questions about the history of the places we visited.  Madrid is a young, energetic city with happy people and many wonderful eating establishments.  We only touched the edge of what there is to do and visit in our 3 days there.  Our hotel and its location were perfect.  The Plaza del Callao just behind the hotel is teeming with activity.  The Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor are both minutes away on foot.

AVE high speed train:

The train ride experience was unique.  Speeding through the Spanish countryside while being served breakfast was fascinating.  Thank you to our guide for contacting our driver to help us out in the terminal with our luggage and for escorting us through the station in Madrid.

Malaga:

Fascinating smaller city with so much to do and see; the castle, Royal Palace, Picasso musuem, downtown shopping/food district, etc.  Our hotel, perched on a hillside overlooking the Malaga harbor and city, was our favorite.  In our rented car (delivered to our hotel) we were able to tour on our own the beautiful countryside outside of Malaga.  We drove to Granada, the southern Mediterranean coastal communities, Antequera, etc.

Antequera was captivating.  It has the Dolmens, the Lobo Park sanctuary, Moorish castle Alcazaba, and best of all, the Torcal de Antequera.  This is a must visit place if in southern Spain and the Torcal is one of the most beautiful natural places on earth we have visited.  If in Antequera, find time to have lunch at the Restaurante Museo Molino Blanco...on the route to the Torcal.

Ronda:

We drove to Ronda on the way to Sevilla.  This little town has breathtaking scenery, elevation magnificence, a wonderful bull ring/musuem, and many other tidbit places to explore.  Plus the wines from this region are second to none.

Sevilla:

A historical experience to remember.  The most beautiful and magnificent cathedral we visited.  Our guide was detailed, thorough and enthusiastic.  We also enjoyed our tapas experience that evening.

Lisboa:

We were chauffeured to Lisboa from Sevilla in a luxurious sedan which allowed us to just take in the scenery along the 4 1/2 hour drive.  Lisboa is a hilly, exuberant city with so much to see.  The food here was the best.  Our excursion to Sintra and the coast was memorable.  Sintra is another one of those little gems that needs a couple of days.

All of our chauffeured rides were punctual and comfortable.  The drivers were polite and accommodating.