Spain!

Subject: RE: Spain!
From: alanww
Date: 18 Oct 16 - 04:37 AM

Hey! Thanks for all the thoughts. We are in Córdoba at the moment. The mosque/ cathedral is fabulous! We will soon be heading down to Sevilla, Cadiz & Granada and some flamenco.

Subject: RE: Spain!
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 17 Oct 16 - 08:58 PM

Not sure that my link is working: just keeps coming back to this thread! Try YouTube and Asturian Band in Castellon, or Celta-Rock in Castellon!

Subject: RE: Spain!
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 17 Oct 16 - 08:51 PM

I know this might not help you in your search for sessions, but there are enclaves of people from other Spanish regions to be found wherever you're going. We went with our Scottish ceilidh band to Alcossebre in 2009 and 2012. On the latter occasion, we played in a festival in Castellon with the local group of Asturian "ex-pats". Just hope you get a chance like this!
See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=133YUgXhluw

Subject: RE: Spain!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Oct 16 - 07:13 AM

Some great tips in this thread for finding good flamenco. We were lucky in Córdoba to find good stuff, though my sister and her friends, the latter who have a cortijo in Andalucía, are slightly more in the know than your average tourist. Me, for example...

Subject: RE: Spain!
From: GUEST,Mike Yates
Date: 17 Oct 16 - 07:05 AM

I was in Seville a couple of weeks ago. Lots of tourist flamenco shows. The Flamenco Museum in the centre of town puts on good shows, though. The best live music that I heard was in small local bars in La Maccarena. If you go there at night don't miss the Alameda de Hercules, a large boulevard with lots of good tapas bars - much cheaper than in the centre of town. The music bars were in the same area.

Subject: RE: Spain!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Oct 16 - 06:06 AM

Have yet to get to Seville. Already campaigning to go next year (I need my sister and Mrs Steve to agree 😉). Flippin' euros are getting a bit pricey though...

Subject: RE: Spain!
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 17 Oct 16 - 05:24 AM

In Granada, we ate out at a pavement cafe: a young girl busked on the other side of a hedge, on guitar, as we ate. She played all the Spanish guitar classices, Sor, Tarrega, etc. An absolute delight.
Echoing what has been said by Steve about Granada and Cordoba, but also don't miss the Alcazar in Seville. Take ID to get generous concessions if you are "of an age"!

Subject: RE: Spain!
From: alanww
Date: 16 Oct 16 - 05:51 AM

Thanks everyone. I'm in Madrid now & am wearing shorts & sandals! Córdoba tomorrow! We played one tune at cafe yesterday but no session yet. Happy days. Alan

Subject: RE: Spain!
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 Oct 16 - 04:54 AM

There used to be a country and Western club at a restaurant inland from Puerto Banus - probably only in high season though. Car essential.

Subject: RE: Spain!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 13 Oct 16 - 06:23 PM

El tiempo is a great website for sussing out the weather you can expect in Spain. Great for the week ahead, less reliable, as ever, beyond that!

Subject: RE: Spain!
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 13 Oct 16 - 03:32 PM

Madrid can be surprisingly COLD. I was there once at the start of September and it snowed.
Madrid is traditionally said to experience "nueve meses de invierno y tres meses de infierno" - nine months of winter and three months of Hell.
So take warm clothes.

Subject: RE: Spain!
From: alanww
Date: 13 Oct 16 - 03:05 PM

Any more thoughts?
Keep smiling (& exploring)!
Alan

Subject: RE: Spain!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 11 Oct 16 - 06:51 AM

Ah, I wish I was coming with you!

Subject: RE: Spain!
From: GUEST,alanww
Date: 11 Oct 16 - 06:36 AM

Thanks for the comments & tourism ideas.
We are on a three week train journey, so we'll get an average of 4 nights in each city. Happily we're going nowhere near Malaga Airport. And we don't do beaches & swimming! We also hope it won't be too hot!
Yes, no doubt we will want to watch some flamenco.
Looking forward to it!

Subject: RE: Spain!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 11 Oct 16 - 05:56 AM

Incidentally, Córdoba is the hottest city in Europe with an average July/August daytime maximum of 38°C. During our visit in August we exceeded 40°C two days in a row! You could be going at a more comfortable time but I doubt that you'll get the same outdoor evening bar culture in mid-October. Who knows though?

Next year, with luck, if I can persuade my sister and Mrs Steve - Seville! Maybe Cádiz too...

Málaga airport though - sheesh...💩

Subject: RE: Spain!
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 11 Oct 16 - 03:31 AM

That's a lot of Spain to be taking on in one holiday! Granada and Cordoba, in particular, are two seriously beautiful cities. Enjoy.

Flamenco shows ('tablaos") are very variable . It's worth asking, in tourist offices, about "penas" (pr. "pain-ya"!). These are flamenco clubs for locals. Some welcome visitors on one night a week. I remember a great night in one in Puerto de Santa Maria, across the bay from Cadiz.

Regards

p.s. I'm of to Madrid in a few days to spend a week as a volunteer English teacher in a tiny village near Avila. Check out www.vaughantown.com if the idea appeals.

Subject: RE: Spain!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 10 Oct 16 - 08:20 PM

I can't help much with the music side but I can still enthuse! You will love Granada and Córdoba. We were in Granada last summer and we visited the Alhambra at night and again the next morning, for which the tickets were a measly €15. Do it! In Córdoba, which we visited this summer, there's the Mesquita/Catedral which is absolutely stunning and which should on no account be missed. They are both wonderful, joyous cities and you will love your visit. We did see a fantastic, and I mean it, flamenco show in Córdoba which was a bit pricey but worth every penny. It was the Tablao Flamenco Cardenal.

Subject: RE: Spain!
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 10 Oct 16 - 09:03 AM

Not to join, but to listen: In Granada, ask after a respected flamenco singer, last name Heredia, last I heard used to have performances every week.

Subject: Spain!
From: GUEST,alanww
Date: 10 Oct 16 - 06:02 AM

I'm looking forward to a tour Spain in a few days time, going to Madrid, Córdoba, Seville, Cadiz & Granada. Are there any Mudcat members located there and does anyone know of any good session/ bars to seek out? I'll be bringing my voice & concertina and my travelling mate with have his melodeon. Thanks.