Tour de Espana, November 4-20, 2016

Friday, November 4
Flew AC 836 from Toronto to Madrid

Saturday, November 5
Visited El Valle de los Caidos
Bought a guidebook for 8.90
Had drinks at Cafeteria Restaurante Funicular
Visited the Avila Cathedral
Lunch at Alcaravea, Plaza de la Catedral 15, Avila
 • Ensalada de Salmon (Salmon and cod salad)
 • Cordero Asado (Roast lamb)
 • Pan (Bread)
 • Vichy (Water)
 • 3/8 Torremilanos (Red wine)
Ate supper at Casa Montes

Sunday, November 6
Ate pulpa at Casa Montes
Checked out Ourense: Bar Gonzalez

Monday, November 7
Visited the Cathedral at Santiago Musuem
Toured the Cathedral at Santiago de Compostella
Lunch at A Taberna do Bispo, Rua do Franco 37, Santiago de Compostella
 • Terico Estrella
 • Ribera del Duero
 • Mencia de la Casa
 • Mont. Jamon Iberico
 • Tortilla de Patata
 • Tortilla de Chorizo
 • Navajas
 • Tarta de Santiago
 • Cortado
 • Pan con Tomate
 • Cardenal Mendoza
Ate supper in Sanxenxo

Tuesday, November 8
Walked the walls surrounding Lugo
Visited the Museo Provincial de Lugo
Ate lunch at O Castelo, Rua Nova 23, Lugo
 • Menu del Dia
 • Agua
 • Licores
Visited the Praza Santo Domingo to see the black statue of an eagle to honour Augustus
Ate supper at Manny's sister's home

Wednesday, November 9
Visited Bodegas Gallegas' Rectoral de Amandi winery and got a brief tour in Spanish
Visited Ponte da Boga and got a quick tasting in Spanish
Ate lunch at the Restaurante aCantina in Doade
Visited Regina Viarum to learn it was closed
Visited Centro del Vino de la Ribeira Sacra in Monforte de Lemos
Had an amazing tour and tasting at Abadia da Cova
 • Bought Orujo Anejo – 12.00  • Bought Orujo Gallego – 10.50 Ate supper at Casa Montes

Thursday, November 10
Did laundry

Friday, November 11
Celebrated San Martino Day
Ended up at Bar Gonzalez

Saturday, November 12
Went to
Visited Tio Arturo

Sunday, November 13
Ate lunch with Lino's family
Drove to Madrid
Ate supper at Museo del Jamon: €8.70
 • Marques Caceres: €2.00
 • Rac Mixta Variada: €2.00

Monday, November 14
Saw Guernica at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía: €8.00
 • Spent a couple of hours seeing the rest of the museum.
 • Allow three hours to see everything but Guernica is almost enough on its own.
Ate lunch at La Vega
 • Robert Redford sandwich of ham and cheese
 • Draft beer
Visited the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
 • Could be the perfect art musuem
 • I spent three hours but allow five to see the permanent collection and more for the temporary exhibitions
 • Rented audio guide for $5.00
 • Bought guide for $19.90
Visited Museo Nacional Del Prado: $24.00
 • Admission charge included guide
 • Free admission but €4 for audio guide
 • Large rambling national art gallery
 • I spent three hours and felt I saw enough
 • Free for two hours at the end of day. Recommend this option, going twice.
 • Shop is buried in the back.
Ate supper at Cafe Gijon, Paseo Recoletos 21: €31.80
 • Pan y Aperitivo: $2.30
 • Ens Templada de Chi: $21.50
 • Copa Vino: $4.30
 • Agua Mineral: $3.70
Bought jamon and cuerzo at Museo del Jamon

Tuesday, November 15
Visited the Oficina de Correos and mailed a postcard to Bob & Lori
Visited the Museo Naval de Madrid, Paseo del Prado, 5, 28014
 • Paid €3 for admission and €2 for an audio guide
 • The audio guide was not worth it
 • Not much English
Ate lunch at Mas Q Menos: €10.80
 • Snd. Vedella
 • Caja cervesa grande
Visited National Archaeological Museum of Spain, Calle de Serrano, 13, 28001
 • Paid €3 for admission
 • I spent 2 1/2 hours and only saw a tiny bit
 • Almost completely bilingual
 • Lots of videos to watch, enjoyed them all

Wednesday, November 16
Visited The Alhambra, Calle Real de la Alhambra, s/n, 18009
 • Incredible!
 • Average visit time: three hours
 • I arrive for the 8:30 a.m. tour and left around 2:30 p.m.
 • Purchased for €9.00
 • Purchased two books for €29.00
 • I was disappointed in the Museum of Fine Arts: $1.50
Ate lunch at Mirador de Morayma, Alqueria de Morayma, Pianista Garcia Carrillo, 2
 • One of the best meals of my life!
 • Pan
 • Agua con gas
 • 1/2 Ensalada Moray
 • Picanton Mandarina
 • Viririega Especial
 • 10% Impruesto! and I added a tip!
 • Total was €44.99

Thursday, November 17
Visited the Museo Picasso Malaga: €7.00
 • Small musueum with mostly artifacts but nice to see where he's from
Also went to the Fundacion Picasso: €4.00
 • Saw an exhibition on Picasso's uncle – not worth seeing
Ate lunch at Meson Cortijo de Pepe: €14.60
 • Agua Gas
 • Tapa Lang. Ajopimento
 • Pollo a la Cazuelav
 • Cp. Blanco Rueda
Visited Museo Carmen Thyssen Malaga: €6.00 plus €1.50
 • Great regional art gallery
 • Had a nap on a bathroom floor
 • Purchased guide for €6.50
 • Saw Sorolla New York Sketches
Visited the Roman Theatre at closing
Ate supper at Marisqueria Casa Vicente, Calle Comisario, 2: €19.00
 • Pincho Langost: $3.50
 • R. Almejas: $11.50
 • Copa Rueda: $2.50
 • Agua Gas: $1.50
 • Pan: $0.50
Had a great Torres 10 brandy for €4 at Syrah – my corner bar

Antigua Casa de Guardia, Alameda Principal, 18, Distrito Centro, 29005 Málaga

Amazing sherry

Friday, November 18
Ate breakfast at De Carolina Bar, Calle Ayala, 1, 29002
 • Bocadillo Especial
 • Agua Cristal
 • €5.50 plus 50¢ tip
 • Disappointed to get a sandwich!
Visited Gibralfaro and Alcazaba
Very long hike up to the top that really was not worth it
Enjoyed a beer after visiting Gibralfaro
Visited the Centre of Interpretation of The Roman Theatre: FREE
Ate lunch at Pacla Gastronomia, Pintor Joaquin Martinez de la Vega: €18.30
 • Cerviche Classico: €14.00
 • Agua Con Gas: €14.00
 • Copa Blanco: €14.00
Took 15:55 Renfe train from Malaga to Madrid: €93.00
Took 19:50 Renfe train from Madrid to Toledo: €12.90
Ate supper at Restaurante Locum: €29.70 plus €3 tip
 • Very hard to find
 • Great food and service
 • Free olives, palate cleanser, desert and cookies
 • Racion Cordero: €22.00
 • Vichy: €2.00
 • Copa de Vino: €3.00
Slept at Hotel Toledo Imperial

Saturday, November 19
Ate breakfast at Hotel Toledo Imperial
Visited the Museo del Greco
 • Allow an hour
 • Free
 • Bilingual signage
 • Small gift shop
Took a walking tour of Toledo with Cuentame Toledo: Highly Recommended
Visited Iglesia de Santo Tomé: €4.80
Saw The Burial of Count Orgaz
Visited Catedral de Toledo: €10.00
 • An amazing cathedral with great art, including lots of El Greco
 • Ate supper at Alfileritos: €33.40
 • Pan: €1.00
 • Costillas de Jabal: €17.73
 • Condado de Oriza: €2.18
 • Aquabona con gas: €2.18
 • Cardenal Mendoza: €7.27
Drank at El Trador Craft Beer on Tap: €7.80
 • Copa 15 Hours: €3.30
 • Copa Rubia del Mediterraneo: €2.50
 • Tapa de ragout: €2.00
Slept at Hotel Toledo Imperial

Sunday, November 20
Ate breakfast at Hotel Toledo Imperial
Walked to train station in a light rain
Took 9:25 Renfe train from Toledo to Madrid: €12.90
EMT de Madrid Airport Express: €5.00
Ate lunch at Madrid airport: $10.95
Bought a bottle of Cardenal Mendoza at the duty free store: €25.50
Flew from Madrid to Frankfurt on LH 1113
Flew from Frankfurt to Toronto on AC 0877