Comments on: 168 hours in Spain, part 1

By: Jess

Jess — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 06:45:58 +0000

In reply to Maggie. I don't know if it's only about distance, I find many from the US just want to tick of a box of having been somewhere and care less about relaxing, soaking up the atmosphere etc. They do a "tour of all of Europe" in like 9 days and just have Starbucks and McD, it's easy to travel fast that way.

By: Maggie

Maggie — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 09:13:34 +0000

Oh, I completely missed you went to Spain! From my (European) perspective, a vacation overseas would be such a big deal but I know your family travels extensively. I love that you managed to do Madrid, Seville and the Alhambra in one week, Americans do have a different idea of distance, we would’ve probably just said “Too far from each other”. (And missed out…)

By: Diana

Diana — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 13:57:18 +0000

So delighted to read about your adventures after getting your "sometimes it rains" email today! We just got back from 11 days in Madrid and Barcelona with our 11-year-old and yes, the rain and cold were challenging. We packed a ton into the good days though. One afternoon we just surrendered back to the hotel room and vegged and I watched a "Lifetime" movie in Spanish. It translated to "Engaged Until Death" .

By: Michaela H

Michaela H — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 19:30:49 +0000

We are going to Sevilla and a extended road trip in Andalucia Next week – without kids (study + exchange year US), but like your idea of splitting. A guide makes things easier, but as in most European countries you get along with English pretty well as everyone has to learn it in school. This is especially true in tourist areas; even in France you will look in vain for a conceited waiter who supposedly doesn’t speak English. Be kind and you will have a great time no matter which part of Europe.

Looking forward to part 2!
Michaela (Germany)

By: Coree

Coree — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 10:59:16 +0000

In reply to Laura Vanderkam. Jessica, we'll wave! We're going to Legoland on Sunday, and Lego House on Monday!

By: Anna Marks

Anna Marks — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 12:39:16 +0000

In reply to Laura Vanderkam. thank you!

By: Laura Vanderkam

Laura Vanderkam — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 12:04:01 +0000

In reply to Lori C.

@Lori C – my eldest is studying Spanish, though he saw it was challenging to actually converse. And yes, it rained a lot! But Grenada is still beautiful. We walked through town and then saw the Alhambra the next morning. And the train station – I’ll post about that later this week.

By: Laura Vanderkam

Laura Vanderkam — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 12:02:48 +0000

In reply to Yukun Wu.

@Yukun – we had guides for various parts of our trip – like when we did the walking tour of Seville, or our flamenco night. They all spoke Spanish and English. My oldest is studying Spanish in school but it is challenging to actually converse with people!

By: Yukun Wu

Yukun Wu — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 00:38:06 +0000

Yes, Ms. Laura Vanderkam, I also think that it must’ve been a lovely week in Spain.
In the meantime, I’m wondering: Do you need to have a Spanish translator to go to Spain on this trip? Or does your guide already speak both Spanish and English as a prerequisite to being a guide in Spain?
Also, I assume that you visited Spain just for the sake of going around in Spain. You didn’t visit Spain for the sake of studying Cervantes or Columbus. Or studying Archaeology. Is that true?

By: Lori C

Lori C — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 23:45:07 +0000

I spent a semester in Granada living with a host family in college. This is bringing back lots of pleasant memories! (Except for the rain- what a bummer!) did the boys appreciate the culture? Do either of them speak Spanish? I hope you all had a great time and enjoyed yourselves.