Re: One all purpose zoom for travel in Spain.

Messier Object wrote:

jeffharris wrote:

Stay away from tourist traps like La Rambla

and the Sagrada Familia (or whatever that ghastly and over rated thing is called… 🤮)

have you been inside since the interior has been completed ? We visited the main cathedrals of Madrid, Grandad, Sevilla, Toledo and Segovia etc, . . . all typical dark gloomy places with some coloured glass up high.

Cathedrals are super-creepy! Love it! The Duomo in Siena is great!

It’s exterior may not be to the architectural taste of many, by the interior of La Sagrada Familia is astonishing !

I’m definitely not a Gaudi fan. Sure, some of the Gaudi buildings I saw in Barcelona are kind of witty, but I see him as the architectural equivalent of Frida Kahlo. Decorative. Kitsch. Overrated.

I actually walked to La Sagrada Familia. Interesting, for sure, but I absolutely refuse to wait in line for hours to see anything. I much prefer wandering around off the tourist radar neighborhoods to see what the locals are up to. Local architecture, street art, store and restaurant design, finding great local restaurants and wine, etc.. I travel for those kinds of experiences, not picture post cards.

I also make an effort to get tickets to concerts in different cities. A Mahler’s 2nd at the Musiikkitalo in Helsinki was great! A Sciarrino opera premier at the Opera Garnier in Paris. 15th century vocal music at Sant'Agnese in Agone in Rome. Bartók’s house in Budapest.

and Barcelona is great! Definitely check out the Tibidabo on the hill overlooking the city. It’s like a time warp with a fantastic view.

Sevilla and Malaga are great! Cádiz is quite cool, too.

I’m leaving for Spain in a few days myself. Madrid and Granada. Hopefully low season will weed out the tourists! Can’t wait to see Alhambra!

Have a great time!