Topic Wiki

Barcelona
Links to Trip Reports: @Yehuda, Yehoshua, CGR
Kosher Restaurants: http://www.restaurantmaccabi.com/en/
Activities: Jewish Tours in Barcelona, http://www.urbancultours.com
http://www.barcelonadreaming.com/package/barcelona-jewish-tour/
Hotels:
Shabbos Tips: Stay at Hotel Condado it is about a 3 minute walk from the shul (local community), bear in mind there is no eruv, so you will need to either leave the room open or make some arrangement with the hotel, they do not offer keys (or have that option at all)
Public Transport options:
Guidebooks:
Other Tips: Jewish Community of Barcelona (Orthodox): http://www.cibonline.org; Go to the local shul and meet Rabbi Daniel Ashkenazi he is wonderful and quite helpful.

Madrid
Links to Trip Reports: @Yehuda, @Yehuda pics, Yehoshua, @zalc (Mini)., CGR
Kosher Restaurants: http://www.restaurantelaescudilla.com  https://www.pinatimadrid.com/  https://www.pizzeriarimmon.com/(teuda)
Activities: Toledo - a day trip from Madrid to see 2 old Shuls. Can hire a tour guide, Rabbi Hanoka (info@jewishtoledotour.com), which is not cheap, or can take a train on your own. 1 of the Shuls (El Transito) is closed on Mondays. @Yehuda went on a day when that Shul was closed, and the other Shul was really just an empty room and seemed like a Christian organization now runs the center. Without a tour guide, it was hard to get anything Jewish out of our trip (other than an antique store that had some Judaica). But, people who have taken the tour (discussed in the thread) have said it was great! Recommended to go with a tour or not go at all (and ensure to go on a day when both are open!). Report in the thread that the sometimes-closed Shul has audio headsets for use, so that would help. If going alone, you can research the Jewish places at the link HERE
Hotels:
Shabbos Tips: Chabad Site
Public Transport options: Uber works well, as does the subway if you speak Spanish.
Guidebooks:
Other Tips: Jewish Community of Madrid (Orthodox), http://www.cjmadrid.org

Malaga
Links to Trip Reports:
CGR
Kosher Restaurants:
Activities:
Hotels:
Shabbos Tips:
Public Transport options:
Guidebooks:
Other Tips: Comunidad Israelita de Malaga (Orthodox), http://www.cimalaga.es

Seville
Links to Trip Reports: @Yehuda, Yehoshua, CGR
Kosher Restaurants:
Activities: Jewish Tours in Sevilla/Cordoba, http://www.jewishsevilla.com
Hotels:
Shabbos Tips:
Public Transport options:
Guidebooks:
Other Tips: Comunidad Judia de Sevilla, synagoguesevilla@gmail.com

Gibraltar
Links to Trip Reports: Yehoshua
Kosher Restaurants: Amar's Bakery and Coffee shop, http://www.amarsbakery.com/
Activities:
Hotels:
Shabbos Tips:
Public Transport options:
Guidebooks:
Other Tips: Jewish Community of Gibraltar, http://www.jewishgibraltar.com

Mallorca
Links to Trip Reports:
CGR
Kosher Restaurants: Their is not - one restaurant serve felafel it's own by an israeli but no hechsher
Activities:
Hotels:
Shabbos Tips: The Shul its open on Friday night
Public Transport options:
Guidebooks:
Other Tips:
 
4500 IB Avios from anywhere to anywhere in the country
Best way to get around anywhere in this country is by scooter. It is safer driving them there since they outnumber cars by great proportions.
« Last edited by cgr on September 04, 2023, 09:01:01 PM »

Author Topic: Spain Master Thread  (Read 272095 times)

Offline as2

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #980 on: May 22, 2018, 06:55:32 PM »
How do I avoid getting pickpocketed? Backpack locks work?
Same way you'd avoid it in NYC or any other major city. Be conscious of your surroundings, and try to keep valuables in places that can't be easily picked.
Memories last forever, make them while you can.

Offline Luvisrael

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #981 on: May 23, 2018, 11:46:13 AM »
How do I avoid getting pickpocketed? Backpack locks work?
never carry valuables in your pocket! wee always find creative places to put things... think stroller etc..

Offline DTM

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #982 on: May 23, 2018, 12:37:35 PM »
Same way you'd avoid it in NYC or any other major city. Be conscious of your surroundings, and try to keep valuables in places that can't be easily picked.
+ 1
For example, when traveling, I like to wear a jacket with an inside zippered pocket for my wallet (and passports when not in the hotel safe). 
Back home, on the NYC subways or crowded streets, I have always just kept my wallet in my regular front pocket, staying aware, but without much concern. If I was a tourist, I would probably be more careful to heed travel guide warnings. After my recent visit to Spain, I felt that those warnings were way overdone, although it probably depends where and when you go.       
« Last Edit: May 23, 2018, 12:43:49 PM by DTM »

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #983 on: May 23, 2018, 01:50:41 PM »
never carry valuables in your pocket! wee always find creative places to put things... think stroller etc..
Stroller doesnt sound like a great idea to me for a place to keep valuables

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #984 on: May 23, 2018, 02:45:00 PM »
Stroller doesnt sound like a great idea to me for a place to keep valuables
Why not? Who's going to steal your stroller?

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #985 on: May 23, 2018, 02:48:55 PM »
Why not? Who's going to steal your stroller?
they wont steal the stroller, but they can steal what is in the stroller

Offline chevron

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #986 on: May 28, 2018, 03:55:17 AM »
Any issues with yarmulke and tzitzis in Barcelona? I see @Yaalili mentioned no issues.
« Last Edit: May 28, 2018, 04:03:24 AM by chevron »

Offline chevron

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #987 on: May 28, 2018, 04:05:53 AM »
Anything to see on the Barcelona coast? 

Offline Yaalili

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #988 on: May 28, 2018, 06:55:33 AM »
Anything to see on the Barcelona coast? 

If you’ve covered bcn and looking for a day trip, you can do Girona or Andorra from bcn.

Offline DTM

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #989 on: May 28, 2018, 08:55:40 AM »
Any issues with yarmulke and tzitzis in Barcelona? I see @Yaalili mentioned no issues.
You should not have a problem. It’s the same as Manhattan or Miami. Some people may be antisemitic but most are tolerant and hardly take notice. And only  the Jews and Israeli tourists will have any idea what the tzittis are, or even care less.

Offline chevron

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #990 on: May 30, 2018, 05:18:25 PM »
Airbus to placa catalunya no problem. Stayed in acta atrium hotel $100 a night. Small room but incredible service.

Macabbi was OK, it's like a blast in the past so that's nice. Great wine options!! 26 Euro for habib (not Mevushal!!)

Got Andalusian bread which was OK, it's bread with tomato's and I think anchovies?

Meat kebab was nice as were the potato wedges fries.

Grilled salmon was not Good. Who grills salmon skin off?!? Veggies it came with were meh. $90 bill was OK when you count the wine, but if you factor the wine being so cheap blah.

Rambla was nice but lousy tourist trap

On day 2 I took the city tour bus. Very nice. Wanted to do both routes but only got to do one.

Barcelona is stunning by day and by night.

Took the train to marca falsat to elvi wines..time of my life!! Today I visited Capcanes in monsat, incredible.

So rather than macabbi x2 I went to shaq shuq. It's weird because I could have sworn I saw shaq shuq sign on Rambla?!? That was Monday but it's all the way in the other way?!?

So I suppose I should have ordered staple items but I got grilled lamb, pretty good, comes with roasted veggies which are just peppers, misleading I thought. Got baked potato which were baked potato slices, OK but oil galore ugh and house bread was not fresh seemingly challa brought.

Nu Nu I had an incredible time Bh. Off to Israel now!

Offline davidmal

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #991 on: June 05, 2018, 06:36:40 PM »
Airbus to placa catalunya no problem. Stayed in acta atrium hotel $100 a night. Small room but incredible service.

Macabbi was OK, it's like a blast in the past so that's nice. Great wine options!! 26 Euro for habib (not Mevushal!!)

Got Andalusian bread which was OK, it's bread with tomato's and I think anchovies?

Meat kebab was nice as were the potato wedges fries.

Grilled salmon was not Good. Who grills salmon skin off?!? Veggies it came with were meh. $90 bill was OK when you count the wine, but if you factor the wine being so cheap blah.

Rambla was nice but lousy tourist trap

On day 2 I took the city tour bus. Very nice. Wanted to do both routes but only got to do one.

Barcelona is stunning by day and by night.

Took the train to marca falsat to elvi wines..time of my life!! Today I visited Capcanes in monsat, incredible.

So rather than macabbi x2 I went to shaq shuq. It's weird because I could have sworn I saw shaq shuq sign on Rambla?!? That was Monday but it's all the way in the other way?!?

So I suppose I should have ordered staple items but I got grilled lamb, pretty good, comes with roasted veggies which are just peppers, misleading I thought. Got baked potato which were baked potato slices, OK but oil galore ugh and house bread was not fresh seemingly challa brought.

Nu Nu I had an incredible time Bh. Off to Israel now!
Nice Food Review..... Did you see any sites... any photos? where did you stay??
-DMC
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it ~Ferris Bueller"

Offline davidmal

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #992 on: June 05, 2018, 06:40:45 PM »
Planning a trip to Barcelona
and I could use some help



1. In 1 day What would you recommend?
I would Love to do
Jewish tour with Urban Cultours.
Segway Tour (Which I'm guessing should cover most sites)
Gaudi's colorful Parc Guell as well as La Pedera, a/k/a Casa Mila. The latter was very interesting, I recommend you take the audio tour which starts with an elevator ride to the roof, one of the main attractions, and then walks you down. We enjoyed walking around Barcelona, not so much La Rambla, which is a bit too Times Square touristy, but rather the Passieg de Garcia and nearby streets. We stayed at the Le Meridien right off La Rambla, which was very nice, and we ate at the nearby Restaurant Maccabi, an excellent restaurant with great food, and also took out from Shaq Shuq a few blocks away.       


2. How Far is city center to Airport and Security and custom times? I have a 6:30 flight
is leaving at 4:30 safe?


3. Hotel Any recommendations from experience? Must have a pool

4. Should I opt for Athens over Barcelona?
it was extremely humid
« Last Edit: June 05, 2018, 06:47:36 PM by davidmal »
-DMC
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it ~Ferris Bueller"

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #993 on: June 05, 2018, 06:42:07 PM »
Planning a trip to Barcelona
and I could use some help



1. In 1 day What would you recommend?
I would Love to do
Jewish Tour
Segway Tour (Which I'm guessing should cover most sites)


2. How Far is city center to Airport and Security and custom times? I have a 6:30 flight
is leaving at 4:30 safe?


3. Hotel Any recommendations from experience? Must have a pool
i heard great things about the W

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #994 on: June 05, 2018, 07:56:18 PM »
Someone recently wrote a TR and stayed at a hotel with a pool. Might have been the W, not sure.

Offline as2

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #995 on: June 05, 2018, 10:30:42 PM »
Someone recently wrote a TR and stayed at a hotel with a pool. Might have been the W, not sure.
Twas I. Stayed at the Renaissance Barcelona Fira. It had a great rooftop pool, but was probably a bit far out for most.
TR link: click me!
Memories last forever, make them while you can.

Offline avbar88

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Kosher in Ibiza
« Reply #996 on: June 12, 2018, 12:58:22 PM »
Hi there

Was wondering if anyone had experience with kosher and or shabbos there.

Looking for advice if I should extend my trip and stay in ibiza for shabbos or fly to somewhere close by (barcelona, madrid, etc) and wrap up the trip there before heading back to ny.

Offline chevron

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Re: Kosher in Ibiza
« Reply #997 on: June 12, 2018, 06:16:18 PM »
Hi there

Was wondering if anyone had experience with kosher and or shabbos there.

Looking for advice if I should extend my trip and stay in ibiza for shabbos or fly to somewhere close by (barcelona, madrid, etc) and wrap up the trip there before heading back to ny.

Plenty of kosher in barcelona, less so in madrid

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #998 on: June 12, 2018, 06:34:00 PM »
Thanks for the reply

Anything in Ibiza?

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #999 on: June 12, 2018, 07:52:10 PM »
Thanks for the reply

Anything in Ibiza?
No restaurants