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 272284 times)

Offline chevron

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #860 on: April 06, 2017, 06:47:40 AM »
Also any concern of anti Semitsm is Madrid or Toledo?

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #861 on: April 06, 2017, 09:17:23 AM »
I have mixed feelings about Toledo - I went on a day when 1 out of the 2 Shuls was closed (I think it's closed every Tuesday or something like that), and the open was Shul was really just an empty room. Without a tour guide, it was hard to get anything out of our trip. Then again, people who have taken the tour from Madrid to Toledo (I believe Moish did that), say it was great! So I think Toledo might be one of the things that you need to do with a tour Guide to get a worthwhile experience out of it.

I didn't feel uncomfortable at all in Spain (in 2014). I wore a cap, but yeah, didn't notice anything.

Offline yg99

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #862 on: April 06, 2017, 09:56:44 AM »
I've been to Spain numerous times with cap & yarmulka, never had an issue.

I took the Jewish tour guide to Toledo and he wanted me to wear a cap. I didn't have one at the time. I asked him if they even know what a Jew is. He said probably not and think you a galach.

Anyway, Toledo was very interesting (my first very old town in Europe) but the guide was necessary. Expensive but necessary.

Offline B.D.Da'ehu

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #863 on: April 06, 2017, 10:41:05 AM »
Also any concern of anti Semitsm is Madrid or Toledo?
Was in Madrid last week and decided not to wear a cap over my kippa. I kept getting stared at all over the place but no one said anything to me...

Offline ual902

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #864 on: April 06, 2017, 11:45:02 PM »
I have mixed feelings about Toledo - I went on a day when 1 out of the 2 Shuls was closed (I think it's closed every Tuesday or something like that), and the open was Shul was really just an empty room. Without a tour guide, it was hard to get anything out of our trip. Then again, people who have taken the tour from Madrid to Toledo (I believe Moish did that), say it was great! So I think Toledo might be one of the things that you need to do with a tour Guide to get a worthwhile experience out of it.

I didn't feel uncomfortable at all in Spain (in 2014). I wore a cap, but yeah, didn't notice anything.

Been to Toledo, the fact that you can see Hebrew letters inscribed on the walls from the inquisition times is fascinating, plus I believe there was head sets that explained many things about the shul.

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #865 on: April 07, 2017, 08:49:19 AM »
Been to Toledo, the fact that you can see Hebrew letters inscribed on the walls from the inquisition times is fascinating, plus I believe there was head sets that explained many things about the shul.
That must have been in the other Shul that was closed when I went. The one I was in was just an empty room. You couldn't even tell where the Aron had been.

Offline chevron

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #866 on: April 09, 2017, 05:34:34 AM »
Toledo was amazing, Will go back. Just took the bus tour thing and used a guide book etc didn't see everything or nearly so but will go back.

The restaurant was OK but quite expensive :/ I'm spoiled I guess, if I can cook the same or better at home for 20% of the price.. And this hardly was convinent as they didn't deliver so it was an extra 30 min.

Next trip I'm taking all my own food, lunch was my home cured gravlax on zak bread I had brought

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #867 on: April 09, 2017, 08:49:02 AM »
Toledo was amazing, Will go back. Just took the bus tour thing and used a guide book etc didn't see everything or nearly so but will go back.

The restaurant was OK but quite expensive :/ I'm spoiled I guess, if I can cook the same or better at home for 20% of the price.. And this hardly was convinent as they didn't deliver so it was an extra 30 min.

Next trip I'm taking all my own food, lunch was my home cured gravlax on zak bread I had brought
Did you see the Shuls?

Offline chevron

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #868 on: April 10, 2017, 08:34:36 AM »
Did you see the Shuls?

No,
Maybe on the way back if I wake early

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #869 on: April 10, 2017, 11:21:14 AM »
No,
Maybe on the way back if I wake early
You stayed in Toledo overnight? You went to Toledo for something other than the Shuls?

Offline chevron

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #870 on: April 11, 2017, 03:19:44 PM »
You stayed in Toledo overnight? You went to Toledo for something other than the Shuls?

No Madrid overnight. I went to see the city, didn't see shulls. Happy to have seen yehuda halevis city

Offline damaxer91

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #871 on: May 16, 2017, 04:11:25 PM »
Anyone have any info on the "community" in Mallorca?

Offline moisheyb

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #872 on: May 17, 2017, 01:43:19 AM »
Anyone have any info on the "community" in Mallorca?

Was just there, I didn't really look too hard into the community, but I don't know of anything active

Offline kopite1

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #873 on: May 17, 2017, 06:25:13 AM »
Anyone have any info on the "community" in Mallorca?

Yes I do. I posted a few pages back. What would you like to know?

Offline damaxer91

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #874 on: May 17, 2017, 07:43:14 AM »
Yes I do. I posted a few pages back. What would you like to know?

Is there a regular Shabbos morning minyan in August?

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #875 on: May 17, 2017, 09:26:11 AM »
Is there a regular Shabbos morning minyan in August?

There is Friday evening service every week at 7.30pm but as I understand it they only run morning services irregularly. Your best bet would be to go on Friday evening and enquire or else contact the head of the community directly. I have contact details albeit they are a few years old so the running may have changed hands.

Their website seems to have been down for a few years too.

Offline kalman

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #876 on: June 08, 2017, 09:27:23 PM »
Does anyone know if there are any restrictions on bringing food into Spain, such as on dairy or meats?

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #877 on: June 08, 2017, 09:34:56 PM »
Does anyone know if there are any restrictions on bringing food into Spain, such as on dairy or meats?
Officially its the same as any other EU country. You can probably bring in as much as you want.

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #878 on: June 08, 2017, 11:10:41 PM »
What are the rules in EU countries? Are you saying that that there are no restrictions?

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #879 on: June 08, 2017, 11:17:29 PM »
What are the rules in EU countries? Are you saying that that there are no restrictions?
GIYF. I'm saying there are restrictions buy they're not more than the US.