What to see in Spain

Barcelona

Top Things to See and Do
Tour the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, visit Park Guell, people watch on La Rambla, visit the Gothic Quarter, go to the Picasso Museum, eat at La Boqueria, see Montjuic, visit the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, go to the Palau Güell, take a ride on the Barcelona Harbor, go inside the Barcelona Cathedral and take the elevator to the rooftop, take the funicular to Castle Montjuic (blast), take the Montjuic Cable Car (another blast), stroll through the Parc de la Ciutadella. I could go on and on, which explains why I've been to Barcelona at least four times. It's a fantastic, diverse, and fast paced city with so many things to see and do! Impossible to do it all in just a week, but it's fun to try!

Barcelona has so many types of transportation, BUT THERE IS NOT ANY UBER THERE. Taxis are quite reasonable. There is a Metro, the TMB bus, a funicular, and a sky cable car. I recommend that if you are going to be there for a week to purchase the T10 transport card at the Barcelona Airport. You can purchase the T10 at any Metro station and need to get to the RENFE train station then you can use it towards that one transport.

You can purchase the T10 transport card at Barcelona Airport (BCN international airport) entrance to the RENFE airport train from Terminal 2B.

The T10 Zone 1 ticket will cover your transport cost from the Barcelona airport on the RENFE train to the city center and it will count as only one journey. It will also give you transportation on the TMB bus.

Before you go
I highly recommend you purchase your Sagrada Familia tickets and Picasso Museum tickets prior to leaving for Spain because the lines are extremely long to get in! The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya is closed on Mondays. Picasso Museum is free on Sundays, only closed four days each year (January, 1st , May 1st, June24th and December 25).

If you plan on going inside any churches or cathedrals, take a scarf to put over your shoulders or wear a short sleeve shirt and no shorts on women are allowed...I know, I know because they wouldn't let me in with shorts! I had to purchase a skirt...W.E.

Pack walking shoes - you will be walking a lot! Make sure you bring your selfie stick, there's lots of photo opps.

Wifi, Internet and Cell Phones
Never had a problem with wifi, Internet or using the cell phone...lots of wifi EVERYWHERE.

Food and Water
For fabulous Tapas, try Quimet & Quimet and not only is it cheap, the food is fab! For a great breakfast - check out the Axel Hotel located at Carrer d'Aribau, 33, 08011 - their restaurant is not advertised, but it's delish!!! Also recommend trying the Paella anywhere and going to see a traditional dance show called the Flamenco.

Burgos

Top Things to See and Do
Must see the Burgos Cathedral and the Museum of Human Evolution. Also, the Abbey of Santa María la Real de Las Huelgas, Arco de Santa Maria, and the Casa del Cordón.

Before you go
Check the weather forecast in Burgos. Make sure you take an umbrella. We were there in June and it rained on us for the day! We didn't have our umbrellas and we got soaked, but dried up in a bar with wine and cheese, so it turned out great. We weren't the only ones either. The weather in Burgos can change even in the summertime without notice.

Wifi, Internet and Cell
I got plenty of wifi service at most public tourist spots and in my hotel with no problem.

Food and Water
We had no issues drinking the tap water in Burgos, but since we had to carry it with us, we just purchased bottled water. Food is very good in Burgos and inexpensive. The city is not as large as Barcelona, but it's larger than Pamplona.

Covarrubias

About Covarrubias: First of all it's a Medieval town that is highly preserved and still has original town walls around it.

It was one of the first areas to be reconquered from the Moors in the late ninth century, Covarrubias had an influence on Castile and its language. The river is popular for swimming and canoeing. One feature, Fuente Azul, is 6 km away. It has a mild climate, and a diverse cuisine: its black pudding is famous in Burgos province, and it produces grapes, and cherries.

Covarrubias is a village and municipality in the province of Burgos in the Spanish autonomous community of Castile and León. It has only 640 inhabitants, and it is near to Mecerreyes, Cubillo del Campo and Hortigüela. Covarrubias is situated in the valley of the river Arlanza, which is extensively wooded. Part of the area is included within a Special Protection Area for bird-life such as vultures.

The village itself was declared a Conjunto Histórico-Artístico, a conservation area, in 1965. Covarrubias features picturesque vernacular buildings in a natural setting that attracts many tourists, many of whom come from abroad. Covarrubias and Tønsberg in Norway have entered a friendship agreement as the result of a medieval connection with Christina of Norway, Infanta of Castile. A church honoring Saint Olaf II of Norway, designed by the architect Pablo López Aguado, has been built in the town and dedicated in 2011.

What to see and do in Covarrubias:
Some of the monuments that stand out are the Church of Santo Tomás, with its altarpieces and Renaissance pulpit; and the Gothic Collegiate Church of San Cosme and San Damián. Under the altar lie the remains of three abbess-princesses, and in the presbytery, those of Count Fernán González and his wife Sancha, the latter buried in a 4th-century Roman-Spanish sarcophagus. The cloister dates from the 16th century, and the museum, which you should not miss, keeps one of the most beautiful Gothic-Flemish images: a 16th-century triptych of the Adoration of the Magi. Nearby you can find the remains of the old walls, as well as the Doña Urraca Tower, a 10th-century Mozarabic construction.

Visit the Monastery of San Pedro de Arlanza a Benedictine monastery located in the valley of the river Arlanza in Hortigüela, 20 minutes from Covarrubias on N-234. Founded in 912, it has been called the "Cradle of Castile".

What to buy:
Ceramics! Just across the Puente de Covarrubias, sits a quaint ceramic shop,Taller Ceramica Pilar Pablo. We purchased several beautiful items and the woman working there was extremely nice and we talked for at least 30 minutes about the historic city of Covarrubias and my father, who is also a Covarrubias. The shop sits near the Puente de Covarrubias and the address is, Calle de San Roque, 2, 09346 Covarrubias

Madrid

Top Things to See and Do
Visit the world class Museo Nacional Del Prado. Tour the Cathedral de la Almudena also known as the Cathedral de Santa María la Real de la Almudena and the Royal Palace because they are near each other. Stroll down the Gran Via and Calle de Arenal for shopping. A must see is a Flamenco performance. We saw an outstanding show at the Corral de la Moreria. Plaza Mayor is a fun place to go to and while you are there, visit the Torre de Oro bar if you like bullfighting-you'll be pleasantly suprised. If you like flea markets, then visit the largest one in Madrid called El Rastro de Madrid or simply el Rastro. It's held every Sunday and public holiday of the year, from 9 am to 3 pm, along Plaza de Cascorro and Ribera de Curtidores.

Wifi, Internet and Cell Phones
We had no issues with wifi or Internet here.

Food and Water
Water is safe to drink from the tap. Tapas are served on every corner every where and I highly suggest you try them with a glass of wine. The beer is fantastic too and if you like to drink pint size, then ask for it by the "caña".

Pamplona

The city is famous for the "Running of the Bulls" event that is held yearly. Participants wave red handkerchiefs at 12 pm when the fiestas get started, then they tie them around their necks. Brian wants to run, but I won't let him. He's very clumsy, and I can only imagine what would happen if he fell in front of a mad bull!!!

Top Things to See and Do
Pamplona Cathedral, Plaza del Castillo, The Citadel, Running of the Bulls Monument, Jardines de la Taconera, Portal de Francia, Pamplona Parque, Iglesia de San Santurino, Plaza de Toros de Pamplona and Museo de Navarra. Pamplona is knows for it's annual "Running of the Bulls" fiesta, which is actually called "Las Fiestas de San Fermin" which goes on for about 9 days in July.

Before you go
Make sure it's not during the Fiestas of San Fermin (Running of the Bulls), which is held yearly from 6th to the 14th of July. They have become internationally known because of the running of the bulls, where the bulls are lead through the streets of the old quarter as far as the bull ring by runners. It's crazy talk and a crazy time! Pamplona is frequented by pilgrim hikers from the Camino de Santiago. It's colorful and fun.

Wifi, Internet and Cell Phones
I must say that my wifi was a little spotty in this bull town. I had no issues near popular tourist attractions, but walking around town, I rarely had a connection.

Food and Water
Water is perfectly safe to drink from the tap and the food is great! We went to Bar Gaucho for tapas, wine, and beer.