The Museo Reina Sofía is a must-see during any visit to Madrid.
This sprawling museum is Spain’s national museum of 20th-century art collection
features works by Gris, Dali, and Miro. The most famous masterpiece in the museum is
Picasso's 1937 painting Guernica, a
stunning depiction of the ravages of war that dominates an entire room.
TIP: There are a number of times during the week when admission
is free. You’ll find those hours in the Museum Guide (English-language link
below)
The Basilica Sagrada Familia (Holy Family Basilica) in
Barcelona is the most over-the-top cathedral in the world. And it’s still under
construction!
Designed mostly by the inimitable Antonin Gaudi, it is
Seussian on the exterior and equally fascinating inside. The way Gaudi plays
with light with the stained-glass windows boggles the senses with its natural
exuberance. Don’t miss it if you travel to Barcelona! And make sure you go to
the Passion Tower. (Stay through the video to the end and you'll enjoy a
concert in the bell tower.)
We also discovered a couple of hidden museums in the bowels
of the basilica, and even a bust of the architect, Gaudi.
The guided tour with the tower included cost about 40 euros
each, which included an English-language audio tour and a trip up one of the
towers. There are cheaper options available, and we did leave the tour and just
use the audio guide, which was more our style. We spent at least three hours
there.
TIP: Reserve your tickets well in advance of your trip,
because the Basilica is very popular and sells out. And buy them directly from
the cathedral’s website, because other distributors jack up the prices.
No trip to Madrid is complete without a visit to the Palacio
Real, or Royal Palace, a stunning structure that has more than 3,000 rooms,
most of them embellished with gold. Bob’s camera is unusually tilted during
this video, so try not to get dizzy!
Entrance tickets cost 12 euros for Lisa, half price for Bob as
a senior. (There are some advantages!)
It’s hard to describe the beauty. You’ll have to watch to
see!
Everywhere you go in Madrid, you are inundated with
opportunities to see a flamenco show. Various fliers, posters, and websites
describe it as “a world-famous Spanish tradition,” “upbeat,” and “iconic.”
Bob would describe flamenco as “scary as f**king sh*t.”
Maybe it’s because we saw it in a cave. Come watch the show
with us and tell us what you think of flamenco!
No trip to Lisbon is complete without a ride on iconic Tram
28, an old-fashioned tram that takes you through the city’s most famous
neighborhoods in a vehicle so narrow it almost brushes the historic buildings.
The classic yellow trams retain original 1930s features like
brass dials and polished wood interiors. It squeezes in and out of unimaginably
narrow alleys.
It’s a great introduction to the city, and a unique
experience no one should miss!
Bob bops around Lisbon, noticing lots of tiled architecture,
inviting plazas, historic statues, interesting shops (including sardines, an
apparent Lisbon delicacy!), colorful pottery, the obligatory cathedral or two, hilltop
vistas with strolling musicians, an art museum, and more.
