Excellent week in Spain

Spain | Apr 23 - May 5, 2026

I enjoyed three very full days in Madrid and four mofe relaxing days in Barcelona arranged by Hector Molina at Espiritu Travel. The hotel in Madrid, las Meninas, was small and very attentive, located in the center of the historic sector. I had excellent guides, Geza for a walking tour of the historic sector, who was very well-informed about history and current affairs in Spain, and Linda for the Prado, who did an amazing job of structuring our time in this extensive collection to cover my interests, making sure to bring me to Velazquez’ Las Meninas, and pointing out that Picasso, whose museum I visited later in Barcelona, spent several months deconstructing this painting. The hotel in Barcelona , Hotel Regina, was even more apt, being off the Placa Catalyuna at the top of las Ramblas, and close to transportation to all parts of the city. The guide, Adrian, drove a small group of us around the city, including the 1930s Olympic venue at Montjuic, a very informative stop at the Gothic cathedral (whose elaborate front was actually added in the 1900s), and arranging for us to have audio guides to the Sagrada Familia.