Spain for Dummies Book

	Introduction	1
	About This Book	2
	Conventions Used in This Book	2
	Foolish Assumptions	3
	How This Book Is Organized	4
	Icons Used in This Book	6
	Where to Go from Here	6
Part I	Getting Started	7
Chapter 1	Discovering the Best of Spain	9
	Welcome to Espana	9
	Spanish History 101	13
	Touring with Your Taste Buds in Mind	15
	No Comprendo: Making Yourself Understood in Spanish (or Ingles)	20
	Taking Notes on Nightlife	21
	Bringing Back the Loot: Shopping in Spain	21
	Witnessing the Raging Bull	22
	Appreciating Spanish Art and Architecture	23
	Grooving to Musica Espanola	24
Chapter 2	Deciding When and Where to Go	27
	Introducing Spain, Region by Region	28
	Discovering the Secret of the Seasons	32
	Parties and Prayers: Enjoying Rowdy and Religious Festivals	35
	Trip-Planning Tips	39
Chapter 3	Five Great Spain Itineraries	41
	The Best of Barcelona and Catalonia in One Week	41
	The Best of Madrid and Castile in One Week	42
	The Best of Andalusia in One Week	43
	Exploring Spain with Kids	44
	Touring Spain's Great Works of Art in One Week	45
	Getting off the Beaten Path	46
	Drawing Up a Daily Itinerary	46
Chapter 4	Planning Your Budget	47
	Adding Up Your Budget Elements	47
	Keeping a Lid on Hidden Expenses	51
Chapter 5	Planning Ahead for Special Travel Needs	55
	Traveling with the Kiddies	55
	Touring Senior Style	57
	Exploring All the Options for Travelers with Disabilities	58
	Being Out in Spain	59
	Going to Spain as a Student	60
Part II	Ironing Out the Details	63
Chapter 6	Getting to Spain	65
	Finding the Perfect Travel Agent	65
	Looking Into Escorted Tours and Package Tours	66
	Discovering Special-Interest Tours	70
	Buying a Plane Ticket Yourself	71
	Understanding the new air travel security measures	75
Chapter 7	Getting around Spain	77
	Flying around Spain	77
	Taking the Train	78
	Getting around by Bus	80
	Cruising in a Car	80
Chapter 8	Booking Your Accommodations	85
	Understanding Rack Rates (And Why You Don't Have to Pay Them)	85
	Determining Your Hotel Needs	87
Chapter 9	Money Matters	93
	Making Sense of the Euro	93
	Choosing among Traveler's Checks, Credit Cards, ATMs, and Cash	94
	Dealing with a Stolen Wallet	96
	Getting Your Value-Added Tax Back	97
Chapter 10	Taking Care of the Remaining Details	99
	Getting into Spain	99
	Obtaining a Passport	100
	Dealing with Spanish Customs and Immigration	102
	Buying Travel and Medical Insurance	103
	Being Prepared in Case You Get Sick	104
	Making Reservations and Getting Tickets in Advance	105
	Packing for Spain	107
Part 111	Northern Spain: Barcelona, the Costa Brava, and the Basque Country	109
Chapter 11	Barcelona	111
	Just the Facts: Barcelona	112
	Arriving in Barcelona	113
	Orienting Yourself in Barcelona	116
	Getting around Barcelona	120
	Bunking in Barcelona: The Hotel Scene	123
	Dining in Barcelona	130
	Exploring Barcelona	137
	Seeing Barcelona by Guided Tour	154
	Suggested Sightseeing Itineraries	155
	Shopping in Barcelona	156
	Keeping Up with Barcelona's Nightlife	159
	Branching Out from Barcelona	162
	Fast Facts: Barcelona	165
Chapter 12	Girona and the Costa Brava	167
	Just the Facts: Girona and the Costa Brava	168
	Exploring the Major Attractions of Girona and the Costa Brava	169
	Girona: A Little-Known Medieval Treasure	171
	The Dali Triangle: Connecting the Dots	180
	The Emporda: Visiting Medieval Villages	187
	The Costa Brava: Resorts and Rugged Beauty	188
	Fast Facts: Girona and the Costa Brava	194
Chapter 13	The Basque Country and Navarra	197
	Just the Facts: The Basque Country and Navarra	198
	Major Attractions in the Basque Country and Navarra	199
	Bilbao: A Spectacular Museum	201
	Fast Facts: Bilbao	215
	San Sebastian: City on the Bay	216
	Fast Facts: San Sebastian	230
	Pamplona: The Running of the Bulls	230
	Fast Facts: Pamplona	245
Part IV	Central Spain: Madrid and Castile	247
Chapter 14	Madrid	249
	Just the Facts: Madrid	250
	Getting There: All Roads Lead to Madrid	251
	Orienting Yourself in Madrid	253
	Getting around Madrid	255
	Staying in Madrid	256
	Dining in Madrid	264
	Exploring Madrid	269
	Seeing Madrid by Guided Tour	281
	Suggested Sightseeing Itineraries	282
	Shopping in Madrid	282
	Partying: Madrid's Nonstop Nightlife	287
	Exploring outside Madrid	294
	Fast Facts: Madrid	298
Chapter 15	Castile: Around Madrid	301
	Just the Facts: Castile	301
	Major Attractions in Castile	302
	Segovia: An Ancient Roman Aqueduct	305
	Fast Facts: Segovia	314
	Avila: Saint Teresa Slept Here	314
	Fast Facts: Avila	318
	Salamanca: City of Enlightenment	319
	Fast Facts: Salamanca	332
	Toledo: History Comes Alive	333
	Fast Facts: Toledo	350
Part V	Southern Spain: Andalusia	351
Chapter 16	Seville and Cordoba	353
	Just the Facts: Seville and Cordoba	354
	Major Attractions in Seville and Cordoba	355
	Seville: City of Festivals	356
	Fast Facts: Seville	389
	Cordoba: A Glorious Past	391
	Fast Facts: Cordoba	412
Chapter 17	Andalusia's Pueblos Blancos	413
	Just the Facts: The Pueblos Blancos and the Southern Coast	413
	Major Attractions in the Pueblos Blancos	414
	Arcos: Quiet Inland Beauty	416
	Fast Facts: Arcos de la Frontera	424
	The Pueblos Blancos: A Driving Tour	424
	Ronda: The Oldest Bullring in Spain	429
	Fast Facts: Ronda	443
Chapter 18	Granada	445
	Just the Facts: Granada	446
	Arriving in Granada	446
	Orienting Yourself in Granada	448
	Getting around Granada	450
	Staying in Granada	451
	Dining in Granada	455
	Exploring Granada: The Alhambra and More	459
	Shopping in Granada	467
	Discovering Granada's Nightlife	468
	Side Trips from Granada	470
	Fast Facts: Granada	472
Part VI	The Part of Tens	473
Chapter 19	Top Ten Can't-Miss Spanish Experiences	475
	Popping Corks	475
	Experiencing a Bullfight	476
	Grazing for Tapas	476
	Feeling the Flamenco	476
	Getting Lost in a Tangle of Time	477
	Dining 'til You Drop	477
	Appreciating Art for Art's Sake	477
	Succumbing to Modernista Mayhem	478
	Touring El Campo	478
	Partying at a Spanish Feria	478
Chapter 20	Top Ten Things You Didn't Know about Spain and Never Thought to Ask	479
	Olive Oil Ole!	479
	I Bet He Got a Really Good Deal on the Rent	479
	That's $@#*7!%$ to You, Buster	480
	Salvador Dali ... the Bureaucrat?	480
	Guernica, but Not Forgotten	480
	Here Lies Columbus--or Does He?	481
	How's That for Heritage?	481
	That Sounds Fishy to Me	481
	The Original River Walk	481
	Miss Popularity	482
Appendix A	Quick Concierge	483
	Fast Facts	483
	Toll-Free Numbers and Web Sites	488
	Where to Find More Information	490
Appendix B	Spanish Art and Architecture	493
	Appreciating the Greats of Spanish Art	493
	Examining the Top Ten Spanish Masterpieces	494
	Following Spanish Architecture through the Years	495
	A Glossary of Architectural Terms	496
	Worksheets	497
	Index	505