Spain & France
Introduction
In 2007, we set out on our first big European trip without our children, who were 12 and 9 at the time (we are so very thankful for the grandparents who watched them)! It was hard to leave them, but, once there, we had an amazing time! I loved exploring parts of Spain, France, and a brief visit to London. Since this trip was 13 years ago, if a certain place doesn’t exist anymore, I will make note of that. We purchased our train tickets and Eurorail passes ahead of time.
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My Itinerary
June 30
Leave LA to Madrid
July 1
Arrive in Madrid
Check into Hotel Ópera
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Nice location
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Quite loud outside
July 2
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Took train there
Dinner at an Argentina steakhouse (can't recall name)
July 3
Day trip to Toledo
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Took 9:20 AM train
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Breakfast at Abadía (can't identify website)
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Yummy chocolate crepes
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Visited Synagogues, Museo del Greco, Chapels in Primada Cathedral
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Lunch at Little Café (appears to not exist anymore)
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5:25 PM train back
Dinner at Ginos
Dessert at Chocolatería San Ginés
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Amazing churros and hot chocolate
July 4
Last day in Madrid
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A lot of religious paintings
Tapas (and Burger King) for lunch
Dinner at Entre Suspiro y Suspiro
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Southwestern cuisine, great meal
July 5
Fly to Barcelona on Iberia Airlines
Check into Hotel Constanza
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Convenient and quiet location on a main street
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Small room
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Very nice stay
Lunch at Ciudad Condal
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Yummy tapas
Basílica de la Sagrada Família
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Unfinished and very strange looking
Explored the neighborhood
Plaza de Toros Monumental bull fighting ring
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Off season so no show
Dinner at Tellula (appears to not exist anymore)
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Paella
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Good
Gelato at Dino
July 6
Brunch at Creps Barcelona
Walk along waterfront
Late lunch at La Oficina (couldn't find it online)
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Located at the boardwalk
Walk to the beach
Take subway to Montjuic
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Walk around grounds
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See fountain
Visit the Olympic Village
Gelato again at Dino
July 7
Check out of Hotel Constanza
Walk to Cathedral
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Make sure to have your shoulders covered if you want to enter
Walk on Las Ramblas
Go to a local laundromat to wash our clothes
Dinner at a café on Las Ramblas
Head to train station
Take overnight train to France
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Very small room
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Bunkbeds
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Very bumpy ride
July 8
Arrive in France
Rent a minivan
Drive to Amboise
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Approx. 2 hours
Check into Hotel Le Choiseul
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Very quaint and charming rooms
Late lunch/snack at Anne de Bretagne
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Very yummy
Walk to castle Château-Gaillard Amboise
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Beautiful
Dinner at Le Cadran
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Pizza and pasta
Dessert at Anne de Bretagne
July 9
Drive to Chateau Villandry
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Beautiful home and grounds
Lunch at a café in Chateau Villandry
Drive to Château of Langeais
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Very medieval
Drive to Tours
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Walk around town
Dinner at L’atelier Gourmand
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VERY GOOD food and wine
Drive back to Amboise
July 10
Breakfast/brunch at Anne de Bretagne
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We really liked this place
Drive to Château de Chenonceau
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Walk around and enjoy wine
Drive back to Amboise
Dinner at L’Épicerie
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Good food and wine
July 11
Drive to Versailles
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Waited in line 1 hour for tickets *worth it
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Tour inside the home and gardens
Drive to Paris
Check into Hotel de Lutèce on Île Saint-Louis
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Nice hotel
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Small rooms
Return rental car
Dinner at Le Bucheron
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Good pasta
July 12
Breakfast at a local café
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Impressionist art
Lunch at Les Deux Musées
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Near the museum
Walk to Saint Chapelle
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Wait in line 1 hour to see the church
Go to Conciergerie
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Where Marie Antoinette was held prisoner
Dinner at La Brasserie de l'Isle Saint-Louis
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Good food
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A little pricey
July 13
Breakfast at local café
Go to the Eiffel Tower
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Climb 2/3 of the way up
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Elevator was too crowded so didn’t go to the very top
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Beautiful views
Lunch at Les Deux Musées
Walk to Arc de Triomphe and Avenue des Champs-Élysées
Go to the Louvre Museum
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See The Mona Lisa
Dinner at Caffé Toscano
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Good pasta
July 14
Breakfast at Hotel de Lutèce
Go to Notre Dame
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Climb the stairs to the top
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Bastille Day flyover
Go to Panthéon
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Impressive pendulum
Explore the Latin Quarter
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Found a good falafel/shawarma spot
Boat cruise
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Very hot
Dinner at The Bistro in the Latin Quarter (couldn't find it online)
Go to Pont Neuf and watch fireworks
July 15
Off to London
Take the Chunnel Train
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Part of the ride is under water
Check into the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square
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Nice and quiet
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Big and comfy room
Lunch at Spaghetti House
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Good pasta
Walk around St. James Place and Hyde Park
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See Speakers' Corner
Dinner at restaurant in London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square
July 16
Breakfast at London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square
Got 1/2 price theater tickets for tonight
Lunch at Queen Anne’s sandwich shop (appears to not exist anymore)
See Westminster Abbey and Big Ben
Dinner at Criterion Restaurant
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Good steaks
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Unique atmosphere
See the play 39 Steps at The Criterion Theater
July 17
Fly home