Hi all: I have posted before and thought I had it worked out... but (although I can't read Spanish and the pop-up box doesn't allow copy-paste to google translate...) I think my original plan is scrapped because of missing trains due to construction. Sorry this is long.....
My 13 yo son and I are heading to Spain, and have a few days prior to him joining his team for a soccer trip. We arrive Madrid on Tuesday March 22 around 4pm and will spend the night there before catching a train elsewhere on Wed morning.
The problem is that he is dying to go to Gibraltar (I know, not my first choice either). But he really wants to go, and I keep making him research it, and he still really wants to go. We were planning as day trip from Ronda, but the train issue only leaves first train out at 12:20pm, not good for a loooong day trip.
So now I am thinking we leave Madrid Wed morning at 8:30 (ugh) and arrive in Gib at 1:45pm. We spend the rest of the day there, spend the night, and catch the train out Thursday at 3pm. We need to be back in Madrid around 2pm on Sunday. (this is Semana Santa also....)
I was planning to go to Cordoba and Ronda, but I think maybe one has to go, sadly. I know switching locations every night or two is a hassle and exhausting, and leaves little time to see much.... We have made a couple 1 night stops in past trips that went ok (for example, we were only in York about 24 hours and really enjoyed it, same with Barcelona before a cruise) - so I know we can get a decent taste quickly, loved both of those places.... but doing it 3-4 times in a row I know is a no-no (from 1st trip to Italy.....).
I really think Ronda looks awesome, I am interested in seeing the gorge, the bull fighting museum, the general ambiance, plus there is a 4-5 hour bike tour we were looking at (if we had longer).
In Cordoba we want to see the Mezquita, and in general, just wander around. Also we need to see at least one Semana Santa procession (which I think we can do in either place.)
So we would arrive somewhere Thursday late afternoon (4:30-6pm ish...)
Do we go to Ronda, have the evening, have the next day until 4:30pm, then go to Cordoba for Friday night, and all day Saturday before leaving Sunday?
Tues - arrive Madrid 4pm from US west coast, sleep Madrid
Wed - train to Gib, arrive 2pm, sleep Gib
Thurs - Gib day til 3, train to Ronda, sleep Ronda
Fri - Ronda day, leave 4pm, sleep Cordoba
Sat - Cordoba day, sleep Cordoba
Sun - leave for Madrid
OR when we leave Gib on Thursday, we go to EITHER Ronda or Cordoba for 3 nights, 2 full days - which one then??? (I guess possible to day trip to Ronda from Cordoba, but seems dumb since we just went right through it....)
I know it's all insane. But also not sure either place warrants 2 full days.... and I really wanted to see both. But it's also right after arrival from US.... so jet lag could be an issue....
We will be a bit more home-base after this on the soccer trip (5 nights madrid, 3 san sebastian) - I will sightsee Madrid/Toledo when he is at soccer.
Help!?!?! Please! :) Thank you!!
Kim