Lord, Bill didn't mean to put down such cultural high spots as the Museo de Bellas Artes, Giralda, Alcazar, etc. but those are in most guidebooks.
These are not 10 top things. They are simple, sometimes silly stuff to do. I like museums,usually check all and sundry. I break for El Greco,Velazquez,Miró, Picasso, Goya,El Bosco,etc. Some places I have to be dragged out. But also off-beat things for variety.Otherwise you get museum back and museum burnout.
There are small non-museum moments I treasure from several trips to Spain. Checking out kids playing a game,local markets or exploring tiny narrow streets. Or checking out an odd collection in someone's restaurant or bar. Finding a statue dedicated to an old flamenco singer. Or the rooftop breakfast at our hotel.
Actually my favorite pigeon moment came when one of the guards in the Alhambra area tried to move out an elderly man
away from the Carlos Quinto steps. He was (a) muching away at a sandwich on the steps and (b) also feeding the pigeons (c) not adding distinction to a great momument of Spanish culture. He just kept stringing the guard along with fancy patter and excuses until he and the pigeons finishing eating. Amazing finesse.
Wandering through off-beat Sevilla,we found the Torre de Oro and then found the Torre de Plata nearby. Found the 3 Roman columns, found the Venta where Becquer wrote his poems,checked out galleries, small plazas.etc.Checked out maps of South America in the Archivo de las Indias. We did not feed any birds. Not with a native son of NYC as a companion.Nunca jamas..Never did get around to buying candy at the convent or the animal market on Sunday. Next time.
Now I know they have those tours in Paris. . .and then there's the Roman run off system under the Museu d'Historia de la Ciutat in Barcelona ...
?
Volverán las oscuras golondrinas
en tu balcón sus nidos a colgar. . .