UPDATE: Thursday May 13th at 7pm at the Federico García Lorca statue near the east end of the Plaza de Santa Ana. Come one, come all!
-----------------------------------------

So it sounds like maybe jazz and Steve Robinson might be interested in getting together in mid May, maybe for San Isidro. Anyone else? The more the merrier!

It will be my first time in Spain though my daughter has lived there for 2 years now as a student.

It'd be great to get together! May 15th, San Isidro Day, falls on a Saturday this year. A lot of people travel this weekend.

I won't be able to make it on that Saturday but maybe the Thursday before or the Monday after.

Saludos, MadridMan

always have time for a rioja and tapas

Trying to figure out when the best time would be. It looks like we are going to spend a day or two in Granada to see the Alhambra. I should know more about that side trip on Sunday. Then I will know more about when we are available.

jacmom ... remember that to see ALL of the Alhambra you have to reserve tickets in advance . And please go to Albaicín , which at night has amazing views of La Alhambra . There are a few bars there where you can enjoy a drink with that view and dream !

Although I cannot meet you all that week, I look forward to reading all about it and seeing photos!! Sometimes it is better not to plan to meet on a holiday, just a thought. Some places are better on a regular, normal day. I remember one time my family and I met MM for lunch on a holiday and it was difficult to find a place that wasn't either closed or crowded.

As for the Alhambra: great plan! You will love it! Try to stay two days, don't rush the visit to Granada. It is a truly magical place, as as Steve says, going to the Albaicín at night is a must.

Looking forward to your trip report!! First trip to Spain! Wow! You are going to LOVE it!!

Hi, We have our tickets for the Alhambra and the bus to Granada for May 16 and 17. We are deciding on a hostal today. After looking at MM and other comments about the San Isidro Fair, we will probably go there earlier in the day. Also going earlier because of our early bus to Granada the next day.

So we look forward to a get together May 12. 13, or 14 for whoever is available. Since I don't know Madrid, except for what I read here, please MM, Steve, Jazz or whoever else might decide to come, please decide on a good meeting place. From my side it will be me, my daughter Julie and maybe one another college student.

Both Julie and are are looking forward to this. I wish Esperanza could be there, but maybe next year.

In all confidence that this volcano erruption will be be completed!

Steve, is there a certain bar you liked in Albaicin? Or a certain hostel in Granada?

On a different note, I noticed that you are from Southend-on-Sea. I have only been to Europe one other time. That trip was to London, but we did spend an afternoon in Southend-on-Sea visiting with my Grandmother's cousin.

Hope you are able to make your trip home later this week.

I should have added that we are considering Costa Azul, which is one that MadridMan has mentioned.

Esperanza tells me how good it is to meet you, MadridMan, and others from the Forum. Julie and I have been working on our plans for the coming week and hope that MadridMan and others could meet for lunch or tapas on May 13th (Thursday). I know you previously mentioned that you were free to come on Thursday evening, but we had not firmed up plans. If you can come, tell us the time and place, we will be there.

Even though Julie is a student there, she does not know the more centrally located places to go (they keep them pretty busy at the school!).

Now the volcano needs to stop so that I can fly in Tuesday morning!

Esperanza (and her family) is GREAT company. We've really enjoyed ourselves the times we've met.

I can make it for either lunch or an early-evening tapas crawl, either way, on Thursday May 13th. And hopefully others can come along too. I'd be willing to bet some terrazas would be warm-enough for food-and-drinks on that night.

YOU decide if you want it to be lunch or an early-evening for tapas and we'll choose a meeting place.

Saludos, MadridMan

Alright, we choose early evening tapas. We had hoped that Marisa (Eseranza's daughter) would have been able to join us, but she will be out of town. The 2 girls know each other slightly from the university.

So now it is your turn to name the time and place. We are looking forward to meeting you!

Elaine and Julie

Thursday May 13th at 7pm at the Federico García Lorca statue near the east end of the Plaza de Santa Ana. Come one, come all! I'm going to post this time-date at the beginning of the thread too so new-visitors will find it more easily.

Saludos, MadridMan

We will be there! Looking forward to a good evening.

I want to be there, too!! Have a wonderful time and drink a glass of rioja for me.

me too.......enjoy yourselves, and post the the get together impressions here ok.

BOINK!

Tomorrow's the day! See you all at 7pm. And if weather patterns are any indication, it should be cool but rain-less - even though they've predicted rain every day this week and it hasn't rained once.

Saludos, MadridMan

I'sorry, I'm working this afternoon...damn...

The weather's not looking too good. I has rained a little here and might do it some more. Terrazas might be wet so we may have to be indoors. Too bad. Plus, it's rather cool! See some of you in about an hour!

Saludos, MadridMan

It was a very pleasant evening although chilly and, later, rainy.

In attendance were jacmom & daughter, steve robinson, a Facebook friend (can't remember now if she has a message board account here or not), a couple of Spanish friends, and I.

We started at the Cervecería Alemana on the Plaza de Santa Ana and were fortunate (???) enough to get the first table inside the bar. The crowds of people, mostly men, were constantly pouring in and congregated at the bar around our table so it was VERY LOUD but the table company was good. We ordered the boquerones en vinagre, queso curado, tortilla española, and a bottle of Rueda white wine.

Next we went to a terraza, OUTDOORS, on the Calle de Barcelona pedestrian street near SOL - don't recall its name - and braved the cool temperatures and threatening rain. Here, we ordered/got a place of embutido (salchichón), grilled red peppers, and another bottle of Rueda (I think).

Last place we visited was Nueva Galicia near the bottom of Calle de la Cruz. This place is VERY Spanish. VERY few non-Spaniards inside this busy, kitsch bar with all Spanish (and old) waiters and good food prices - not all Galician food, either, but Spanish food. We ordered the croquetas, calamares, y patatas bravas with a bottle of Ribeiro white wine from Galicia. This was a loud, active place - and they have their own Facebook Fan page - of which I'm a fan.

By the time we left the last place, at about 11pm, we all walked towards SOL and it was already raining. There, we said our goodbyes. It was a pleasant evening. I was happy with the gathering.

Saludos, MadridMan

I love the Cervecería Alemana on the Plaza de Santa Ana! It sounds like you all had a good time and that it was a nice mix of people! I want to try Nueva Galicia too! It sounds like a good place. I cannot wait to have my first ración de pimientos de padrón in 46 days (but who's counting? :D)

thanks for reporting back,it looks as it was very good evening despite the rain. and yes Cerveceria Alemana is a long standing tradition there, many years there. If you want Galician when I go with my Galicien friends we reserve at Ribeira do Miño, en Santa Brigida,1, no tourists its all home boys... real Galician tavern/resto with long wooden tables.
this is the link
http://www.marisqueriaribeiradomino.com/es/estaticas/index.asp?wm=752&id=255

It was really good to meet you all -I enjoyed the evening (especially the company and the croquetas :o) )

I'm counting, Esperanza!!!!

Let's make sure we get another MM gathering planned when we are both there in July!!!

I can't wait for gambas a la plancha y un plato de jamon de bellota. Wash it all down with a tinto de verano!!!

that is exactly my thought! Tinto de verano, gambas a la plancha, jamón de bellota...what a wonderful way to spend July!

We loved meeting people we see so often on MM. thanks for showing us around Sol and for the post telling us where we had been!

Off to meet Sallyanne and some of LaJuliana's friends at the San Isidro Fair!