Viva España! 2017 Euro Trip

conaero

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34,594
If anyone wants to put their name down on the reserve list, you will be offered in that order:

RESERVE LIST:
Dave Walker
Rob Stannard
 

D Walker

Member
Messages
9,827
Dave, what are you after, a cabin for 2 and taking a car or just a passenger seat?

We are sticking to 18 as a total but I know there are a couple who have paid but may not commit come the time so I would say there is a very hight possibility that one place (car and two) will become available.

Not sure now after today's bomb shell !! Will have to wait and see if Di picks up another job, sooner rather than later I hope...
 

conaero

Forum Owner
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34,594
Watching the F1 and an advert for Ferrari Land 1hr from Barcelona has just opened.

It's a theme park, if it's North of Barca it will be rude not to drop in.
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,594
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Been driving through the Picos de Europa. Amazing roads and views.

This is our hotel tucked in between the mountain.

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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

As we dock night one in Santander it would be rude not to!

View attachment 43073

View attachment 43074
 

midlifecrisis

Member
Messages
16,102
Gentlemen

As promised, I spoke to Diego, one of our engineers at Edinburgh who is from Asturias (Northern Central Spain) for a few tourist tips . This is what he came back with.

Hi Martin

Here there are some places you would like to visit on your trip:

Santillana del Mar (Very nice medieval village in Cantabria) http://www.santillana-del-mar.com/

Potes (mountain village inside Picos de Europa National Park, in Cantabria) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potes

Arenas de Cabrales, Sotres & Bulnes (mountain villages in the heart of Picos de Europa National Park, in Asturias) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabrales
Arenas is the center of the Cabrales municipality, there are restaurants and hotels, the beautiful Cares river with turquoise waters (freezing!), which is the most famous salmon fishing river in Spain. There is a parking in a place called Poncebos, where you can park your cars and go to Bulnes on the funicular (EUR 20) which climbs inside a tunnel in the mountain or you can take the 2h walk along a spectacular rocky gorge. The village of Bulnes is very small and there are a couple of restaurants and fantastic views of the highest peaks.
Passing that parking to the left, there’s a road that takes you to Sotres, the highest village in Asturias, again spectacular views and a lot of paths from a short walk to a more serious hike.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naranjo_de_Bulnes http://www.spain.info/en/reportajes/un_paseo_por_los_picos_de_europa.html

If you continue your trip to the west, very close to Cabrales, there is Cangas de Onis, first capital of Asturias (and Spain when the Reconquista started) and there you can see the famous Roman bridge. Close to Cangas de Onis, inside a cave, there is the Covadonga Sanctuary, that keeps the image of Covadonga Virgin, patron saint of Asturias, where the Asturians defeated the Muslim army and the Reconquista Started. There’s a Basilica and a monument to Pelayo, the first Asturian King. Up in the mountain, along the road, you will find the Lagos de Covadonga, three mountain lakes, fantastic views. But during the summer the traffic is restricted because the road is so narrow, so unless you go very early in the morning, you will have to take a bus.

Some coastal places around the east of Asturias:

Llanes: http://en.llanes.com/ Ribadesella: http://whereisasturias.com/ribadesella-asturias/ (there are some caves there that you may like to visit as well, but you will have to reserve in advance http://www.centrotitobustillo.com/ ) Lastres: beautiful fishermen’s village: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lastres Best fish and seafood restaurants around: https://www.viamichelin.co.uk/web/R...1M3VoazEwY05ETXVORGcxTVRnPWNMVFV1TWpjd05EWT0= take a look at this guide, because there are some other very good places to visit.

Of course, Oviedo, the capital of the Principality, if you want some urban environment after all that countryside. The historical city centre is beautiful: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oviedo

There is a good amount of rural hotels and called “rural houses” that are always a good accommodation option, very charming places: http://www.toprural.com/Casas-rurales_Asturias_0_115_r.html

Don’t miss the opportunity to try the famous Asturian natural cider (Basques are trying to copy us, but theirs is sh!t, poor w@nkers… I mean, wannabes). The process to serve the cider, pouring it from over the head height, using big, thin glass is part of the tradition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6CCLB7dOJU

And that’s just the eastern part of our nation, you can leave the other half to your next visit and discover the less known, great woods, where you can still find bears!

If you have any questions or need some more info, I’ll be more than happy to help! Hope you enjoy your visit!

Cheers

Diego Alonso
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,594
Martin, thank you muchly.

When we all get back from a certain 'lads trip' to France next month, I/we can crack on with the planning.

We have enough material now to fill the 10 days no problem, so we only really need to sort/finalise 3 things:
1. routes (Picos de Europa to Pyrenees)
2. hotels (the consensus is not to move to a new one every day, a main one for 3 nights, then a couple of 2 nighters and single nights as required
3. Return leg. (i) an optional chillout stay one and (ii) the return ferries.
 

Blondie

Junior Member
Messages
364
Ferrari Land

Watching the F1 and an advert for Ferrari Land 1hr from Barcelona has just opened.

It's a theme park, if it's North of Barca it will be rude not to drop in.

Yeeeeeeees! I wanna go to Ferrari Land and ride on a Ferrari rollercoaster to show Helen how fast her Ferrari can actually go!!! hehe
 

stevo

Member
Messages
361
Dates now confirmed as September 22 to 1st October 2017.

This is a limited numbers, non profit trip of ideally a dozen cars.

Overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Sandandar, cultural authentic trip taking in the 'real Spain' with mountain driving through the Pyrenese.

3 night chill TBC (South of France or NE Spanish beach/lake) then drive home back through France.

Planned so only 5 working days are missed this 9 night excursion is being offered to Cenenary Club members first, please list your interest below:

*********Trip now full:**********

1. Conaero & Damo
2. Mr & Mrs BennyD
3. Newton & SteveM
4. Doohickey + 1
5. Mike & Angie
6. Masertel (Terry & Stephanie)
7. Adam Croft & Zara
8. MAF (Single)
9. Blondie and Helen
10. Hodroyd + victim
11. Miles Blu
12. Frank and Clare
13. Martin and Ira
14. EnzoMC (Single)
15. Ebenezer +1
16. Roger and Diane
17. Krishna & Hari
18. AndyG + Daughter

Reserve List:
1.
2.
3.

Looking for a passenger seat:
1. D Walker

Matt put me down for reserve please
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,594
You dont waste anytime!

Frank, Newton and I are having a preliminary meeting at the next Ace in 3 weeks time.

Once we have formalised a route, we will commence the hotel search.

We will not be moving hotel night by night, more like staying in 3 over the 10 days and planning driving routes from there plus some non driving days such as Vineyard trips and one hotel will be a Spa...for the ladies and Hodroyd :)

I am expecting a couple of drop outs so get your name on the reserve list if your interested!

1. Conaero & Damo
2. Mr & Mrs BennyD
3. Newton & SteveM
4. Doohickey + 1
5. Mike & Angie
6. Masertel (Terry & Stephanie)
7. Adam Croft & Zara
8. MAF (Single)
9. Blondie and Helen
10. Hodroyd + victim
11. Miles Blu
12. Frank and Clare
13. Martin and Ira
14. EnzoMC (Single)
15. Ebenezer +1
16. Roger and Diane
17. Krishna & Hari
18. AndyG + Daughter

Reserve List:
1. Stevo and Victim
2.
3.
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,594
As suspected, MAF's out, Stevo your in!

1. Conaero & Damo
2. Mr & Mrs BennyD
3. Newton & SteveM
4. Doohickey + 1
5. Mike & Angie
6. Masertel (Terry & Stephanie)
7. Adam Croft & Zara
8. Stevo plus victim
9. Blondie and Helen
10. Hodroyd + victim
11. Miles Blu
12. Frank and Clare
13. Martin and Ira
14. EnzoMC (Single)
15. Ebenezer +1
16. Roger and Diane
17. Krishna & Hari
18. AndyG + Daughter

Reserve List:
1. Rob Stannard
2.
3.

Looking for a passenger seat:
1. D Walker