Gran Viaje en Carrera tres coma dos...

[Paul Franssen]

...en España. For the benefit of us Anglos I'll continue in Inglés...
As already hinted in various posts, I'm ready to leave 0600 Sunday May 2nd for a 8-day round trip to Spain.
(Feel free to substitute "should" for "will" below, but I won't!)

First day Sunday will take us from the Brussels area via Paris, Bordeaux, San Sebastian (or Donóstia in Basque), to the wine capital of La Rioja, the small town of Haro, 1300 km/820 miles. It's all big highway stuff, my wife will in fact drive the Porsche for the first time between the Paris and the Bordeaux toll booths (unless it would be raining). We hope to arrive in Haro by about 6-7 pm, well in time for finding a hotel and joining the Spanish for tapas and vino.

Second day Monday is about 320 k/200 m (via Burgos cathedral) to Segovia, where we stay 2 nights for a hopefully relaxing city visit on Tuesday with another noche Español, olé!

Then (4th day Wednesday) a short 100 miles to the town of Toro, wine capital of the Toro region in Castilla-Léon. I have invited Irène to a very good restaurant I know there ("La Viuda Rica" - "The Rich Widow") for our 18th wedding anniversary...

Thereafter on Thursday 6th, we're off another good 100 miles to a very small village called "La Alberca" in the "Peña de Francia" hills near the Portuguese border. Said to be very beautiful area, with very old-fashioned traditional tiny villages. We should be driving around a bit in the region...

On Friday 7th we're away just 40 miles to the small city of Salamanca, where I studied Spanish (er...2 weeks of it) in 2003. Fabulous place, plenty of students, meaning bars and discos... We'll be there 2 nights, in fact we're meeting a group of people I know from a MSM group the forum of which I've been practicing my español on (it'll be a test of fire, as I only read and write, but NEVER speak the language for lack of knowing any latinos).

Sunday morning we'll probably leave till San Sebastian (465 km/290 miles), sleep there and then the last boring 1100 km/690 mi. back up to HOME!

I've got a new DME installed (after I got stranded 2 WEEKS AGO ), got a new spare one, have a spare ignition switch, new distributor top and rotor (old one was potential sparky), a set of fuses, tools, 4 liters of "Shell Helix" 5W-40, a battery cable with clamps, 2 tow ropes, roadway reflecting distress triangle, yellow reflecting vest, the air compressor, one 1988 never inflated spare tire, one piggyback Porsche-on-trailer homeward bound insurance policy, lots of expectations and one entire website of qualified engineers and mechanics throughout the world on standby !

[Paul Franssen]

Well, we did it! We returned home yesterday evening. What a car! The Carrera started and ran without missing a beat, and I drove without making any (major) errors.
Some statistics:
Most of the time, we were doing 120-160 km per hour (in Spain, generally 160 on "autobahn" type roads). On average for the 4300 km/2700 mile trip, consumption was about 11 liters/100 km (or 21.35 miles per US Gallon / 25.68 miles per Imperial Gallon); I consider these to be very good figures. The weather was cold (about 10-12 degrees centigrade, that's abt. 52 Fahrenheit) and quite windy (central Spain is on the "meseta", an altitude of some 3000 feet). Overall, oil consumption was about 2.5 litres (abt. same as quarts) for the distance, that's then abt. 1 quart per 1000 miles for a car with 210.000 km (131250 miles). Valves are a bit clickety, but overall I don't have the impression that the valve guides are particularly used. I'll ask a different wrench (the one who helped me out when my DME was shot just before leaving for this trip) to set the valves next time, maybe that will improve that.
I haven't seriously had to use the brakes once during the whole trip, except for "general slowing down". Only once, in a long series of winding curves traversing the Basque country did I get the very queezy feeling that the car was slightly "drifting", maybe a very short period of aquaplaning (the road was humid), so I did nothing and, other that that bad feeling, nothing happened. My wife did not notice it, but when I told her, she was angry. She was a moderating factor, and we are in agreement on the benefit of that, thanks Irene. Also, I usually slow down entering into tunnels in the mountains: you dive into a black hole, coming from outside to the inside, often there are curves inside the tunnel, and you can bet for sure there is water leaking through the roof onto the road surface, most of the time...
Tomorrow I'll post a few pictures of the car posing in front of some Spanish landmarks.

[Jim Richards]

Yes pics! Sounds like a fun trip.

[Paco Anton]

Paul,

If you need to practise your Español I am at your disposal

Looks like you had a very good time. Next time you should stop by Madrid and give me a call. In any case looks like a good planning, staying away for most "typical" places while visiting very interesting attractions.

Sorry about the weather, it's just not what we would expect from this season...

[imcarthur]

Paul

I'm so jealous . . . Northern Spain . . . fine Rioja . . . 911

Yes, you MUST post pictures.

Ian

[Yellowbird RS]

cool trip great car and beautifull places.

[Robert Sanchez]

Paul, you forgot to pack one thing for your trip...........
cel phone....
I am glad everything went well,
Bob

[Gus Berges]

Quiero ver fotos!

Rioja is nice, but Ribera del Duero produces what I consider to be better wines, heck, in my opinion, the best wines in the world.

Paco, que suerte la tuya! Queso manchego con un Pesqueira...

[Sarc]

What timing!

My longtime girlfriend and I are planning a trip to Espana in September for two weeks; we are staying for a week at a friends condo in Benalmadena, but the other week we wanted to spend exploring...and we're up for any suggestions (Paco, your thoughts/suggestions would be welcome as well).

Any photos and accomodation suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Saludos,
Paul
E30 318is

[Glasgow 911SC]

Sounds like a great trip Paul. I plan to drive to Spain to my parents house on the east coast at some point. I have to admit to feeling a bit nervous about breaking down although my car has been more reliable than any newer car I've owned. Possibly next summer for my road trip.

[Paul Franssen]

OK, I've finally wrestled my way through emailing the photo's to myself (so as to reduce the files sizes) and now I'm ready to attach them...
I've many pictures, but am limiting them strictly to the very ones relating to Porsche, which is just a few.

Photo 1
My Carrera (commonly called "Titine" which is a typical French name, usually conferred to small cars) in front of the Alcazar castle in Segovia. The Alcazar, most of which was built in the 14th century (but commenced by the Arabs, who were present in parts of Spain from 711 until 1492), has been home to the kings of Spain. Set in lush surroundings, the castle is home to the Spanish school of artillery, and the museum inside has a good collection of ancient armour of the "knights in shining armour" type, whereas the various rooms of the palace are magnificent examples of historic Mezo-Arabic (Mudejar) art. Segovia also has a still functioning 1.2 km long aquaduct, built by the Romans in the 2nd century after Christ. The picture shows the very untypical weather conditions we experienced...

[Paul Franssen]

I take the oppurtunity of extending my regards to those, be they in Scotland or elsewhere, and especially to Paco Anton in Madrith, (si amigo, quizá la proxima vez), for the interest they have shown for this post, which has been the expression of the most ambitious Porsche event I have yet experienced.

The second picture is "Titine" in front of the Castle of Coca, between Segovia and Medina del Campo. Built in the 15th Century, it is one of the most important examples of Spanish military architecture in the Mudejar style. The Mudejar style is a Spanish rendition, an architectural homage, to the architecture of the Arabs who preceded Spanish home-rule after the reconquista which ended by the ousting of the last Arab ruler from Granada in 1492. BTW, these Arabs did not come from nearby Morocco: they (initially) came all the way from the region between the Eufrat-Tigris rivers, known today as Iraq. They brought magnificent classical music (called 'Andalus') and fine arts and civilization to Europe. El mundo es redondo (the world is round).

[Paul Franssen]

OK, the 3rd picture is 'Titine' in front of the 'Palacio Episcopal' (or 'Palacio Gaudí') at Astorga. Antoní Gaudí is, in my view, one of the most genial architects the world has ever seen (if you can, do yourselves the favour of visiting Barcelona, where most of his creations are situated). This is one of his early works, commenced in 1882 for account of the local bishop. At first sight, it looks like mere neo-Gothic architecture, but many details of this edifice clearly demonstrate the beginning genius of Gaudí's art. It is a museum, with a large and incredible collection of wooden polychromed religious statues from the 12th-17th centuries, including a few absolutely stunning Flemish pieces of the 15th century (I refer, specifically, to two ladies I would have liked to meet!!!).
Astorga is a small town not far from León, which is in itself a fantastic city: not only home to THE most beautiful Gothic cathedral of Spain, with a large expanses of plendid stained glass, and also one of the better barrios of Spain to have tapas and copas (of wine), the "Humedo". Gracias, León!

[Paco Anton]

Nice pics Paul!!!!

I mus confess I haven't been to any of those places yet.

Paul (Sarc) you must ask the other Paul (Franssen) for ideas, he seems to know Spain better than I . In any case since you are staying in Benalmadena I'd suggest visiting the mountain villages in Southern Spain such as Ronda and its Serrania de Ronda (ronda mountain range). Also in that area don't miss Sevilla (if you are a Star Wars fan you'll recognize Naboo's spaceport in the Plaza de España) and Cordoba (great mosque)

[Paul Franssen]

To pick up for Paul Sarc where Paco Anton left off...
If you are going to the Costa del Sol, and if frying on the beach and having gin fizzes is not the only thing you like, then you have an opportunity there of visiting perhaps one of the most beautiful parts of the Spanish peninsula.
I'll be short.

Granada : can't miss the world famous Alhambra -an Arabic dream palace- even if you have to queue up for an hour or more to get entry tickets...(? try getting them in advance, it might be possible ?) Granada is surrounded by the Sierra Nevada mountains, nearby there are the Alpujarras hills, all very nice (and very hot in summer) scenery. Leaving Grenada to go up into the Sierra Nevade, there is a fantastic climbing mountain highway, with repeated fast serpentine curves...

Cordoba : its fantastic cathedral, originally a mosque.

Sevilla : the whole town, from the Giralda (another ex-Moslem cathedral) to the bullfighting ring and the whole rest of the city.

Ronda : nice town, beautiful surroundings.

Jerez de la Frontera : Sherry wine. Nearby there is a large natural reserve, the Doñana: swamp country.

About accomodation, it's difficult to recommend because I don't know what you want, try Google searches, there are some interesting hotel information websites, or buy yourself one of the tourist guidebooks (Lonely Planet, search for their website, there's also a forum in it with plenty of information), they comment on listed hotels with price indications etcetera.

Good luck and enjoy the trip!

[masraum]

Beautiful car, and I bet the drive was great. I spent 2 summers with my parents in southern Spain (Rota for any military guys). I drove from Rota to Gibraltar and it was an amazing drive.

Enjoy your car, sounds and looks like a winner.

[Sarc]

Paco- Many thanks for the suggestions around Benalmadena.
Paul- Wonderful pics, and great descriptions of the trip. Thank you as well for the suggestions.
The 911 looks stunning against those backdrops, what a drive it must have been!

As we have two weeks, we would like to see as much as possible of Espana, but of course we don't want to feel like we're on a "see all of Europe in 72 hours" type of trip usually taken by elder Americans with polyester shorts from 1977 and black tube socks pulled up to their knees! We want to blend in an absorb.

So our theory is to spend a week exploring at a moderate pace, then 'decompress' in Benalmadena for the remaining week, taking the occasional day trip nearby (perhaps this would be a great time to visit Ronda, Malaga, Sevilla o Granada)....and taking in el vino!

One thing we're trying to determine is our point of entry; we have thought about with flying into Madrid or Barcelona and explore the regions of La Roija, Aragon, and Cataluna via rental car. As architects, we also feel it would be our duty to visit Bilbao.

In terms of accomodations, we prefer trendy, boutique like hotels (that are easy on the wallet) rather than posh established places., thus allowing more funds for vino
I just picked up Frommers Spain 2004 that will certainly help in laying out the trip.

By the way, you mentioned an MSM forum; what exactly is that? I have been brushing up on my long forgotten Spanish (mi papa es de Argentina) via a cd course but would like to communicate with other spanish speaking users (other than my family).

Many thanks again!

Paul

[imcarthur]

Paul

A good travel BBS is found at www.fodors.com - look in their European forum under Spain. Like this BBS, the search engine is your friend.

See:

Fodors

For accomodations in Spain, one avenue is via the government owned & run Parador system

See:

Paradors

Click on Engish in the top left corner

Ian