between barcelona and madrid
 

hey you all, i have 1 week and 1 car to make a trip from barcelona to madrid. what's best? north? south? which stations? where to spend the nights?<BR>i'm 25, and i'm driving with my wife.<BR>thanks,<BR>josh

Barcelona to Madrid. Seems to me you can't go north. Unless you meant just a little bit north as in San Sebastian in the Basque region. I happen to think that its' one of the most romantic places. You could head down then, stopping at Santillana del Mar, Burgos, Segovia. And all the beautiful "minor" towns in between. I'm travelling in Sept. and have aimed for a small town called Sepulveda, a bit northeast of Segovia..

Tarragona and Pe&ntilde;iscola at the coast are worth a couple of hours. Inland I can only think about the Aragonese town of Teruel and the mountain road via Albarracin to Cuenca. <BR>

barcelona-sitges-peniscola-valencia-alarcon( castle parador )cuenca-alacala de henares-or chinchon-madrid and if you still have time.. segovia.<BR><BR>or.. after cuenca... belmonte..toledo..aranjuez..madrid.<BR><BR>this way you will get in several castles..and get into the countryside which is so charming.<BR>treat yourself to a parador..not in toledo, but perhaps spend the night at alarcon...or chinchon. it is unreal.<BR>you will feel like you are living in the past.<BR>the national parador hotel system is government owned, has a website, and photos of these beautiful mostly historic castles restored tohotels.<BR>really worth a stop even for a coffee.<BR><BR>the tolls from barcelona to valencia are steep, but worth the speed you make.<BR>peniscola is halfway between the two.. about 2 hours.<BR><BR>do not leave anything visible in parked car.. keep doors locked when you are driving in towns.. to avoid stoplight theives who grab your purse off back seat of car with you in it.<BR><BR>never put your purse in the trunk of car while at beach.<BR><BR>beware but enjoy.<BR>i have never been robbed but many of my friends have.. but mostly due to carelessness.<BR><BR>enjoy the trip.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>

Look under Spain for my trip report for Sept 2000 and you will get an idea of what you can do in 10 days.<BR>