Hello all:

I just can't get enough of Spain! In the past year, I have:
- Spent a long weekend in Andalusia (Granada, Baeza, Ubeda)
- Toured Galicia for 5 days
- Drive the Camino Santiago de Compostela from Burgos to Villa franca
- Visited Avila and Salamanca

Previously, I have driven around Western Andalusia, Catalan province, Extramadura and Northern Spain (from the Picos de Europa to San Sabastian).

I need to plan a new adventure, probably for September/October. What would you suggest?

I love stunning scenary, historic little towns and villages, architecture, visiting churches and museums. For this trip, I would probably prefer country to large cities.

I was thinking perhaps the Camino from St. Jean Pied de Porte to Burgos - is it an interesting drive. What about the area around Valencia?

I am open to all ideas and suggestions and thank you in advance for your contributions.

Best regards Ger

I

That was what I was going to tell you..Valencia Well, you can begin a bit north in Teruel and do the Maestrazgo route : scenery, medieval villages, castles... This will take you to Castellon and later , driving the coast..to Valencia.
Take a look at this website, the english translation is still not you can make an idea ..

http://www.elmaestrazgo.com/eng/maestrazgo.htm

I meant to write "it's still not complete"

seems like the only region you have not been near is valencia, etc.

plenty to see here.

google:
guadlaest
morella
moraira
altea
orihuela
cuenca
peñiscola
villafamés
island of formentera

and you MUST let kenderina and i know when you are coming!

My grandparents' villages are on the Camino, between Pamplona & Roncevalles. I thought is was very interesting. We spent a few days in the area last June. Plus you would be going thru the Rioja!!!

Sounds good to me.

MY

Yes, as lin says..this is definitely a MUST , you have to tell us

sorry to hijack this but, kende.. you coming to fallas? i am here everyday except sat and sunday ( in oviedo for wedding)

I knew I could count on you! Are you both living in Valencia area? I will definately let you know when I plan to be there - what fun!

OK, I have just had a quick look and I think Madrid to Valencia would definately fit the bill!

Michelle: I drove through the Roncevalles pass from St. Jean P de P to St. Sabastian. Its a beautiful drive and I loved the mountains on both sides of the Basque region.

Thanks again .... Ger

from madrid you have alarcon, cuenca, from which you can jut over to the teruel area.
and down to villafameés, over to morella,(walled city) and down to valencia.

kende is up in castellon.. about 40 minutes north.

No, this year I have to stay at home...my pressure is again too low and I feel very tired and dizzy ... I'm sad because I love fallas, really
By the way...have a good time in Oviedo, I love it !!

What about this route?:
Burgos-Soria-Tarazona-Zaragoza-Teruel-Valencia.

Ger, YES! You have to go explore so I can follow on your footsteps!!!!

Lin, that area is my next destination in Spain. My next trip has to be to Italy since its my DD's birthday gift and thats where she wants to go (and so did I before I 'found' Spain).

You only spent 5 days in Galicia…do you think you saw it all? I don’t think so….come back another time and see some more.

Tee hee!

How about southern France? It's quite worth a look.

Mari , how old is DD? She sounds like my daughte , all Italy no Spain for her!! I admit it is a tough choice!

Ger,

Did you write a trip report for your Galicia trip? I can't remember, did you go the Baiona, Pontevedra, Cambados, that area of Galicia?

Hey, I'm a Spaniard and I think Italy is beautiful I don't know why people insists on comparing, many people does, even here. I think both have a long story (sometimes a common history), great art, great food, nice people , even great coffee People should know both and leave aside the "compare and contrast" thing, just enjoy them

ribeirasacra:
Most certainly NOT! I like to skip across the lily pond on my first trip to a region to get a flavour and then focus on specific areas on subsequent visits. Galicia is an area I will return to again and again. It reminds me of pre-Celtic tiger Ireland. The weather is perfect for me in summer (being Irish, I can’t abide the heat and temps and rainfall in Galicia are almost on a par with Ireland). I am not discounting Galicia for a trip this year, but I am thinking I might plan a family holiday in 2008.

happytrailstoyou:
My favorite part of the South of France is the Basque area and further east into the Pyrenees, which I will definitely revisit within the next 12 months. Some time in the future, I want to walk the Camino, from St. Jean Pied de Porte, on the French side, all the way to Santiago de Compostela.

Hi cruiseluv:
I have started a trip report and will eventually finish it, I hope . (click on my id and you will find it; if not, let me know and I will top it for you). My work is interfering with my writing! I made it to Pontevedra (see the photos above) but the planned trip up the coast from Tui to Baiona was a mess (Sunday on a long weekend in August!) so I eventually ditched the idea.

Hi, OReilly,
Though I see the deal is done towards Valencia, I'd made a couple recomendations anyway:
There is a zone off-the-path I have enjoyed very much, south of Badajoz province and north of Huelva. Towns to visit: Zafra (with Parador), Jerez de los Caballeros (impressive towers), Fregenal de la Sierra, Cortegana, Almonaster la Real and Aracena. This is the area where Jamon Serrano was first "created".
Another route I've done several times is Comarca de la Vera, Caceres province. Towns: From Candeleda to Jaraiz de la Vera (Parador at Jarandilla), and sidetrips to Arenas de San Pedro (east), Plasencia and Jerte valley (cherry trees in bloom now)west; and Oropesa (Parador) and nearby Lagartera, south. Lagartera is a must on Corpus day, women wear their beautiful traditional costumes.

ditto for tips on exremadura area,and anyone anywhere NEAR the parador at Oropesa should definitely stop there.

one of my favorites.

Cruise, DD is 14 so next year is her quinceañero. So far she has had to abide with our selection of travel destinations but we always told her she could pick a destination for her 15th present. Since she was seven she has had a postcard I sent her of the Trevi fountain on her mirror. So I guess it has to be Italy

(BTW, I love Italy too, but Spain is a passion for me)