Hi, Ger,

If you are set on a Madrid to Valencia trip, I'd suggest that if you go to Teruel, keep going north a bit to Alcaniz -- very nice town and area (several interesting prehistoric sites), and the parador is great. And in terms of beach towns, I agree with the suggestion of Peniscola, which I found to be one of the few not totally high rise tourist towns on that part of the coast.

If you decide on the St. Jean to Burgos route, I'd be happy to give you suggested stops because I've walked this route a number of times. This year we are "branching out" to walk the Camino del Norte, which hugs the coast from Irun to Galicia and then dips down to Santiago. So, when you're ready to walk, just give a holler. LR

How about Costa Brava? My favorite part of Spain. (I've been all over.)
Great roads that look like a Grace Kelly movie, beautiful towns, gorgeous scenery. There is a lot of art too, with Dali having lived in Gerona. There are some castles, and stunning beaches. Start in Barcelona, go to the coast, then follow the coast going north. Once again you can go all the way up to France.

Hey, let Ger come to visit me, pleaseeeeeeeeeee :)
Anyway, you still have a lot of options for future trips , ger..I think we're going to have you round here for a lot of times... :)

Thanks Ger, I found it! I had even posted under it but it was a while ago so I must have forgotten it! LOL!

Mari,

Your DD will love Italy. My daughter (almost 13) was there with us last summer (Rome, Venice and Florence) and had a great time. She didn't want to go to Spain with me to meet my son, so she stayed with her dad for a couple of extra days in Rome .
She is in love with the motorcycles/ mopeds. Says when she is older she wants to go and live in Rome and get her own motorcycle! I tell her to spare me the details! LOL!!!

Thanks Josele, as always! I have some information from my last trip to Extramadura (trip report posted here on Fodors) and will investigate your recommendations. I truly loved the area and it would certainly be a great destination for later in the year.

Hi Lreynolds: do you have a trip report for the Camino? If so, I would love to read it. I have developed a real passion for it! I took a brief trip in September starting in Salamanca and following the Camino from Burgos to just beyond Leon. Photos can be found here:

http://p104.ezboard.com/feuropetogof...icID=171.topic

Hello blamona:
Certainly worth considering for the future. I had a brief trip driving north from Barcelona inland right up to the Pyrenees, across to the coast and then down the coast. It was FAR too short as I had completely misjudged the driving times. I have promised myself to do it again.

Many thanks to all.

Regards Ger

Hi Oreilly our last choice was Castilla-Leon, as you we have visited many other regions. Actually we had also visited several places in Castilla Leon, but this trip we focus in this area, it was such a lovely trip!!!
We took a train to Burgos, then rented a car and after being several days in Burgos without the car we drove to Lerma, Covarrubias, Silos, Valladolid,Tordesillas, Toro, Medica del Campo and Salamanca.We returned the car in Salamanca and after three days there took a train back to Madrid. Buena Suerte.

hi OReilly you need to come to Barcelona for festes de la mercé (24th Sept). This one'll be worth your trip into a big city.