Practical Handbook

Transcription

Practical Handbook

Practical Handbook
MEDITERRANEAN
SPAIN
le
y
b
c
i
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c
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1000 km 17 Routes 90 Pictures
City Guides Helpful Tips Lodgings
www.top40guides.com
Contents
ABOUT THIS HANDBOOK ...................................................................................................3
CHAPTER 1 – ROUTES
Route 1 – Sevilla to Cádiz .....................................................................................................4
Route 2 – Cádiz to Zahara de los Atunes ..............................................................................5
Route 3 – Zahara de los Atunes to Gibraltar (La Línea de la Concepción)............................5
Route 4 – Gibraltar to Estepona ............................................................................................7
Route 5 – Estepona to Marbella ............................................................................................7
Route 6 – Marbella to Málaga ...............................................................................................8
Route 7 – Málaga to Almuñécar ............................................................................................8
Route 8 – Almuñécar to Adra ................................................................................................9
Route 9 – Adra to Almería ...................................................................................................10
Route 10 – Almería to Carboneras ......................................................................................11
Route 11 – Carboneras to Calabardina ...............................................................................11
Route 12 – Calabardina to Cartagena ................................................................................12
Route 13 – Cartagena to Torrevieja ....................................................................................13
Route 14 – Torrevieja to Alicante ........................................................................................13
Route 15 – Alicante to Calpe ...............................................................................................14
Route 16 – Calpe to Gandía ...............................................................................................15
Route 17 – Gandía to Valencia ...........................................................................................16
CHAPTER 2 – WHAT TO SEE
Sevilla ..................................................................................................................................17
Cádiz ...................................................................................................................................19
Gibraltar ..............................................................................................................................20
Estepona .............................................................................................................................23
Marbella ..............................................................................................................................24
Málaga ................................................................................................................................25
Almería ................................................................................................................................27
Cartagena ...........................................................................................................................29
Alicante ...............................................................................................................................30
Benidorm .............................................................................................................................32
Calpe ...................................................................................................................................33
Valencia ...............................................................................................................................34
CHAPTER 3 – WHERE TO STAY ......................................................................................38
CHAPTER 4 – BICYCLES and BAGGAGE
Cycling Gear .......................................................................................................................50
Technical Gear ....................................................................................................................51
Clothing ...............................................................................................................................51
Other ...................................................................................................................................52
CHAPTER 5 – PRACTICAL INFO and TIPS
Prior to the trip .....................................................................................................................53
During the trip ......................................................................................................................55
10 interesting facts about Spain, Spanish culture and cuisine ............................................57
ABOUT THIS HANDBOOK
The Book: This is a free handbook to cycling along the Spanish Mediterranean – from Cádiz
to Valencia (with a starting point Sevilla). The handbook is entirely based on personal experience and first-hand information.
The Reason: When we started planning our cycling trip in Spain, it turned out there was almost no information about cycling along the Spanish Mediterranean – no popular books or
guides. Even the cycling/touring forums contained limited information. The majority of fellow
cyclists on the forums have been cycling across inland Spain, and not along the coastline.
So, upon our return from our Spanish adventure, we decided to put on an electronic free
handbook for all cyclists out there planning to tour along the Spanish Mediterranean. Our
idea was to offer you, the reader, a practical handbook rather than an emotional narrative
story of our trip. We give you the practical side of things plus some curious information, but
we leave to you to create and live your adventure.
The Idea: The decision on touring the Mediterranean coast was a 3-step process. First
came the idea of an adventure. Then came the choice of location – Spain was the obvious
choice as it has a special place in our hearts. And finally came the idea of travelling by bicycles – after all, the journey was supposed to be an adventure, not just a holiday!
The People behind the book: We are a small team located in the UK. We are passionate
travellers who have successfully published an iBook travel guide - TOP 40 Rome and
three paper guidebooks to Barcelona, Rome and London (check out our website www.
top40guides.com). However, this was our first cycling tour ever! We were super excited and
thrilled about our cycling Spanish trip. As we were absolute beginners with no previous
cycle touring experience and no fellows or friends with such experience, we were planning
things on our own and training hard for about 8 months prior to the trip. We did everything
from scratch – from buying touring bicycles to drawing routes on maps and researching.
So, with this handbook we’d like to share the experience we got prior to and during the trip.
However, it is not a guide that you need to follow 100%. It simply represents our journey,
the routes we followed, the sights we visited and the places we stayed at. The purpose of
this handbook is to help you prepare for your trip and give you some practical information
which you may use as you plan your journey. We hope you enjoy reading!
All pictures included in the handbook are taken during our trip!
The trip in figures:
1000 km Dates: 9 July – 6 August 2013
18 main stops – Sevilla, Cádiz, Zahara, Gibraltar, Estepona, Marbella, Málaga, Almuñécar,
Adra, Almería, Carboneras, Calabardina, Cartagena, Torrevieja, Alicante, Calpe, Gandía
and Valencia. Other short visits included Águilas, Murcia, Benidorm, Dénia and many more.
7 coastlines (Costa de la Luz, Costa del Sol, Costa Tropical, Costa de Almería, Costa Cálida, Costa Blanca, Costa del Azahar)
If you enjoyed our free handbook, please share it with your friends and fellow cyclists, and
leave a review on your favourite E-bookstores!
Thank you for your suport!
Bon Voyage!
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CHAPTER 1 – ROUTES
The song of the cicadas
As we cycled across Spain in the hot summer days we were listening to the loud song of the cicadas
performing their music for all locals and strangers
Route 1 – Sevilla to Cádiz
Distance: 147 km
Route Map: http://goo.gl/57hyZs GPX File: http://goo.gl/y18cUn
Route Overview: cycling + train; flat, not busy, safe, quite windy, presence of wide shoulder
This route is the only one from the whole trip which is not along the Mediterranean. However, Sevilla is a great starting point of your trip for two main reasons: it is a great city offering
a lot to see and it has an airport which you can fly to from different parts of the world. The
route from Sevilla to Cádiz is flat with no hills, relatively quiet although lorries are to be seen
here as well. Most of the time, there is a wide enough shoulder which can be used by cyclists. Landscape is dessert-like with almost no trees and shade. The wind coming from the
sea (south) is strong but manageable.
Important: the last bit of the route, just before Cádiz, is tricky. Upon reaching the roundabout of Av. de Madrid with Av. del Mar, you don’t carry on cycling on the CA-32 road as the
bridge over the river of San Pedro and the section after it are forbidden for cyclists. Instead,
at the roundabout you need to take the path to the right running parallel to the CA-32 road.
This path continues running parallel to the bridge over the river and then leads to an uneven
and stony/gravel 6-km cycle path through a Nature Reserve. The bridge Puente Jose Leon
de Carranza (very heavy traffic and dangerous) is also forbidden for cyclists (although some
navigation software may tell you it is ok to use the bridge!). So, cycle to the train station of the
neighbouring town of Puerto Real and get the Media Distancia train to Cádiz (one-way ticket
in 2014 is 3.6 euro and journey time is 20 min).
Alternative transport: Get the Media Distancia train from Sevilla to Cádiz (ticket price in
2014 is 15.75 euro; travel time is approximately 2 hours).
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Route 2 – Cádiz to Zahara de los Atunes
Distance: 76 km
Route Map: http://goo.gl/UN68vy GPX File: http://goo.gl/k8T5Dg
Route Overview: train + cycling; flat, quiet roads, presence of wide shoulder on the main
roads, scenic views
To save time and avoid possible issues with leaving Cádiz (due to the bridge Puente Jose
Leon de Carranza being forbidden for cyclists), catch the Media Distancia train from Cádiz
railway station to the neighbouring town of Puerto Real (one-way ticket in 2014 is 3.6 euro
and journey time is 20 min). From Puerto Real to the picturesque Zahara (which has a
beautiful beach) the route is mainly quiet and flat with possibility of fairly strong wind coming
from south. The only more hilly part of the route is just after Los Caños de Meca, through
the Nature Park (2 km). After that there is a long and pleasant descent. The landscape
along the route is lush and beautiful – from paradise-like beach resorts (such as Barbate) to
deep forests stretching throughout the Nature Reserve.
The song of the cicadas and the heat are our companions throughout the whole trip
Route 3 – Zahara de los Atunes to Gibraltar (La Línea de la Concepción)
Distance: 73 km
Route Map: (part 1) http://goo.gl/Flg3Tn (part 2) http://goo.gl/oi7LyU
GPX File: (part 1) http://goo.gl/fWNYOW (part 2) http://goo.gl/C5LvoZ
Route Overview: cycling + train + cycling; flat + hilly parts, quiet roads early in the morning
but quite busy traffic later on, presence of wide shoulder, scenic views
This route is quite pleasant. The section between Zahara and N340 is very quiet. Look for
the black bulls on pasture here – it is a real treat to see Spain’s national symbol live (and
don’t forget to take a photo!). When you get on the N340 you will have the opportunity to
see the Osborne bull again, but this time you will see his black metal figure looking at you
from the top of the hill (just after passing the fork road to Facinas). At this point you will realize that the metal figure and the settings look exactly like the real bull on pasture just a few
kilometres back. Enjoy the beautiful scenery here, the flat N340 road and the wide shoulder,
perfectly suitable for cycling. The N340 gets busy after 08:30-09:00 but the wide enough
shoulder allows you to cycle safely. The N340 continues to be flat until the town of Tarifa
but after that it becomes hilly and the next 7 km up until the café with panoramic terrace on
the N340 (Mirador del Estrecho) involve climbing only. However, the climb is gradual and
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Do you know that? There are around 90 Osborne bull silhouettes guarding the Spanish landscape across the whole country. Many of them are in the autonomous community of Andalucía. The huge metal figures were originally erected to advertise the brandy produced by the Osborne Group. After introducing a law banning advertising on highways
outside of built-up areas, the advertisements were removed but the proud images of the bull
were preserved as part of Spain’s landscape and culture.
not steep which makes it not so tough. You may stop at the café to have a snack, get some
rest from the long climb and enjoy your first glimpse at Africa! Then enjoy the long descent.
The N340 gets busier and busier as you approach Algeciras. Extra attention should be paid
upon entering the city. After Algeciras the N340 becomes A7 which in this area is forbidden
for cyclists. So, cyclists have to use the 20-km circular hilly narrow way via CA-231, C-440a
and CA-5121 in order to reach San Roque-La Línea railway station and from there continue
south to Gibraltar. Instead, we suggest going to Algeciras’s train station and from there getting the Media Distancia train to San Roque-La Línea (one-way ticket in 2014 is 2.65 euro
and journey time is 15 min). This will save you time and an extra 20 km much of which is a
hilly ride (and possibly also in the summer heat). When you get off the train, the last part of
the route to Gibraltar is quiet and flat, passing through an industrial zone, but at the same
time this is when you get to see the Rock up close for the first time!
Alternative transport: upon reaching Algeciras you either have the option to get the train
to San Roque-La Línea and cycle from there to Gibraltar or cycle the whole way through the
hilly circular road to the north of Algeciras.
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Route 4 – Gibraltar to Estepona
Distance: 47 km
Route Map: http://goo.gl/7sqbiq GPX File: http://goo.gl/S1ULRf
Route Overview: cycling only; most of the time flat and quiet roads, safe, presence of wide
shoulder
The route is flat and relatively quiet for most of the time. There are some hilly parts around
the town of San Roque but no tough climbs. After passing San Roque you get on the service road running parallel to the busy Autovía del Mediterráneo. The service road is extremely quiet and provides a very pleasant and relaxed ride. After getting off the service
road, you cycle through a series of luxury golf and beach resorts which also provide a very
relaxed and enjoyable ride. At some point you get on the main N340 road which can be
quite busy but the presence of wide enough shoulder allows you to cycle safely until you
reach our next stop – Estepona.
Route 5 – Estepona to Marbella
Distance: 26 km
Route Map: http://goo.gl/9mZ2bt GPX File: http://goo.gl/R9uEgU
Route Overview: cycling only; flat, busy roads, limited space for cycling
This is a very short and flat route, running along the Autovía del Mediterráneo and the
N340 which can be extremely busy (especially in summer months). So, cycling here is not
a challenge in terms of distance and terrain but it is a challenge in terms of busy roads and
the lack of wide shoulder for cycling (or at some sections no shoulder at all). The space is
limited, your left side being close to the traffic and your right side – to the roadside barrier.
So, you need to be on super high alert here. Also, watch out for the vehicles going into or
coming out of the slip roads as you cross each other’s way.
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Route 6 – Marbella to Málaga
Distance: 59 km
Route Map: http://goo.gl/XQXszg GPX File: http://goo.gl/Hd9zO0
Route Overview: cycling only; flat, very busy roads, extremely narrow shoulder
This route is a challenge in terms of busy roads and limited space for cycling. So, you need
to be on very high alert, especially as you approach Málaga. The first 27 km, running along
the Autovía del Mediterráneo until reaching Fuengirola, are very busy with highly limited
space between the roadside barrier and the traffic. Upon reaching Fuengirola you can get
off the main road and cycle through the town. Then carry on Ctra. Cádiz which is sort of a
main road but not that busy at all as most traffic uses the parallel highway. Later on you can
get off Ctra. Cádiz and cycle through the Costa del Sol resort of Torremolinos (narrow roads
and many traffic lights though). After Torremolinos you get on the extremely busy MA-21
for the next 6 km which could be extremely dangerous due to the amount of traffic (three
lanes per direction) and the lack of wide space between the roadside barrier and the vehicles (which drive at very high speed). You need to be extremely careful and watch out for
the traffic going into or coming out of the slip roads as you cross each other’s way. We were
actually amazed that this part of the MA-21 was allowed for cyclists as it really was very
dangerous. To be perfectly honest, this route was the second most dangerous one after the
route to Adra. On both occasions we were the only cyclists on the road while on all other
routes we saw a number of cyclists (locals and tourers).
Alternative way: In order to avoid the extremely busy and dangerous main roads, you can
cycle through the mountains along the A-355 to the north of Marbella. We didn’t choose that
option as we did not feel prepared enough for cycling on mountainous roads in the really
hot weather and because that route also didn’t seem a very safe option due to the narrow
space, lots of turns and the presence of traffic.
Route 7 – Málaga to Almuñécar
Distance: 74 km
Route Map: http://goo.gl/ykELbA GPX File: http://goo.gl/QfP48i
Route Overview: cycling only; most of the time flat and not busy roads, some hilly parts,
scenic views, safe, wide enough space for cycling
The busy and dangerous roads, typical for the route to the west of Málaga, turn into quiet
and safe roads as you leave the city heading east. The route is very pleasant stretching
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through a number of coastline villages. The presence of dozens of local cyclists training
here is a definite sign for the safety and quietness of the roads. The only section which is a
bit busier is the MA-24 just before La Cala del Moral. The cement factory next to the road
suggests that many heavy vehicles use that section – so, more attention is required when cycling here. The route after Nerja becomes hilly (no tough climbs though as the climb is gradual) running through a few mountain tunnels. Also, there is wide enough space for cycling and
the road is very quiet as nearly all traffic use the main autovía that runs parallel to it.
Route 8 – Almuñécar to Adra
Distance: 75 km
Route Map: http://goo.gl/uOVutN GPX File: http://goo.gl/YlfGBf
Route Overview: cycling only; most of the time hilly and busy roads, dangerous hilly terrain
and turns, limited space for cycling
The first 14 km are the most dangerous and critical part of the route. The reason is that the
N340 is the only road east of Almuñécar. There is no other road to the east which cyclists
and the rest of the traffic can use. The A-7 autovía, the highway running above the N340,
ends just after Almuñécar and is currently being built. Therefore, all the traffic uses the
N340 (including heavy vehicles and buses/coaches). Moreover, the terrain here is hilly with
dangerous turns and reduced visibility. The space between the roadside barrier to your right
and the traffic to your left is limited. The combination of all these factors – the business of
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the road, the dangerous turns and the limited space makes cycling here an extreme challenge. So, you should be on super high alert. This was by far the most dangerous part of
our trip. There were no other cyclists on the road. Things get much better after the village
of Salobreña as the highway starts again and the amount of traffic decreases hugely due
to much of the traffic heading north, to Granada. So, now the N340 gets quieter and flatter.
After the village of Castell de Ferro you can take the N340a which is very quiet. After 5.5 km
the N340a joins the N340. The quiet N340a starts again after the village of La Rábita and
will take you safely to Adra. In terms of landscape, the scenic views, typical for the routes to
the west of Almuñécar, are now replaced with fields of greenhouses which begin near the
town of Motril and disappear to the east of Almería.
Do you know that? On your way from Almuñécar to Adra you are cycling not far from
the foot of Sierra Nevada – the highest mountain range in Europe after The Alps! The
highest peak in Sierra Nevada is Mulhacén (3478 metres). There is a mountain range
in the USA which is also called Sierra Nevada.
Alternative way: If you are up for a quite hilly 30-km ride (but quiet in terms of traffic), then
you can avoid the extremely dangerous 14 km to the east of Almuñécar. To do that, follow the
SO-02 to the north of Almuñécar and after Jete carry on the SO-14 and SO-22 until reaching
Motril. This is quite a circular ride but is an option if you don’t want to cycle on the N340.
Tip: Prior to your trip, check the progress of the building of the A-7 highway.
Route 9 – Adra to Almería
Distance: 51 km
Route Map: http://goo.gl/1gt6eE GPX File: http://goo.gl/9YR1Ua
Route Overview: cycling only; most of the time flat and quiet roads, safe, a lot of fields full
of greenhouses
This route runs along the mostly quiet N340a. Most of the traffic uses the parallel highway – the
Autovía del Mediterráneo. This turns the N340a into a nice and suitable option for cycling
as it is quiet and safe. The road gets narrower as the N340a goes through populated areas
but it is still fine for cycling. Also, you will go through a lot of roundabouts (not big though).
Actually, roundabouts are very typical for the Spanish road infrastructure and are present
along many of the routes described in this handbook. As you approach Almería the N340a
gets a bit busier running through a few tunnels. Be careful here as not all vehicles respect
the minimum distance rule in the tunnels (still many local cyclists use the tunnels, so they
are fine for cycling).
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Do you know that? The Spanish roads are full of roundabouts each of which is decorated in a unique and interesting way – cactuses, fountains, boats, airplanes, dancing
silhouettes, sports figures, elephants, you name it.
Route 10 – Almería to Carboneras
Distance: 72 km
Route Map: http://goo.gl/N6Z3XC GPX File: http://goo.gl/yJgtL5
Route Overview: cycling only; most of the time flat and quiet roads, safe, wide enough
space for cycling
This route is very quiet and peaceful. It starts with the quiet Ctra. Nijar La Cañada which
after a few km joins the N344. At the junction with Calle Cabo de Najar you turn southeast
following the ALP-202 which runs through the Nature Park of Cabo de Gata. At some point
you will need to head northeast via a field of greenhouses in order to get on the ALP-204
(this kind of circular ride is needed as here the Autovía del Mediterráneo is forbidden for cyclists). The ALP-204 will take you to the small town of Campohermoso after which you can
get on the extremely quiet service road running parallel to the busy autovía. After a few km
you take the N341 which is also not that busy. It goes through the northeastern part of the
Natural Park of Cabo de Gata before reaching Carboneras.
Alternative way: If you’d like to see greater part of Cabo de Gata Natural Park, then you
can cycle through the park instead of cycling north of it (but it’s terribly windy and it’s a challenge for cyclists, so they say).
Route 11 – Carboneras to Calabardina
Distance: 71 km
Route Map: http://goo.gl/VuQiNe GPX File: http://goo.gl/u23uKG
Route Overview: cycling only; some hilly but quiet parts (only a few km), most of the time
flat and not that busy roads along the coastline, safe, wide enough space for cycling
This route begins with a tough climb through the eastern part of Cabo de Gata Natural Park.
However, it doesn’t feel dangerous as most of the traffic uses the nearby Autovía del Mediterráneo highway. Although the road here is pretty quiet, we recommend cycling early in the
morning before it gets busier. After this short hilly section, a long pleasant coastal ride follows, passing through a number of picturesque seaside villages. One of them is San Juan
de los Terreros (with adorable colourful houses) which is actually the last populated area
in the Andalucía region. Just a couple of km after the village, you will find yourself in the
region of Murcia. It begins with the beautiful protected nature zone of Cuatro Calas (Four
Bays) with some fantastic queer shapes formed by wind and sea erosion. A short ride after
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it you reach the city of Águilas. Crossing its busy narrow streets may be a bit of a challenge
but once you are out of Águilas it’s a quieter 6-km ride to the paradise-like village of Calabardina which is a favourite holiday resort of the Spanish people. If you don’t fancy staying at
Calabardina, you may consider sleeping in Águilas which may offer more budget sleeping
options.
Route 12 – Calabardina to Cartagena
Distance: 69 km
Route Map: http://goo.gl/qtzScT GPX File: http://goo.gl/8iL7gu
Route Overview: train or cycling; some hilly narrow parts (with no shoulder)
As we decided to visit the city of Murcia, on this occasion we took the train from Águilas to
Murcia (train doesn’t operate daily) and then to Cartagena. Plus this gave us the opportunity to recover our muscles from those long cycling hours. However, if you choose to cycle
to Cartagena prepare for some beautiful mountain-sea scenery along the route. The route
follows the RM-D20 which shouldn’t be that busy as the highway runs parallel. The RM-D20
is quite hilly and curved in the part next to Cabo Cope-Puntas de Calnegre Park but it’s only
for a short distance. After that carry on the RM-332 up until the Nature Park of La Muela-Cabo Tiñoso. Cross the Nature Park using the RM-E22 and voilà – you have arrived in
Cartagena. However, do bear in mind that the hilly sections along the route may be narrow
and with reduced visibility and will require you to be on the alert.
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Route 13 – Cartagena to Torrevieja
Distance: 53 km
Route Map: http://goo.gl/Sdm96K GPX File: http://goo.gl/g5p2pu
Route Overview: cycling only; nice and pleasant, mostly quiet ride, flat and safe
The route from Cartagena to Torrevieja involves cycling on the RM-F35 and the N332, the
first being extremely quiet and flat, and the second being a bit busier but still fine for cycling (it’s normal for the road to get busy as you approach the city of Torrevieja). The AP-7
highway (forbidden for cyclists) runs nearby, so most of the traffic is concentrated on the
autopista. Along the route you may see many fellow cyclists as there are local cycling clubs
taking advantage of the quiet roads. You will also go through some typical Spanish roundabouts (mentioned earlier) decorated with all kinds of things such as boats and planes. After
passing the town of San Pedro del Pinatar look for the sign welcoming you into the autonomous Valencian Community which also means you have left the region of Murcia.
Route 14 – Torrevieja to Alicante
Distance: 51 km
Route Map: http://goo.gl/u7HDyC GPX File: http://goo.gl/sV2Njh
Route Overview: cycling only; busy roads (but not extremely busy); wide enough space for
cycling, flat
This route runs along the N332 all the way from Torrevieja to Alicante (apart from a small
4-km section where you can jump on the quieter N332a road). As the autopista runs nearby, the N332 is not extremely busy but not quiet either. The other plus side is that the roads
are quite flat making cycling here easy. There are several nice surprises along the route.
The first one is a small café-restaurant run by friendly and smiling Dutch people serving the
best café con leche (coffee with milk – the most popular morning drink in Spain). You order
one café con leche and they bring you a solid portion of it along with a muffin and an extra
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glass filled with some sweet liqueur and cream to add to your coffee for free (the price was
also very cheap – less than 2 euro). The café is situated about 16 km after Torrevieja next
to the N332 in a retail park, just behind a Mercadona foodstore (look for the Mercadona
store on the N332 and you won’t miss it). The next surprise comes about 7 km further, when
you cross a beautiful Nature Reserve, home to flamingos. Half way through the reserve,
on your right side, you will see the third pleasant surprise – the imposing metal figure of
the Osborne bull (see also page 6). This time the symbolic silhouette is not standing on a
hill, distant and unapproachable, but is rather there, just next to the road, waiting for you
to go and meet him up close. You can even climb to the top of the bull and metaphorically
speaking get a taste of what a matador feels when taming the bull. After enjoying these little
distractions from the road – a nice breakfast, flamingos and the Osborne bull, you can focus
on the rest of the ride to Alicante. Once you pass by the Alicante airport, you begin to see
and sense the spirit of this gorgeous city. As usual, the roads get busier when approaching
big populated areas. So, you should be on the alert, especially once you enter Alicante, as
there is not much space for cycling and heavy vehicle drivers are not very considerate of
cyclists.
Route 15 – Alicante to Calpe
Distance: 11 km
Route Map: http://goo.gl/gyunku GPX File: http://goo.gl/GE0o2g
Route Overview: tram or cycling; both busy and quiet roads, both hilly and flat parts, narrow space for cycling on the busy and hilly roads and wider space on the quieter and flatter
roads.
As both Alicante and Benidorm are famous Spanish sea resorts, the roads connecting
them, are quite busy (especially during summer months). The heavy traffic combined with
the hilly roads (with limited space for cyclists) between El Campello and La Villa Joyosa on
one hand and between Altea and Calpe on the other hand, makes cycling here a dangerous and risky experience. The good news is that there is an extremely convenient tram line
which connects Alicante with Benidorm and Calpe (www.tramalicante.es). So, if you are not
an experienced cyclist and you want to avoid this risky route, then catch the tram. You can
either travel straight to Calpe (you need to change tram lines at the Benidorm stop) or first
go to Benidorm, spend at least half a day there to enjoy the gorgeous clean beaches, and
then continue to Calpe. If you, however, would like to get on the bike for at least some time,
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you can get off at La Villa Joyosa (which is 10 km before Benidorm) and cycle to Benidorm –
the road here is nice and quiet. One-way prices for the tram in 2014: €6.05 from Alicante to
Calpe; €4.85 Alicante to Benidorm (travelling time around 70 min); €2.5 Benidorm to Calpe
(travelling time around 30 min). The main Alicante tram stop is in the very heart of the city
and is called Luceros (next to Plaza de los Luceros).
Alternative way: If you are an experienced cyclist and you are not bothered with the busy,
hilly, narrows parts along the route, then you can cycle the whole way from Alicante to
Calpe via the N332 for most of the time. However, do take extra caution when cycling between El Campello and La Villa Joyosa, and between Altea and Calpe.
Route 16 – Calpe to Gandía
Distance: 32 km
Route Map: http://goo.gl/m2oyZ2 GPX File: http://goo.gl/VuH3Hy
Route Overview: tram + cycling or cycling only; hilly, curved road with narrow space for
cyclists between Calpe and Dénia; flat, straight road with wide enough space for cyclists
between Dénia and Gandía
The route runs along the N332. Although there is an autopista running parallel to it, the
N332 is still quite busy. Half of the route – from Calpe to Dénia features a lot of hilly turns
and requires manoeuvring on a narrow space between the busy traffic and the roadside
barrier. So, we recommend catching the tram from Calpe to Dénia (www.tramalicante.es;
one-way ticket costs €2.5 in 2014; journey time around 40 min). If you have some time,
take a look around the streets of Dénia – it is quite a picturesque city. So, why not get some
breakfast here before continuing your journey. The first 12 km from Dénia, running along
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Ctra. les Marines, are a pleasant, relatively quiet ride with wide enough space for cyclists.
There is also a marked 6-km cycling lane starting from the holiday villa area of El Palmar.
After passing El Palmar, look for the curious dinosaur-like hill and why not stop here for
a quick photo pause. When you get on the N332, the traffic gets busier, especially as go
through the town of Oliva and as you start approaching Gandía which is a normal thing for
the urban areas. Still cycling here feels safe. When in Gandía you can either relax on the
impressively long stretch of golden sand beaches or if you are up for some history, visit the
Palau ducal del Borjas – Gandía’s most famous landmark.
Alternative way: If you don’t want to catch the tram from Calpe to Dénia, then you can
cycle all the way from Calpe to Gandía via the N332 but be prepared for a challenging ride
for the first half of the route.
Route 17 – Gandía to Valencia
Gandía beach
Distance: 69 km
Route Map: http://goo.gl/dTgs3M GPX File: http://goo.gl/UelTq0
Route Overview: cycling only; enjoyable, mostly quiet ride via flat, straight roads with no
hilly parts; scenic views; busy traffic as you approach Valencia
Valencia and its surroundings are situated in a plain. So, the whole route from Gandía to
Valencia is flat, allowing you to fully enjoy the scenic views around you on this leisure ride.
Exit Gandía not from the busy N332, but from the Av. Del Grau, use the cycle path next to
the beautiful beaches and then get on the extremely peaceful CV-605 up until the picturesque seaside town of Cullera. After Cullera you get on the CV-502 and then on the CV-500
through the lovely Albufera Nature Park. The road through the park is quite busy but still
safe. When you reach the intersection with CV-401 in the northern part of the Nature Park,
get off the CV-500 as soon after that it becomes an extremely busy and dangerous highway. Continue onto the CV-401 and enter Valencia via the Carrer de José Soto Micó bridge.
Well done! You’ve reached your final destination! It’s time to catch your breath, spend several days in wonderful Valencia, relax and enjoy a totally deserved break!
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CHAPTER 2 – WHAT TO SEE
Sevilla
Sevilla was standing there – right in the heart of Andalucía, looking proud, passionate and
beautiful, dressed in vivid deep colours like a real Flamenco dancer.
What to see (we recommend at least 3 days for exploring Sevilla):
1. The Cathedral (Catedral de Sevilla) – one of the biggest churches in the world. It houses
the tomb of Christopher Columbus. The cathedral also features a nice inner orange garden
and the tall tower La Giralda offering splendid views over Sevilla. www.catedraldesevilla.es
2. Royal Alcazar (Real Alcázar) – this huge palace comprises different architectural styles,
inner courtyards, beautiful gardens, fountains, statues and many more. www.alcazarsevilla.org
3. Maria Luisa Park (Parque de María Luisa) – Sevilla’s main public park, suitable for leisure walks, picnics, sport, etc.
4. Plaza de América – home to museums and las palomas, the Spanish word for pigeons,
which are always ready to alight on your head, arms, legs, shoulders and back as long as
you show them the bird’s food which you’ve bought from the locals on the square.
5. Plaza de España – Sevilla’s most beautiful square featuring Mudejar architecture, an artificial lake, romantic bridges, rowing boats, a central fountain and exquisite colourful benches, covered with the famous azulejos mosaics, representing the different Spanish provinces.
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6. Golden Tower (Torre del Oro) – once part
of the city walls, today the tower is home to
the naval museum but is mostly famous for
the beautiful views from its top.
7. Bullring (Plaza de Toros) – while you can
enjoy the splendour and grandeur of the bullring from outside, you can also take part in the
guided tours, see the arena inside and learn
more about Spain’s most famous tradition –
the bullfight. Bullfighting is actually still present
in Spain (except for Cataluña), challenging the
tourists to blend with the locals for this special
event (Apr to Sep) www.realmaestranza.com
8. Palace of San Telmo (Palacio de San
Telmo) – a school for navigators in the past
and the official residence of the president
of Andalucía today, the palace is richly
adorned with statues of famous locals – from
Velázquez to Murillo.
9. Royal Tobacco Factory (Real Fábrica de Tabacos) – the inspiration for Bizet’s famous
opera ‘Carmen’ – a worker who falls in love with one of the soldiers guarding the factory.
Today the building functions as the University of Sevilla.
10. House of Pilate (Casa de Pilatos) – this old building is a mixture of Renaissance, Gothic and Mudejar. Its curious name comes from the past when one of its owners, upon his
return from Jerusalem, found out that the distance between his house and a nearby temple
was the same as the distance between Pilate’s Palace in Jerusalem and Golgotha.
www.fundacionmedinaceli.org
11. City Hall (Ayuntamiento) – every town in Spain, big or small, proudly houses the Ayuntamiento which is always one of the most beautiful and eye-catching buildings around you!
12. Metropol Parasol – Sevilla’s newest attraction, a tree-like structure which can be called
‘Sevilla’s panoramic terrace’ as it will offer you probably the best views over the city.
www.setasdesevilla.com
Do you know that? Sevilla is the capital of Andalucía – the second largest autonomous community in Spain. The largest autonomous community is Castile and León.
13. Basilica Macarena – the basilica is one of Sevilla’s most beautifully decorated churches
and contains one of the most famous religious statues in Sevilla and protector of the matadors – the Virgin of Hope with diamond tears. www.hermandaddelamacarena.es
14. Tower of Perdigones (Torre de los Perdigones) – this tall tower is home to Camera Obscura – the optical device which allows you to become a ‘Big Brother’ for a short time and
observe live people’s laundry on the roofs, the couple in love on the street, the cars driving
slowly on the busy roads, the tourists marvelling at the Cathedral…. There are only a few
Camera Obscuras in the world and one of them is in Sevilla. www.torredelosperdigones.com
15. Flamenco Show – It’s true what they say: ‘If you want to experience a real Flamenco
show, you must see it in Sevilla’. Sevilla is best known for many things and one of them is
definitely Flamenco. We recommend www.casadelamemoria.es
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Cádiz
Dressed in white robe and sea-blue cape, and crowned with colourful flowers, Cádiz was
dancing for us the most romantic Rumba, applauded by locals and guests who were the
laughter, soul and heart of the city.
What to see (we recommend at least 1 full day for exploring Cádiz):
1. The Cathedral (Catedral de Cádiz) – one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Spain with a
lovely choir, domed ceiling and magnificent views from its tower Torre de Poniente
www.torredeponiente.com
2. Tavira Tower (Torre Tavira) – just like in Sevilla, here you can also find the peculiar tourist attraction Camera Obscura – the device which allows you to stay at one place but at the
same to observe live the whole city around you! www.torretavira.com
3. Genovés Park (Parque Genovés) – this small botanical park is not to be missed as it is
a lovely place to see various kinds of flora, hear the song of the cute parrots which live here
and enjoy the lake with ducks floating around fearful dinosaurs while other prehistoric creatures hide amongst the trees.
Other places of interest:
Museo de Cádiz – telling the history of the city www.museosdeandalucia.es
Oratorio de la Santa Cueva and Oratorio de San Felipe Neri – small chapels famous for
their artworks by Goya and Murillo
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Gibraltar
Partially covered with a veil of mist the Rock looked so imposing and majestic, challenging its visitors to reveal its secrets, diligently kept by his only residents – the macaques, to
decipher the legends, washed away by the turquoise waters of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, and unveil the mysteries, constantly floating between the shores of Africa and
Europe.
View from the Rock towards La Línea de la Concepción, Gibraltar and its unusual airport!
We recommend at least 1 full day for exploring the Upper Rock Nature Reserve.
www.gibraltarinfo.gi
What to see:
1. The Barbary macaques – the only free-to-roam primates in Europe, the macaques will
make you smile and laugh every time you see one of these little cuties. However, be careful as they will certainly try to steal your bags, hats, wallets, ice-cream or basically anything
which is not securely attached to you. Most of the monkeys relax at the Apes’ Den (the mid
station of the Cable Car) but you will find many of them playing around or feeding their babies.
Do you know that? Legend has it that if the Apes leave Gibraltar, it will cease to be
British. Therefore in WW2 Winston Churchill ordered more monkeys to be brought from
Morocco as their number on the Rock was dwindling.
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2. St Michael’s Cave – this extraordinary cave lit up with colourful lights and full of
breath-taking formations will make you stand in awe. Here you can unwind your imagination
and find images of everything – from a couple of monkeys hugging to the Leaning Tower of
Pisa. Some of the most stunning stalactites look like the pipes of an organ, thus giving the
name of the hall – the Cathedral chamber. Due to the great acoustics the cave is also used
for concerts.
3. Great Siege Tunnels – the tunnels are regarded as one of the most impressing defensive systems created by man. They were built during the Great Siege (thus their name) between 1779 and 1783 when the Spaniards in alliance with the French attempted to recapture Gibraltar from the British unsuccessfully. Nearby the tunnels you will find the City under
Siege exhibition which will tell you more about life and order back in those days.
4. Mediterranean Steps – this uneven stony path to the south will reveal some of the most
amazing and breath-taking views and if you are lucky and you are there on a non-foggy
day you may marvel at Africa’s imposing silhouette. Alongside with the beautiful views one
can explore the variety of wildlife – from yellow-legged gulls and falcons to lavender and
thyme. Due to the uneven surface and lack of proper steps the path is rated as ‘hard’. So,
you should be equipped with comfortable shoes and plenty of water, and allow for an hour
in one direction.
5. Cable Car – the Cable Car is a great way to enjoy the scenic views and to get to the top
of the Rock in just a few minutes. We recommend buying a single combination ticket (Cable
Car + Upper Rock Nature Reserve attractions). On your way back, go down the Mediterranean steps for a complete exploration of the Rock! Or if you don’t feel like walking down the
steps, then buy a return combination ticket.
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Other places of interest:
Moorish Castle – a medieval fortification on top of the Rock, made up of a number of buildings, the most distinct of which is the Tower of Homage
Europa Point – the southernmost point of Gibraltar, featuring a lighthouse, a mosque and a
shrine
Gibraltar Museum – the museum will take you on a history lesson about Gibraltar and the
Rock spanning over millions of years. www.gibmuseum.gi
Tip: Gibraltar is a British overseas territory. Therefore, those who require a visa for entry
to the UK will need a visa to enter Gibraltar. If you don’t need a visa, then you simply show
your ID when crossing the border between Spain (La Línea de la Concepción) and Gibraltar. The currency is pound sterling but the notes and coins issued in Gibraltar look differently from the notes and coins issued in the UK. However, they have absolutely the same
value. In Gibraltar both pound sterling and euro are accepted.
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Our Greatest Surprise of the Tour
While touring you always plan a lot of the things but despite the plans there are nice unexpected surprises here and there. Prior to the tour we read a lot about the big cities such as
Sevilla, Málaga, Valencia, etc. but did not know what to expect from the small towns and
villages. Our greatest surprise of the tour was definitely Estepona. Upon entering the town,
we both said one thing…Wow!
Estepona
The most shining pearl along the Costa del Sol coast, Estepona looked like a character
from a romantic fairy-tale, eager to let you in her magical world full of vivid colourful atmosphere, authentic little streets and charming squares.
What to see (we recommend at least 1 full day to enjoy Estepona):
Right in the middle of the historic centre, Flowers Square (Plaza de las Flores) is the heart
and soul of Estepona. In harmony with its name, the plaza is a magnet for locals and tourists chatting vividly in the cafés over a tasty meal, surrounded by flowers, the rustling waters
of the central fountain and the unique, romantic character of the place. Just a short walk
from Plaza de las Flores you will find the Central Market (Mercado de Abastos), adorned
with images of Estepona, the ruins of San Luis castle (Castillo de San Luis), the beautiful
Clock Tower (Torre del Reloj). The Town Hall (Ayuntamiento) and Our Lady of Remedies
Church (Iglesia de Ntra. Sra. Remedios) are also nearby. Estepona is a lovely place to
spend a day on the beach, get lost in the narrow streets in the old town or why not spend
your honeymoon there!
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Marbella
With its picturesque streets, narrower than your stretched out arms, filled with the lyrical
sounds of the musicians and adorned with flower pots and colourful mosaics illustrating
bullfight, flamenco and landmarks images, Marbella looked like a labyrinth, tempting you to
dive into its charm and explore its little nice surprises.
What to see (we recommend at least 1 full day for exploring Marbella):
1. Orange Square (Plaza de los Naranjos) – the heart of the historic centre, this beautiful
square full of orange trees (as its name suggests), is flanked by the imposing Town Hall (Ayuntamiento), the 16th-century Mayor’s House (Casa del Corregidor), the 15th-century chapel Santiago’s Hermitage (Ermita de Santiago) and numerous cafés, attracting locals and tourists.
2. Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation (Iglesia Ntra. Sra. de la Encarnación) – near
Plaza de los Naranjos you will find this important for the locals temple ‘guarded’ by the
patron saint of Marbella, San Bernabé, whose statue stands in front of the church. Another
image of the patron saint adorns the central altar. Other standouts of the interior are the
wonderful stained glass, chapels and organ.
3. Avenida del Mar – take a nice leisure walk along this beautiful promenade, dotted with
fountains and benches, and home to a permanent exhibition of Salvador Dalí’s extraordinary sculptures – from a cosmic elephant to a peculiar horse and dolphin.
4. Arabian Walls (Muralla Arabe) – in the eastern part of the historic centre you will find
well-preserved ruins of the Alcazaba castle (Castillo Alcazaba). Next to them there is a
small park, home to the Bonsai Museum (Museo del Bonsai) which is different from the
standard museums and can be particularly interesting for plant lovers.
5. Victoria Square (Plaza de la Victoria) is another picturesque small plaza in the historic
centre of Marbella, full of character and charisma.
Do you know that? In the summer (July/August) Marbella hosts the Starlite Festival
(the Festival of the Stars) – the only festival in Spain which lasts for a month! It is an
explosion of various events – concerts, cinema, fashion shows, art, culinary experiences and theme club parties, all of them taking place in a unique venue – the old quarry. In 2013
the festival included performances by Enrique Iglesias, Julio Iglesias, Bryan Adams, Paco de
Lucia and many more stars. www.starlitefestival.com
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Málaga
While strolling around the historic heart of Málaga, the buildings, the small plazas, the
narrow streets - all of them whispered to us one name - the name of the city’s most famous
resident - Pablo Picasso!
What to see (we recommend 2 days for exploring Málaga):
1. Picasso Foundation Birthplace Museum (Fundación Picasso Museo Casa Natal) –
Málaga is probably most famous for being the birthplace of Pablo Picasso. So, while here
you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to visit the building where he was born and learn more
about his childhood and his family. www.fundacionpicasso.es
Do you know that? Pablo Picasso lived only 10 years in Málaga and his last visit to
the city was at the age of 19! He temporarily lived in La Coruña, Madrid and Barcelona
but he spent most of his life in France.
2. Mercy Square (Plaza de la Merced) – the square is located in front of Picasso’s birth
house. It was here that Picasso played as a child. Today you can find his bronze statue sitting on a bench attracting tourists to take a photo with him! Apart from the statue, the plaza
also contains an obelisk in honour of General Torrijos. www.malagaturismo.com
3. Picasso Museum (Museo Picasso Málaga) – after learning more about Picasso’s early
life and inspirations in Picasso’s Birthplace Museum, it’s time to visit the museum dedicated
to his art and talent where you can enjoy a vast collection of his paintings. Only a minute
away from the museum is Iglesia de Santiago – the church where Picasso was christened.
www.museopicassomalaga.org
4. Alcazaba Castle (Alcazaba de Málaga) – almost every big city in Spain is famous for its
cathedral and its castle. Málaga makes no exception. Moreover, the city has not one, but
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two castles, one of them being the Alcazaba – the medieval palace-fortress of the city’s
governing Muslims. This huge Arabic complex of massive walls and towers, combined
with wonderful colourful gardens and fountains, is amongst the most beautiful castles in
the whole of Spain. In addition, the splendid views over the city, makes Alcazaba a definite
must-see. www.malagaturismo.com
5. Gibralfaro Castle (Castillo de Gibralfaro) – standing on top of the hill, the military fortress
of Gibralfaro could be defined as Alcazaba’s protective “brother”, as it was built above it to
defend it from attacks. That is why today Gibralfaro has more of a military atmosphere as
opposed to the more relaxed and picturesque spirit of the Alcazaba. The views from here,
however, become even more grandiose. www.malagaturismo.com
6. Roman Theatre (Teatro Romano) – located at the foot of Alcazaba this 1st-century BC
Roman Theatre is a must for all Roman history lovers. The modern visitor centre adjacent
to the theatre presents many interesting facts about the site and various archaeological
objects. www.malagaturismo.com
7. Málaga Port (Puerto de Málaga) – the port is a wonderful place for an evening walk. It
provides great opportunity to witness the Spanish tradition obeyed by locals across the
whole country. During the hot and warm months the social and emotional Spaniards enjoy
their evenings (after 20:00) out with friends and family, strolling around, eating and drinking,
and chatting vividly. Málaga Port is a great place to become part of this tradition and mix
with the locals! www.malagaturismo.com
8. Málaga Cathedral (Catedral de Málaga) – the cathedral carries the peculiar nickname
“La Manquita” (one-armed) due to its incomplete second tower. Another peculiar feature of
the cathedral is the ceiling which has 23 cupolas! www.malagaturismo.com
9. Málaga Automobile Museum (Museo Automovilístico de Málaga) – housed in a beautiful
old tobacco factory, this amazing museum contains dozens of vintage models from all over
the world displayed in thematic groups. From traditional early 20th-century cars and the
iconic Cadillac, Elvis Presley’s favourite car, to the more contemporary sports and futuristic
cars – there is something for everyone! www.museoautomovilmalaga.com
10. Constitution Square (Plaza de la Constitución) – the heart of Málaga’s historic quarter,
this small plaza has been the city’s main public and political space for centuries. Málaga’s
main shopping street, calle Marqués de Larios, starts from here. www.malagaturismo.com
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Almería
As we were approaching Almería, the first thing which we saw was the Alcazaba Castle
standing proud and strong on top of the city, alluding about the oriental feel and atmosphere
of the place. This eastern touch mixed with Pastora Soler’s emotional songs filling the
streets made us feel welcomed.
What to see (we recommend at least 1 full day for exploring Almería):
1. Alcazaba Castle (La Alcazaba de Almería) – La Alcazaba de Almería is the second biggest Moorish construction in Spain after the Alhambra in Granada. Thus, it is often referred
to as the “baby-sister” of Alhambra. Begun in the 10th century this huge fortified complex is
Almería’s most famous attraction, impressing visitors with its grandeur, beautiful gardens
and well-preserved walls and towers. The fortress is also a movie star, appearing in Conan
the Barbarian (1982) with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Never Say Never Again (1983) with
Sean Connery as Agent 007. www.museosdeandalucia.es
2. Paseo de Almería is the main shopping street stretching through the historic centre.
Here you will find shops, cafés, souvenirs, and you can also enjoy the beautiful architecture
of Cervantes Theatre and the buzzing Central Market.
3. Church of Our Lady of the Sea (Iglesia de la Virgen del Mar) – this beautiful church,
hidden in the historic heart of the city, is dedicated to the Virgin of the Sea – the patron saint
of Almería. Big celebrations paying tribute to the Virgin are held at the end of August.
www.turismodealmeria.org
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4. Cathedral of Almería (Catedral de Almería) – the most striking feature of the cathedral is
its fortress-like appearance with almost no windows. It was built like this in order to repel the
pirate attacks in the past. The cathedral was designed by Diego de Siloe – the same architect who designed the cathedrals in Granada and Málaga. www.turismodealmeria.org
5. Nicolas Salmeron Park (Parque Nicolas Salmeron) – bearing the name of the President
of the First Spanish Republic, this park is a good place for a leisure walk amongst the beautiful fountains and colourful flowers.
6. Cabo de Gata Natural Park – located about 20 km to the east of Almería, Cabo de Gata
is a UNESCO Biosphere reserve, with thousands species of plants. Its coastline is the best
conserved in the Spanish Mediterranean. The park is a combination of beaches, reefs,
mountains, deserts, dunes, plants, animals and mysterious hamlets. Cabo de Gata is also
famous for appearing in Steven Spielberg’s Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989;
starring Harrison Ford and Sean Connery). www.degata.com
Do you know that? There is a statue of John Lennon playing his guitar on Plaza
Flores. The reason behind the statue is that it was during a stay in Almería when John
Lennon wrote the song Strawberry Fields Forever.
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Cartagena
Huddled up among the hills, Cartagena looked like a little girl surrounded by its brothers.
Feeling secure she was eager to reveal her ancient secrets spread by the powerful wind for
more than 2000 years. We listened to that wind and stared at the tousled leaves of the palm
trees which were whispering to us as if they were trying to say ‘Welcome to the Windy City’.
We recommend at least 1 full day for exploring Cartagena.
What to see:
1. Roman Theatre (Teatro Romano) – this is probably one of the best preserved Roman
Theatres dating from the 1st century BC. This site reminds the visitors of the glorious past
of Cartagena and that it was once an important part of the ancient Roman Empire.
www.teatroromanocartagena.org
2. Conception Castle (Castillo de la Concepción) – this iconic for Cartagena mediaeval
castle sits on top of a hill offering its visitors a combination of magnificent panoramic views
and a glimpse into the city’s history. While strolling around the castle you may also meet its
famous residents – the beautiful proud peacocks. www.cartagenapuertodeculturas.com
3. Calle Mayor – stroll along the main street, Calle Mayor, leading to the vivid Plaza del
Ayuntamineto (City Hall Square) and the seaside promenade Paseo Alfonso XII. Enjoy the
beautiful architecture and the symbolic for the city interesting sculptures.
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Alicante
Charming, bright and smiling, Alicante combined the magic of the big city with the cozy
atmosphere of a small village. The charm of Alicante was that it made us feel as if we were
strolling around a picturesque town whereas we were actually in one of Spain’s biggest and
most vivid cities.
What to see (we recommend at least 2 days for exploring Alicante):
1. Santa Barbara Castle (Castillo de Santa Bárbara) – certainly one of the most beautiful and intriguing castles in Span from the Muslim era, Santa Barbara Castle is not to be
missed. History, amazing scenic views, grandeur, romance…the castle is undoubtedly the
heart and soul of Alicante and its most recognized feature. www.castillodesantabarbara.com
2. Cathedral of St. Nicholas (Concatedral de San Nicolás de Bari) – this blue-domed church
is so beautiful that it catches the eye amongst the sea of rooftops as you look down from Santa Barbara Castle. Do not miss out on the opportunity to visit the cathedral as this is a really
special church. It is dedicated to the patron of Alicante – St. Nicholas who is the prototype of
the modern Santa Claus! If you are in Alicante in early December, make sure you stay for the
6th Dec when the city celebrates its patron saint and when Christmas in Alicante begins! Look
out for Saint Nicholas riding a white horse around the Old Town giving toys to the children and
enjoy a number of other festive activities. http://concatedralalicante.com
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3. Port of Alicante (Puerto de Alicante) – the beautiful port of Alicante has to offer you various opportunities for fun and relaxation. See a real-size replica of the 18th-century Santísima Trinidad – the biggest and the heaviest-armed ship of its time which took part in many
epic battles including the Battle of Trafalgar. Take a guided tour of this imposing vessel or
have a bite in the restaurant on board of the ship. www.eltrinidad.es If you don’t fancy eating here, there are plenty of other eating options at the port. Or why not stroll around the
numerous street stalls selling all kinds of unique handmade souvenirs.
4. Santa Maria Basilica (Basílica de Santa María) – this is the oldest church in Alicante
built in the 14th century upon the ruins of the biggest mosque in the city. Its most distinctive
feature are the two unsymmetrical towers. www.alicanteturismo.com
5. Postiguet Beach (Playa del Postiguet) – Alicante is famous not only for its impressive
castle, port and historic centre but also for its gorgeous beaches with tranquil, crystal clear
waters and golden sands. The central beach, Playa del Postiguet, is conveniently situated
at the foot of Alicante’s highest hill – Monte Benacantil (which is home to Santa Barbara
Castle). After all, Alicante is located on Costa Blanca (White Coast), known for its clean turquoise waters and fine golden sands.
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Benidorm
Benidorm is like no other Spanish coastal town. With its skyscrapers giving it a Las Vegas
look, combined with the cosiness of its old historic streets and the beauty of its beaches,
Benidorm is a unique pearl on the Mediterranean.
What to see (we recommend at least half a day/one full day for enjoying Benidorm):
1. Mediterranean Balcony (Balcón del Mediterráneo) – this fairy-tale panoramic viewpoint
cut into the sea is the absolute place to enjoy Benidorm in its entire splendour. From here
you get to see the resort’s two gorgeous beaches – Poniente to the west and Levante to
the east and you can marvel at Benidorm’s unique skyline dotted with imposing skyscrapers. The white stone balustrades, the deep Turkish blue colour, the exquisite arches, the
benches, the beautiful ornaments adorning the terrace, the calmness, the lapping of the
sea…all of a sudden you get the feeling that you become a movie character witnessing the
final scene in which the happy couple gets married at the most romantic place ever. Further
charm is added by the street musicians playing guitar and the painters sketching happy
tourists’ faces. This heavenly beautiful place is also called Cerro Canfali Rock as the terrace
sits on top of a rock bearing this name. Some people refer to it as the Placa del Castell due
to the castle which once stood on the rock protecting the town from pirate incursions.
2. Old Town – from the Mediterranean Balcony you step into the very heart of the old town
with its narrow charming streets, numerous tapas bars, souvenir shops…Take a stroll
around, relax at a picturesque Spanish café, re-charge your batteries with a delicious traditional dish and enjoy the lively, bustling atmosphere.
3. Poniente and Levante Beaches – Benidorm is beyond any doubt amongst the top
Spanish sea resorts. Its white sand beaches and crystal clear waters draw millions and millions of tourists every year. So, if you are passing through Benidorm by bike for just half day
or a day, you will definitely want to come back here for at least one week holiday to fully enjoy
Costa Blanca (The White Coast), the various leisure activities and the vivid spirit of Benidorm.
Do you know that? Many people think that the name Benidorm translates as sleeping
well (dormir bien). The truth is, though, that the name has Arabic origins meaning sons
of. The Arabs bequeathed their great fishing techniques and skills to the locals which
turned Benidorm into a thriving fishing port. Over the years, however, the town has undergone a
serious transformation, becoming a leading tourist resort in the whole of Europe.
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Calpe
Calpe surprised us with a colourful parade, a horse-drawn carriage, people in traditional
costumes, flowers and live music on the streets, honouring the patron saint of the town, the
Virgen de las Nieves (Virgin of the Snows). Different festivities are celebrated almost every
month. So, whatever the time of the year, Calpe may welcome you with a lot of fun, entertainment, dancing, fireworks and music.
What to see (we recommend at least one full day for exploring Calpe):
1. Rock of Ifach (Peñón de Ifach) is Calpe’s most recognized landmark. It is an imposing
rock rising from the sea to a height of 322 m. Once used as a surveillance point and a refuge against pirate raids, the Rock became a symbol of protection for the local inhabitants.
Today, it is a magnetic place for nature lovers, drawn by the rich flora and fauna, and the
stunning views. However, the climb is considered not to be easy. So, good hiking shows/
trainers and a bottle of water are a must. www.parquesnaturales.gva.es
2. Old Town – the old town is rich of culture, traditions and history. From the old and more
modern churches, through the interesting museums, to the picturesque cobbled streets
and colourful houses adorned with curious wall paintings, this part of Calpe takes you on
an intriguing journey back in history. Of course, there are plenty of lovely restaurants here
offering tasty seafood and relaxation after a long day. www.calpe.es
3. Calpe’s Beaches – just like the other Costa Blanca resorts, Calpe has lovely beaches
with fine golden sand and transparent water. So, if you are tempted to relax on the beach
after a long ride, why not do so! www.calpe.es
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Valencia
A modern city within the old city, grandeur buildings and tiny cobbled streets, Europe’s largest Aquarium and an African adventure in a natural-feel environment, traditional paella and
refreshing Horchata…Valencia has it all!
We recommend at least 3 days for exploring Valencia – 1 day for the City of Arts and Sciences; 1 day for the Old Town; and 1 day for the Bioparc and Turia Gardens.
What to see:
1. The City of Arts and Sciences (La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias) – the City is an
enormous modern complex dedicated to nature, arts and science. The most famous part of
the City is the Oceanogràfic – Europe’s largest aquarium. Adorable sea lions, cute dolphins,
charming penguins, impressive belugas, walruses, seals, turtles, sharks, rays, starfish…
meet over 45 000 individuals of 500 species. While here, do not miss the Dolphins show
which is definitely worth seeing (included in the admission price). The City also includes the
Hemisfèric – Spain’s largest 3D cinema; a large interactive Science Museum dedicated to
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science, technology and the environment; the tunnel-like Umbracle which offers great views
towards the rest of the complex. The Umbracle is decorated with beautiful flora, typical for
the Mediterranean and the region of Valencia; Palau de les Arts and Ágora are used for
concerts, sports and cultural events. Tip: you can either buy separate tickets or cheaper
combination tickets for the Oceanogràfic, Science Museum and Hemisfèric; the Umbracle is
a free-access area www.cac.es
2. Old Town (Casco Antiguo) – Valencia’s old quarter is full of interesting stories, legends
and impressive buildings. Step into the world of history and take on an exciting journey back
in time along the maze-like narrow cobbled streets.
►►Valencia Cathedral (Catedral de Valencia) – built on the place of a mosque, the cathedral is a mixture of different architectural styles such as Gothic, Baroque and Romanesque. The cathedral is believed to contain the Holy Chalice – the cup, used by Jesus at
the Last Supper. Visitors can see it in the Chapel of the Holy Chalice. Another two distinctive parts of the interior are the Chapel of San Francis Borgia containing two paintings by
Francisco Goya and the Chapel of St Vincent the Martyr – the patron saint of Valencia. If
you’d like to get some amazing views of the city and the surrounding Plaza de la Virgen
(Virgin’s Square with the Turia fountain) and Plaza de la Reina (Queen’s Square), then
climb the cathedral’s bell tower, known as the Miguelete. 207 steps will take you onto a
panoramic terrace where you can enjoy the beauty of Valencia. www.catedraldevalencia.es
►►Santa Catalina Church (Iglesia de Santa Catalina) – next to Valencia Cathedral stands
the Church of Santa Catalina, also built on the place of a mosque. Its slim bell tower is
known for its rich decoration and ornaments which are far less present in the adjacent
sturdier bell tower of the cathedral. Therefore, an urban legend says that the two bell towers, El Miguelete and Santa Catalina, are husband and wife.
►Central
►
Market (Mercado Central) – one of the biggest and oldest covered markets in
Europe. For thousands of tourists the market is number one when it comes to shopping in
Valencia (proved by Tripadvisor). Here you can find everything and you can try all kinds of
traditional local foods and drinks. In addition to the high quality and freshness of the products,
the magic of the place is strengthened by the beauty of the Art Nouveau early 20th-century
building which houses the market. If you have some extra time, check out the adjacent Temple
of Santos Juanes (Iglesia de los Santos Juanes). www.mercadocentralvalencia.es
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►►Silk Exchange (Lonja de la Seda) – located next to the Central Market, La Lonja is
definitely worth a visit. Once used for silk trade, today the building is in the UNESCO list
of world heritage for its highly preserved and pure Gothic style. The imposing palm treelike columns (palm trees were considered a symbol of fair trade), the mythical gargoyles,
the history of the place, the orange tree courtyard…each of them will tell you an interesting story. www.turisvalencia.es
►►City Hall Square (Plaza del Ayuntamiento) – a fountain, a flower market, imposing
buildings such as the City Hall and the Post office, people watching, ice-cream, pancakes…the plaza is the hub of the city. Relax, walk around or sit and watch the world of
Valencia go by.
►►Bullring (Plaza de Toros) and the North Station (Estación del Norte) are just a short
walk away from Plaza del Ayuntamiento. If you are up for some corrida, this is the place
to be. Even from outside the Colosseum-like Bullring is impressing. Not less impressing is
the adjacent railway station - Estación del Norte. Even if you do not intend on catching a
train, go inside and admire the fabulous stained glass, ceramics, wood, marble and colourful mosaics. Both the façade and the interior are worth seeing. www.torosvalencia.com
www.adif.es
►►Almoina Archeological Centre (L’Almoina) is the place where the Romans founded
the city of Valencia in 138 BC. It is the place where the Forum – the heart of the city was
located. Go inside to find out how the ancient buildings looked like, what significance they
had in people’s lives and what is left of them today. www.turisvalencia.es
►►Serranos Towers and Cuarte Towers (Torres de Serranos and Torres de Cuarte) –
these two solid gates were once part of the Medieval wall which guarded the city of Valencia. Today they are open to visitors who can climb the stairs to the top panoramic terraces
where some amazing views above the city are revealed. www.turisvalencia.es
►►Palace of the Marquis de Dos Aguas (Palacio del Marques de Dos Aguas/Museo
Nacional de Cerámica y Artes Suntuarias González Martí) – a ceramic museum housed
in a lavishly decorated palace which once was a home to a noble family. The most striking and eye-catching feature of the building is its richly decorated Baroque façade which
leaves no visitor indifferent. Even if you are not a ceramics lover, the palace may interest
you with its beautiful interior. http://mnceramica.mcu.es
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3. Bioparc Valencia – this is not a typical zoo as here the cages and metal fences are
replaced with natural enclosures such as rocks, water, caves, trees, etc. The layout of the
park allows the animals to live in their natural habitats as near as possible. They are also
put in groups as it is in nature. Visitors can admire the animals from a closer and more natural perspective. The bioparc is dedicated to Africa and Madagascar with one of the highlights being the playful lemurs which walk and jump around you absolutely freely.
www.bioparcvalencia.es
4. Turia Gardens (Jardines del Turia) – this is a mixture of playing fields, cycling and walking paths, ponds and gardens located in the old river-bed of the River Turia. The gardens
are crossed by a number of bridges carrying curious names such as the Bridge of Flowers,
the Exhibition Bridge, Royal Bridge, etc. Stretching from the City of Arts and Sciences to the
east to the Bioparc to the west, the 7-km long gardens are particularly suitable for leisure
walks, sports and of course one of the best ways to explore them is by bicycle
Do you know that? Horchata is the most famous drink in Valencia. While here do not
miss to try it. Made of water, sugar and tigernuts (chufas), it is a delicious refreshment in
the hot summer days. Horchata is available in many bars and also sold at street stalls.
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CHAPTER 3 – WHERE TO STAY
This chapter includes all places we have stayed at during our cycling trip. For each of them
you will find practical details and a short, honest review. All hotels/hostals/rooms were
smoothly booked in advance via booking.com and housetrip.com (the latter was used for
the rooms in Cádiz and Málaga only). All of the accommodations have very high guests’
review scores (good and very good) and the price range is €38-€68 for a double room per
night in the high summer season (most of them were actually around €45-€50 per night per
room). Room rates may be lower during low season.
Please note that there is a difference between hostals and hostels. Hostals which are very
popular in Spain are usually family-run accommodations (cheaper than hotels) while hostels
offer shared accommodation, typically in dormitories.
We didn’t use camping sites or wild camping for several reasons. Camping means you
need to carry a lot more baggage such as a tent, sleeping bags, mats, cooking pots, etc.
which means extra kilos (some people consider taking a trailer if carrying a lot of things).
Camping sites can be found along the Spanish coast but a good research about their locations and conditions of use is strongly recommended. Wild camping is not an easy thing as
most of the land in Spain is private and fenced.
Sevilla
Name: Apartamentos Metropolis Sevilla (2 stars)
Address: Bajeles Street, 16-20; very close to the tourist attractions
24 hour reception: No, but guests can use the 24-hour reception at the nearby Hostel Oasis Palace
English speaking staff: Yes, very friendly staff
Bicycle storage: in the apartment; there is also a lift
Cleanliness: very clean
Luggage storage: Yes
Wi-Fi: Yes, free in all areas
Payment: by card or cash
Website: www.hostelsevillasuites.co.uk
Nearby supermarket: Mercadona within a 5-minute walk (in the Plaza de Armas shopping
centre)
Short review: The apartments are great – clean, quiet and cosy with a fridge, a cook and
utensils (no washing machine though). Bicycle-friendly as there is enough space to keep
the bicycles in the apartment. Location is great – close to the city centre with the main
attractions and at the same time within walking distance to other very interesting (but less
popular) tourist sites to the north. There is a cosy sun roof terrace for sunbathing or to simply enjoy the wonderful views over the city.
Cádiz
Name: Double room in a private apartment
Address: Pericon de Cádiz, 11002 Cádiz
24 hour reception: No, but you can arrange with the host (Rafael) approximate time of
arrival
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English spoken: Yes
Bicycle storage: in the apartment; no lift
Laundry: Yes
Wi-Fi: Yes, free
Payment: by card
Website: www.housetrip.com/en/cadiz
Nearby supermarket: Carrefour within a 10-minute walk (next to the Central Market)
Short review: It can be quite difficult to find a budge hotel/hostal in Cádiz, especially during
the summer. So, booking a room in a private apartment via HouseTrip really worked for
us. The whole apartment and our room were very cosy – clean and tidy. The kitchen and
the washing machine are also available to guests at no extra cost. It was great to do our
laundry after a long and sweaty cycling day. Location is superb – next to the beach and in
the heart of the Old Town, close to the main attractions and some great places to eat (we
recommend the restaurants on Calle Virgen de la Palma). Upon arrival we were met by the
friendly Javier, Rafael’s relative, as Rafael was on holiday. Thank you Rafael and Javier
for everything! Tip: for a superb breakfast with churros, go to the Central Market, opposite
Carrefour.
The quiet Calle Virgen de la Palma in the morning
The lively Calle Virgen de la Palma at midday
Zahara de los Atunes
Name: Hostal El Espinel (1 star)
Address: Rinconete y Cortadillo, 8, 11393
24 hour reception: No
English speaking staff: No
Bicycle storage: in the room or in a storage room next to the hostal
Laundry: No
Luggage storage: No
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Website: www.hostalespinel.es
Nearby supermarket: Día within a 2-minute walk (opposite Fillol restaurant)
Short review: We were very happy with our stay here. If you are travelling on a budget –
this is a very good place to stay at. Not luxurious of course, but clean and tidy. The owner
didn’t speak English but appeared to us quite helpful. The Wi-Fi in the room was also great.
Very close to the beach – Zahara is a lovely place with a beautiful beach and great atmosphere (tip: for a tasty dinner, go to the nearby Fillol restaurant, on Paseo del Pradillo, next
to the beach).
Gibraltar/La Línea de la Concepción
Name: La Esteponera (1 star)
Address: Carteya, 10, La Línea de la Concepción, 11300
24 hour reception: Yes
Bicycle storage: in the hall at hotel’s reception
Cleanliness: average
Laundry: No
Luggage storage: No
Wi-Fi: a computer for common use at reception
Payment: cash only
Website: www.tripadvisor.co.uk
Nearby supermarket: Mercadona within a 5-minute walk (on Calle del Clavel, 26)
Short review: A very basic hostal but a good option if you are travelling on a budget. Staff
were very friendly and helpful. Generally, the hotels in Gibraltar are quite expensive. So,
staying at La Línea and La Esteponera in particular is a convenient option as the hostal is
only a 10-minute walk to the border with Gibraltar. However, La Línea is not a great area – it
is completely different from the paradise-like nearby places to the west and to the east of
Gibraltar.
Estepona
Name: Hostal La Malagueña (1 star)
Address: Castillo, 1, Estepona, 29680
40
English speaking staff: Yes
Bicycle storage: in the room; no lift
Laundry: No
Luggage storage: No
Website: www.hlmestepona.com
Nearby supermarket: Mercadona within a 10-minute walk (Av. Juan Carlos I)
Short review: La Malagueña is in the very heart of Estepona and its historic centre – on
Plaza de las Flores. The location is superb – next to all historic landmarks and very close to
the beach. Our room was very clean and tidy and even had a small balcony looking towards
the plaza. In the evenings lots of people gather in the cafés on the plaza and chat loudly till
late but this is very typical for Spanish culture and it is part of the whole experience. However, if you are bothered about the noise from the plaza, ask for a quiet room. The staff were
very helpful and friendly.
Marbella
Name: Hostal Enriqueta
Address: Calle Caballeros, 18, Marbella, 29601
English speaking staff: Yes, during day shifts
Bicycle storage: in the inner courtyard
Laundry: No
Wi-Fi: Yes, free in the public areas
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Nearby supermarket: superSol within a 5-minute walk (Calle Valentuñana)
Short review: Hostal Enriqueta is on a quiet street just next to the main plaza in the historic
centre – Plaza de los Naranjos. So, the location is superb. The staff were very helpful and
nice. The room was clean and tidy, also spacious enough but with high humidity as it was
a patio room on the ground floor. So, if possible ask for a non-patio room on the upper floor
as rooms there may be better.
Málaga
Name: Double room in a private apartment
Address: Calle Lagunillas 47, 29012 Málaga
24 hour reception: No, but you can arrange with the host (Ángel) approximate time of arrival
English spoken: Yes
Bicycle storage: in the apartment’s patio; ground floor
Laundry: Yes
Wi-Fi: Yes, free
Payment: by card
Website: www.housetrip.com/en/rentals/59670
Nearby supermarket: superSol within a 5-minute walk (located a few metres from the Picasso Foundation Birthplace Museum)
Short review: The room was clean, tidy and spacious, equipped with a small fridge, and
with en-suite bathroom which was great! The kitchen and washing machine are also available to guests at no extra cost. The apartment is right in the city centre – just a short walk
from Picasso’s birthplace and many other tourist sites. Ángel was very kind and we really
enjoyed our stay there. Tip: for some great, inexpensive and prepared with a smile food, go
to the nearby take-away shop at the corner of Calle Madre de Dios and Calle Cárcer (just
opposite Teatro Cervantes).
Almuñécar
Name: Hostal San Sebastián (2 stars)
Address: Trapiche, 18, Almuñécar, 18690
24 hour reception: No, but the owners live there; so, early check-out is available
Bicycle storage: in a room next to hotel’s reception
Laundry services: Yes
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Website: www.hostal-sansebastian.com
Nearby supermarket: Mercadona and Lidl within a 10-minute walk (on Calle Mariana Pineda)
Short review: The hostal was nice and clean. The room was very spacious. The hostal is
located on a side street, which at first sight looked quiet but then it turned out to be constantly busy with traffic 24 hours a day. At the same time there was no AC in the room (only
a fan). So, in the hot summer nights you have to open the window, but the noise from the
street can be an issue for the light sleepers. So, you may consider asking for an interior
room.
Adra
Name: Hostal Zapata (2 stars)
Address: Carretera Almeria, Adra, 04770
Bicycle storage: in a room next to hotel’s reception
Laundry services: No
Luggage storage: No
Nearby supermarket: Lidl within a 15-minute walk (on Ctra. de Almería, 144)
Short review: As the hostal is located on a busy road, it’s best to ask for a room looking
onto the fields full of greenhouses. We were given a very quiet room but the bathroom facilities were extremely poor with the shower and toilet broken and not working properly. Also,
the AC in the room was of no use as it did not cool the air at all. Because of the heat in the
summer you have to open the window which lets in a lot of mosquitoes (the area of the
greenhouses is full of mosquitoes). The combination of heat and mosquitoes doesn’t provide good sleep (and sleep is essential for touring cyclists). So, you may consider booking a
better accommodation.
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Almería
Name: Torreluz Centro (2 stars)
Address: Plaza Flores, 10, Almeria, 04001
24 hour reception: Yes, at the adjacent 4-star hotel from the same chain – Nuevo Torreluz
Bicycle storage: next to reception in the adjacent Nuevo Torreluz hotel
Laundry: Yes, but extremely expensive services (e.g. around 5 euro for one piece of clothing)
Website: www.torreluz.com
Nearby supermarket: Carrefour within less than a 5-minute walk (on Paseo de Almeria;
opposite the Central Market)
Short review: There are two Torreluz hotels next to each other. One is the 4-star Nuevo
Torreluz and the other one is the 2-star Torreluz Centro. This review is about the latter one.
The location of the hotel is superb – within walking distance from the main street, the central market (offering delicious churros for breakfast) and the main tourist attractions such as
Alcazaba and the Cathedral. Staff were very polite and helpful and kept our bicycles at the
reception in the 4-star hotel. We were given a great spacious quiet room with very large and
comfortable beds, perfectly-working AC and Wi-Fi and a huge flat TV with tens of international channels. We liked everything about this hotel and would definitely recommend! It is
a 2-star hotel that felt more like a 3-star hotel. Tip: ask for a quiet room as the plaza and the
café in front of the hotel attract many people in the evening and therefore front rooms can
be noisy.
Carboneras
Name: Pensión Felipe (2 stars)
Address: Sorbas, 13, Carboneras, 04140
24 hour reception: Yes, at the adjacent hotel from the same chain – Tio Felipe
Bicycle storage: in the room
Laundry: No
Luggage storage: No
Wi-Fi: Yes, free in public areas
Website: www.hotelesfelipe.com
Nearby supermarket: Mercadona within a 5-minute walk (on Camino Caril)
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Short review: There are 3 hotels from the Felipe hotel chain – Pensión Felipe which the
review is about and the adjacent Tio Felipe and Don Felipe (all 2-star accommodation).
The location is superb, next to the main plaza with the City Hall and the Castle, and within
less than a 5-minute walk from the beach. We were given a quiet room (the front rooms
are noisy in the evenings due to the very crowded café in front of the hotel), clean, tidy and
quite cool although the temperatures outside were nearly 40 degrees. So, we even didn’t
have to use the AC (which we’ve tried and it was working perfectly). The Felipe Bar in front
of the hotel is a great place to have a bite to eat. The food was great, inexpensive and the
waiters were literally running between the kitchen and the tables to provide a really quick
and nice service! Hotel and bar definitely recommended!
Calabardina
Name: El Paraíso (2 stars)
Address: Calle Jorge Luis Borges, 1, 30889 Calabardina
English speaking staff: Not all staff
Bicycle storage: in the room
Laundry: No
Luggage storage: No
Website: www.hotelelparaiso.net
Nearby supermarket: a local mini-market within a 2-minute walk (on Calle Buenos Aires)
Short review: The hotel was very nice, located in the heart of the paradise-like Calabardina
– just a 5-minute walk from the beach. The room was clean and tidy, equipped with perfectly working AC (very important in the extremely hot summer days). The food at the hotel’s
restaurant was very tasty. Try the traditional calamares a la plancha (grilled squid).
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Cartagena
Name: Los Habaneros (3 stars)
Address: San Diego 60, Cartagena, 30202
Bicycle storage: in the luggage storage room
Laundry: Yes, but expensive services
Wi-Fi: Yes, free in all areas but not working in all rooms; a very slow computer for common
use at hotel’s reception
Website: www.hotel-habaneros-cartagena.com
Nearby supermarket: Lidl and Día within a 5-minute walk (next to the train station)
Short review: The location is excellent – very close to the main tourist attractions, supermarkets and the train station. The room was clean but had unpleasant smell coming out of
the ventilation system which had to be switched on as there was no AC in the room. Wi-Fi
didn’t work in our room and the old computer for common use at reception was completely
useless. You would expect more from a 3-star hotel. However, we still recommend staying
here as the combination of location, price, English speaking staff and bicycle-friendly accommodation makes it a good choice.
Torrevieja
Name: Hotel Cano (1 star)
Address: Zoa, 53, Torrevieja, 03182
Bicycle storage: in the hotel’s garage
Laundry: No
Wi-Fi: Yes, free in public areas and in some rooms
Website: www.hotelcano.com
Nearby supermarket: Mercadona within 1-minute walk (on Calle Vicente Blasco Ibáñez)
Short review: This is a great family-run hotel right in the heart of Torrevieja, close to the beach
46
and the main plaza, and with a supermarket next to the hotel. The family which runs the hotel
was very nice and communication in English was easy. We asked for a quiet room with good
Wi-Fi and we were given a very quiet room indeed, also clean and with very good Wi-Fi connection. So, we definitely recommend Hotel Cano – it’s much better than some 2 or even 3-star
hotels!
Alicante
Name: Estudiotel Alicante (2 stars)
Address: Poeta Vila y Blanco, 2-4, Alicante, 03003
Laundry: Yes, with tokens paid at reception (you should provide your own washing powder). Tumble dryer not working properly though.
Website: www.estudiotelalicante.es
Nearby supermarket: Mercadona within a 5-minute walk (on Carrer Alvarez Sereix, 5)
Short review: This hotel is a mixture of pros and cons. The pros are the central location,
the fact that staff speak English and the breathtaking views from the last few floors (the
building is one of the tallest in Alicante). The cons were the unpleasant smell of sewage in
the room, the uselessness of the self-service laundry and drying facilities in the hotel (the
clothes came out wet; other hotel’s guests had the same issue) and the uninterested staff
which didn’t offer any solution to that. Doing your laundry is essential when you are on the
road almost every day as a cyclist. So, at the end we managed to find a perfectly working
public laundry service, near the hotel – on Calle Camarada César Elgueza, www.colada.es
In short, other 2-star hotels in Spain were much much better than this one.
Calpe
Name: Residencial Terra de Mar (3 stars)
Address: Justicia, 31, Calpe, 03710
47
Website: www.hostalterrademar.com
Nearby supermarket: corner shops in the area – within a 5-minute walk
Short review: Very nice and romantic small hotel with a very cute (but quite small) room,
with a cute small balcony. Bathroom included a hydro-massage shower and was decorated
with aroma candles which was a nice touch. The hotel is right into the historic part of Calpe,
which makes it quite noisy. Our room was extremely noisy all night – probably due to the
festivity held in town (bear in mind that Calpe is a host to many celebrations taking places
throughout the year).
Gandía
Name: Hotel Borgia (3 stars)
Address: Avenida República, Argentina, 5, Gandía, 46702
Bicycle storage: at hotel’s reception
Website: www.dchoteles.net
Nearby supermarket: Mercadona (on Av. de Beniopa, 5) and Consum (on Av. de Raval) –
both within a 5-minute walk
Short review: Nice hotel with helpful and friendly staff. Room was quiet, equipped with a
mini-fridge (which is extremely rare in Spain – even for 3 and 4-star hotels). Hotel is located
right next to the historic centre but far away from the beach. However, you can catch a bus
near the hotel which will take you to Gandia’s nice, long and clean beaches (journey time is
around 30 min). The only downside of the hotel is the interior decoration/design – the corridors were covered with a worn-out carpet and the atmosphere didn’t feel like a 3-star hotel.
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Valencia
Name: Hotel Villacarlos (3 stars)
Address: Avenida del Puerto, 60, Valencia, 46023
English speaking staff: Yes, very friendly staff
Bicycle storage: hotel’s parking (free for bicycles)
Wi-Fi: Yes, free in all areas but limited Wi-Fi access
Website: www.hotelvillacarlos.com
Nearby supermarket: Supercor Express (on Carrer d’Eduard Boscá) and Mercadona (on
Calle Río Escalona, 25) – both within a 5-minute walk
Short review: Very nice hotel, located on a main road but we asked for a quiet room and
we were given an interior quiet room indeed. The room and common areas of the hotel
were clean and tidy. The hotel is a short walk from the Turia Gardens and not far from the
modern City of Arts and Sciences. There is a metro station close to the hotel if you’d like to
use the subway. The only cons were that the beds were on wheels and the free Wi-Fi was
limited. The limit per person per 24 hours was 100MB. Other than that we definitely liked
the hotel and recommend it!
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CHAPTER 4 – BICYCLES and BAGGAGE
List of things to take
Here’s a list of all things we took on our cycling trip.
Cycling Gear:
►►2 bicycles: Dawes Karakum Touring Bike 2012 (Gents and Ladies) – absolutely great
bikes. Performed fabulously throughout the whole trip and the training sessions prior to the
trip. Outstanding quality. The alloy frame makes the bike lighter and easier to transport on
planes/trains compared to chromoly frames and at the same time it proved to be durable
and strong enough (one bike carried up to 20 kg of baggage). The 27 speed gears changed
smoothly and easily, and were very needed indeed for the various terrains – from flat roads
to slopes up and down. The Schwalbe Silento tyres are very good with puncture protection
(we only had one flat tube for the whole trip). The butterfly handlebar allows different positions of the body which is quite useful and provides comfort when cycling long hours. The
handlebar is designed for a more leisure ride rather than for a speedy ride. Cyclists who
are looking for a speedy tourer usually consider drop handlebars. The V-brakes performed
great (we tested them in all weather conditions when training in the UK prior to the trip). We
started the trip with a new pair of break pads which we didn’t have to change for the rest of
the trip. So, the bike is highly recommended. http://goo.gl/AjHfjy
►►2 sets of rear panniers: Ortlieb Back Roller Classic (yellow and orange) – outstanding quality; secure mounting system and easily attached to the bikes, steady and stationary
while cycling; waterproof; reflective and colours provide great visibility on the road; compact
but at the same time each pannier holds 20L. No pockets apart from a small inner zipped
pocket. http://goo.gl/8KeoIV
►►1 Ortlieb Rack Pack Travel Bag - 49 Litre (yellow) – great quality; very comfortable for
carrying extra baggage put on top of the bike rear rack and rear panniers. If the rear panniers are not enough for your baggage, then using this rack pack travel bag on top of the
panniers is the way to go. This worked for us better than using both rear and front panniers.
http://goo.gl/g1KCJF
►►2 Handlebar Bags: M-Wave Ottawa Waterproof Handlebar Bag (black) – a must for
carrying those small but very important things with instant and easy access anytime during
cycling. Navigation and maps, camera, mobile phone, wallets, sunglasses, tissues, even a
small bottle of water – all of these essential things can go into this handy handlebar bag. Instead of putting them in the panniers where they will not be easily accessible, carry them in a
handlebar bag as you will need them multiple times throughout the day. http://goo.gl/bwvjfH
►►Bike locks: 2 x Abus Granit X-Plus 54 D-Lock (gold rating) http://goo.gl/Haup5k and 1
x Kryptonite Kryptoflex 7 ft Cable Lock http://goo.gl/EQyX7L Good bike locks with either
Silver or Gold ratings are absolutely essential for both security reasons and bike insurance
purposes (see also page 53). We are very happy with our choice of locks. The Abus locks
are a bit heavy but very solid and secure. The Kryptonite cable lock gives extra security and
allows you to lock your tyres.
►►Helmets: 1 x Giro Savant Road Helmet http://goo.gl/EAmYFu and 1 x Met Xilo Ladies
Helmet http://goo.gl/BWJi10 – both helmets are of great quality and light (which is very important when cycling a good few hours a day).
►►Google Nexus 7 tablet with Navfree navigation
►Bottle
►
cages: Topeak Modula Water Bottle Cage XL – get a bottle cage as big as possible
to hold a large bottle of water as having plenty of water is essential when cycling (make sure
50
you have enough water supplies between stops at shops/gas stations). http://goo.gl/u05GfD
►►Bike pump
►►Spare tubes (at least 3 or 4) and puncture repair kit
►►Brake pad cartridges – at least one pair per bike in case you need to replace your brake
pads. If using disk brakes, it’s best to consult your local bicycle shops for maintenance advice.
►►Bike tools
►►Cycling gloves (preferably gel padded)
►►Gel saddle cover to fit over your existing saddle for extra comfort
►►Sunglasses
►►Rear view mirror
►Front/rear
►
cycling lights – essential when cycling early in the morning or late in the evening
►►Cycling computer to track your mileage, speed, time and performance.
►►Bike lubricant for maintaining the chain and gears in good condition
►►Water bottles
►►High visibility vests (or reflective clothes in bright colours such as yellow, orange, green)
Technical Gear:
►►Camera – it’s good to be compact (in order to take less space and to be as light as possible) but at the same time don’t compromise on the quality of the camera as it will capture
your adventure and all those special moments!
►►Camcorder to film the motion and emotion
►►Joby Gorillapod – very useful if you fancy recording yourself and the scenery around
you while cycling (simply put the gorillapod on the handlebar, press Rec on the camcorder
and enjoy) http://goo.gl/EzqUes
►►Universal charger adapter for tablets, mobile phones, MP3, etc. http://goo.gl/qS2azv
►►External battery pack – it turned out that we didn’t use it at all during our trip as we fully
charged all electronic devices in the accommodations and there was no need to re-charge
them while cycling. However, if you think you may need charging your devices while on the
road (e.g. if you are planning big distances between stops or there is nowhere to charge
your devices), then definitely go for it. http://goo.gl/d9nqOT
►►Rechargeable portable Bluetooth speaker which we connected to our tablet on the road
and enjoyed listening to passionate Spanish rhythms while pedalling http://goo.gl/VNaWux
►►Cables/connectors for any device needed
►►Mobile phone – prior to your trip, make sure that your phone works with the local network and that the roaming option is enabled. If you carry a smartphone, then you can install
on it several navigation software programmes in case some of them turn out to be useless
or not helpful enough.
Clothing:
►High
►
visibility cycling clothes (fast drying materials and gel padded shorts recommended)
►►Several pairs of clothes for daily use (fast drying materials recommended)
►►Comfortable trainers and/or sandals for cycling and walking (tip: test them prior to the
trip and make sure they are comfortable and durable for cycling and walking)
►►Several pair of socks and underwear
►►Bathing suit
►►Quick dry towels
►►Summer hat (if visiting Spain in the summer) is a nice thing to have while sightseeing in
the hot summer days
51
Other:
►►ID documents
►►Money (cash and debit/credit cards)
►►Booking confirmations for flights/hotels
►►Travel insurance details
►►Bike insurance details
►►First aid kit
►►Toiletry items
►►Sun protection cream with high SPF
►►Multi tool with a pocket knife, corkscrew, can opener, bottle opener, etc.
►►Maps/routes – for both cycling and sightseeing
►►Travel diary to write down your impressions and adventures
►►Sightseeing information/guidebooks about the places you want to visit
52
CHAPTER 5 – PRACTICAL INFO and TIPS
Prior to the trip:
1. Bike insurance – insuring your bike is essential as firstly touring bikes are quite expensive, and secondly this will be your means of transport for your trip. Our advice is to insure
your bike as soon as you purchase it, not right before your trip. Do not make our mistake to
buy insurance on a later stage as one of our bikes got stolen without being insured and this
cost us getting a new bike. When purchasing a cycle insurance, you need to consider several keys things: the lock – you need an approved rated lock (e.g. in Britain locks are approved by Sold Secure); evidence of ownership – you need to keep your purchase receipts
for the bicycle and the approved lock; compare insurance companies and find out what they
cover and what their insurance policies are (key factors to bear in mind are: insurance cost,
Europe and worldwide cover, minimum claim limit, excess, theft cover, personal accident
cover, cycle breakdown cover, storage requirements, lock requirements, etc.); quotes – before deciding on which company to go with, get a quote (most companies provide instant
quotes on their websites). We insured our bicycles with ETA (www.eta.co.uk). You can compare ETA with other companies on the above website in the comparison table and you can
also get an instant quote online.
2. Travel insurance – having travel insurance is also essential when you are away for
some time. Before deciding on which company to go with, it’s best to do a research and
compare several companies (usually you can get an instant quote online). Travel insurances vary from single trips to annual multi trips and may be valid for Europe or worldwide.
When choosing holiday insurance, look for things such as cancellation cover, medical emergency expenses, personal accident, personal possessions, personal money, etc. and check
whether the insurance covers them and the relevant values. Usually, one company offers
various types of insurances – from basic to upgraded covers. For our trip we chose
www.essentialtravel.co.uk (Essential Plus).
3. Good navigation – install good navigation software on your tablet/smartphone. Test the
navigation before the trip to make sure it works fine. If possible get several (2-3) navigation
products as one may let you down. We used Navfree navigation software which didn’t work
as smoothly as desirable (probably as it was a free product; paid software may have better
support and updates). For example, it told us go via a bridge which turned out to be prohibited for cyclists (just before Cádiz) and in urban areas it often took us on one-way streets in
the opposite direction in which cases we had to use the pavements (which wasn’t always
very appropriate and safe due to the narrow pavements, lots of people using them, etc.).
On other occasions it indicated some roads as prohibited for cyclists which were actually
allowed. Thus, Navfree is OK but not very trustworthy, so we don’t quite recommend it.
4. Taking bicycles on the plane – each airline has its own policy when it comes to taking a
bicycle on board. Usually, a bicycle is considered Sports equipment and you need to pay an
extra fee for it. In most cases there is also a weight limit. So, it’s best to check with your airline before booking a flight. We travelled with easyJet with allowance of up to 30kg per bicycle. EasyJet also requires that the bicycle is packaged in a bicycle box or bag. Therefore, if
you are planning to use a box it’s a good idea to keep the bicycle box when purchasing your
bike. If you don’t have a box, contact a nearby bicycle shop and ask them for a spare box
(shops usually throw them away anyway; so, it shouldn’t be a problem to give you a box for
free). No other items were allowed to be carried in the bicycle box/bag (e.g. clothing). The
handlebars had to be flush with the frame. Pedals had to be removed or flush against the
53
frame. So, when doing your research, you may well come across the above requirements.
5. Essentials – when planning what to take with you, remember to include items like reflective clothes, helmets, cycling lights, etc. (for a detailed list of things see Chapter 4). If you
intend on wild camping, then consider taking solar chargers as well so that you can charge
your electronic devices.
6. Excess baggage – consider carefully what to take and what not to take as all baggage
will be on your bicycle. You will not want to be overloaded with things you may end up not
using at all. A good way to decide on the luggage list is to split it into several categories
such as essentials, desirable and optional. Another useful approach is to organize your
baggage into the panniers well before the trip, load the bicycle and see how it feels. If you
haven’t bought any panniers, you may hesitate whether you will need both rear and front
panniers and/or rack pack travel bag. It is a good idea to purchase the rear pair only, see
how much of your baggage can fit into them and then you can easily decide whether you
need to buy also front panniers and/or rack pack travel bag. In this way you will avoid purchasing more panniers/bags than you may need for your trip.
7. Leave space for souvenirs – when packing your bags remember to leave space for
souvenirs you are going to buy during your adventure. Postcards, fridge magnets, gifts –
you may want to get something for you or for your friends and relatives.
8. Tell a friend – tell at least one person when and where you are going and give them all
the details about your trip – e.g. your daily schedule, accommodation details, etc. In this
way they will track your journey along with you and will be able to help if need be. Keep
them updated and whenever you have an opportunity send them texts/emails confirming
where you are at the moment and how the journey is going.
9. Which season to choose – Spain’s climate varies across the country. The Mediterranean
climate is characterized by hot and dry summers (e.g. 35-40 °C), warm spring and autumn,
and cool and wet winters (with temperatures rarely falling below 0 °C). The continental climate
is a bit different with hotter summers and much colder winters. We did our Mediterranean
adventure from the beginning of July to the beginning of August which was the hottest period
of the year. So, we often had to get up quite early and start pedalling at dawn (or soon after
dawn) in order to arrive at our next destination by midday and avoid cycling in the extremely
hot afternoons. Prior to our journey we were advised by other touring cyclists on a cycling forum that it is madness to go there at the height of the summer. However, taking a long time off
work is another thing which everyone needs to consider in relation to their type of work. So,
in our case summer was the best option. If you can choose from other seasons, though, most
cycling forums usually recommend spring and autumn due to the more bearable temperatures. Summer heat may be a serious problem. So, if you are not used to super high temperatures (e.g. above 30°C), then it’s best to avoid this time of the year. We originally come from
Bulgaria which is very hot in the summer. So, for us heat was a tough but bearable challenge.
Cycling in the summer has its advantages as well, since you carry fewer clothes with you and
you don’t need to worry about the rain as summers are really dry (during our one-month trip
there wasn’t a single raindrop!). Also, on our ride in July/August the prevailing wind was west
to east which was in our favour. There was also wind from south (from the sea) to north, particularly strong when we cycled from Sevilla to Cádiz.
10. Mock trip – before heading off to Spain, do a mock trip in your area and cycle the
planned distance in accordance with your schedule for the real trip in order to test your
stamina and see whether you are able to stick to your schedule or you need to make some
changes. In this way you will become much more confident and comfortable with your
plans. As part of our training, we did the mock trip twice – firstly, without any baggage and
54
the second time with the baggage on the bikes. This helped us a lot as we found out how
much weight we were comfortable with and our bodies got used to the distances we have
planned. The thing is that when you are a working person, you have to adapt your trainings
to your work hours. For us this meant that we often had to cycle in the evenings till late (e.g.
midnight) but it was worth it as at the end we knew we could do it and were ready to kick off
our Spanish adventure!
11. Hotel reservations – to ensure you have a place to sleep at, book hotels/hostals prior
to your journey. It is very convenient as in this way you don’t need to spend time looking for
an accommodation on the day. You can spend this time relaxing, recharging your batteries
and sightseeing. Another argument in favour of this approach is that rooms can be found
at a lower price when booked in advance. Also, it may turn out to be quite difficult to find
available rooms on the day (especially in the high season). If you prefer staying at camping
sites, then do your homework and do a research about their locations and availability as
they are far fewer than the hotels/hostals.
12. Contact the hotels/hostals – if you decide on booking rooms in advance, we recommend contacting the hotels/hostals to check whether they are ok storing your bicycle during
your stay and where they can store it. It’s best to contact them before booking a room or
after booking it (if you worry about the price going up). However, in the latter case, make
sure you have the right of free cancellation in case it turns out the hotel/hostal is not bicycle-friendly and you need to cancel your reservation. Bear in mind that some hostals are
quite small (as they are usually family-run) and there may not be enough space for storing
bicycles. In our experience, there was only one hostal which said they could not afford storing bikes. So, we had to cancel the booking and find another place.
13. Two types of highways – in Spain there are two types of highways, similar to motorways which are called autopistas (marked with the letters AP) and autovías (marked with
different letters such as A, B, etc.). The maximum speed limit for both is 120 km/h. While
autopistas are generally new routes, most autovías are improvements of existing roads.
The autopistas are absolutely forbidden for cyclists! Most autovías (but not all) can be used
by cyclists. If an autovía is forbidden for cyclists, there will be a sign at the beginning of the
road telling you so. Navigation software should also be able to advise you whether a road is
forbidden for cyclists or not. On our Mediterranean journey from Cádiz to Valencia we cycled mainly on the Carretera Nacional N-340 (which is neither an autopista, nor an autovía)
and on the Autovía del Mediterráneo (A-7). Both were very busy, particularly on the way to
Málaga and Adra (see Chapter 2 for details).
Do you know that? The Spanish road network is one of the largest in the world. The
N-340 road, which plays a key role in the Mediterranean cycling journey, follows the former Roman road Via Augusta which was one of the main roads in the Roman province
of Hispania.
During the trip:
1. Check your tyres regularly – check for flat tubes regularly (before and after your daily
ride) as safety is first.
2. Check the route/navigation the day before – while you are staying at a place, study
again the map and your route for the following day, so that you are well prepared and you
have enough time to make any adjustments/changes if necessary.
3. Taking bicycles on the train – if you decide to use the train for part of your journey bear
in mind the following. There are different types of trains, operated by Renfe, the largest
55
train operator in Spain. All of them apart from the fast long distance trains allow bicycles
onboard. You don’t need a reservation/ticket for the bike except when you travel on Media
Distancia trains. In the latter case, you need to get a free ticket for your bike at the station.
►►Cercanías are commuter trains operating in the large cities, covering a radius of up to
100 km from the city centre
►►Regional cover longer distances than Cercanías, stopping at smaller stations
►►Media Distancia (MD) are quick, cover relatively long distances and stop at major stations
►►AVE and Larga Distancia (LD) cover long distances. Bikes are NOT allowed onboard
these trains unless packed and taken as luggage!
The Media Distancia trains are the ones you will probably want to use on most occasions.
During our trip we used them to get from Puerto Real to Cádiz (and vice versa) and from Algeciras to San Roque-La Línea. There is usually a special section on the trains for bicycles
(look for the bicycle symbol on one of the doors and board through that door). Most Media
Distancia trains have space for three or four bikes. If there is no space left for your bike or
if you don’t have a ticket for it, it is up to the discretion of the guard if he will let you and the
bike onboard (generally, you should be fine but will have to stand by your bike).
When buying a train ticket, it’s always best to ask at the ticket office/information desk for
any bike restrictions. This will prevent possible confusion.
4. Buying water – make sure you have a good stock of water when starting your daily ride
(especially in hot weather). Water can be bought at petrol stations or at supermarkets. We
bought water mainly from petrol stations as they are conveniently located on main roads,
outside urban areas.
5. Keep in touch with hotels/hostals – if you have booked accommodation in advance,
it’s good to contact them on the day before to remind them you are arriving soon with your
bicycle. If possible advise them about the approximate time of arrival as not all hotels/hostals have 24-hour reception (look out for this kind of information when booking). In this way
you will reassure yourself that they are aware of your booking and the fact that you are
travelling with a bike. We were using the free Wi-Fi in the accommodations to email the next
hotel/hostal on our trip.
6. Bicycle box – as you will need to get rid of the bicycle box when you arrive in Spain, you
will then need to find another box for your return journey. Do a search for bike shops near
your last stop either prior to your trip (i.e. online) or have a look around while there and ask
them to give you an empty box they don’t need (don’t forget to tell them the measurements
you require so that they don’t give you a smaller box). Luckily there was a bicycle shop just
next to our hotel in Valencia. So, we went into the store and asked whether they had any
spare boxes. The next day we were given two boxes for our bikes with no problems. Thus,
we managed to pack them safely for our return flight.
7. Correct side of the road – remember that in Spain driving is on the right-hand side of the road.
8. Speed and distances are in kilometers.
9. Drivers’ behaviour – Spanish drivers are not always very tolerant and considerate of cyclists. Their style of driving can be a bit more aggressive compared to Western and Northern European countries. For example, they don’t always respect the speed limits and the
minimum distance required in tunnels. So, it is important to have heightened awareness,
especially when you cycle on busy roads, hilly, curved roads and in major cities and towns.
Be particularly careful with truck and bus drivers.
56
10 interesting facts about Spain, Spanish culture and cuisine:
1. The land of rabbits - the name Spain comes from the word Ispania, which means the
land of rabbits.
2. Spanish siesta – many businesses across the whole country (from shops to farms) close
in the afternoon (usually between 14:00 and 16:00). This time of the day, allotted for a short
nap, is known as siesta. It is particularly popular in hot countries where the heat during the
day reaches unbearable levels which reduce productivity. The siesta explains in a way the
late dinner habits, as people usually work till 20:00 or 21:00 (due to the afternoon break)
and therefore dine after 21:00.
3. Eating habits – the Spaniards eat breakfast around 10:00, lunch between 14:00 and
16:00, and dinner between 21:00 and midnight. The main meal of the day is the lunch which
coincides with the Spanish siesta. They also have snacks between main meals.
4. Tapas are probably the most famous part of Spanish cuisine. Tapas are variety of appetizers which can be basically anything – from bread with all kinds of toppings such as tomato, ham, olives, cheese, etc. to tortilla and various kinds of meats and vegetables. The word
tapas is derived from the verb ‘tapar’ which means ‘to cover’. It comes from the past when
people in the bars used slices of bread or meat to cover their drinks between sips. Tapas
are particularly enjoyed with a jug of sangria (wine, mixed with chopped fruit) or with a bottle
of beer (cerveza) such as locals’ favourites Cruzcampo and San Miguel.
5. Churros y café con leche – this is one of the most typical Spanish breakfasts (also a
popular afternoon snack). Churros are delicious fried-dough pastries. Café con leche is
coffee with milk as its name suggests. These are a perfect combination and a superb boost
of energy – great for cyclists :) For best results try churros with a strawberry jam or spread
chocolate (you have to buy them separately from a food store as they don’t come with
churros). You will find churros served at the so-called Churrerias. The latter can be either
cafeteria-style churreria or a food wagon selling churros and drinks. Other popular places,
where there is a great chance you will come across churros, are the central food markets
(Mercado Central) in cities and town. In a nutshell, while cycling look out for the cherished
sign saying Churros or Churreria!
6. Pan con tomate or bread with tomato – this simple breakfast is amongst the favourite
and most loved meals in Spain. It is toasted bread, rubbed with tomato and garlic, and drizzled with olive oil and a bit of salt.
7. Explosion of emotions – the Spaniards are very emotional, energetic, loud and passionate. They speak passionately, laugh loudly and gesticulate a lot. Why not get mixed with the
locals and watch the world go by – from a typical courting scene on the beach to people of
all ages strolling around, eating and chatting till midnight (often after midnight as well).
8. Different languages – the official common language across Spain is Castilian but the
autonomous communities have their own official languages. For example, in Catalonia it’s the
57
Catalan; in the Valencian Community – Valencian; in the Basque Country – the Basque, etc.
9. The bull is Spain’s most recognized national symbol. You will see it everywhere – from
real bulls on pasture and in corridas to the black metal silhouette guarding the Spanish
roads and the bull figure in souvenir shops, tavern logos and signs. When speaking about
bulls, it’s inevitable to mention the city of Pamplona, famous with the running of the bulls –
an event taking place on the streets of the city with people running in front of the bulls (every year from the 7th to the 14th of July).
10. Spanish guitar and Flamenco – when in Spain indulge into the spirit of the Spanish
guitar and the passion of Flamenco! From spontaneous street performers to official performances – the rhythm of the music and the dance will let you get a sense of the Spanish
heart and soul.
58
Please visit our website www.top40guides.com to read more about our projects and books.
Thank you for reading our handbook!
If you enjoyed our free handbook, please share it with your friends and fellow cyclists, and
leave a review on your favourite E-bookstores.
Thank you for your suport!
Bon Voyage!
All text and pictures in this handbook are under copyright 2013-2014 Petya Tsaneva and Tsvetomir
Gyurov / www.top40guides.com Any use of this handbook (downloading, sharing, etc.) for non-commercial purposes is allowed. All other use, copying or reproduction of this handbook (or any part of
it) for commercial purposes is illegal and prohibited without the authors’ prior written consent.
59

Practical Handbook

Transcription

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