Apart from the waiscoatSome good advice there
It’s nice to lock your gear in panniers and mooch around as a civilian
Doc wants to add Spain to his Doc does trip reports
- Thread starter Doc
- Start date
the other advantage in somewhere like Spain & Portugal is you can go for a 150 mile ride in the morning then back to the hotel for a siesta when it is hottest, before going for a wander late afternoon. A bit of tapas and a beer or two then a quick freshen up before dinner.
Aye . Been there many many times
Sensible advice
I used to do the same - 20 years ago we did a thrash to the Balkans - Slovenian coast at Piran in 2.5 days from Calais, on back roads entirely and other such mileage fuelled jaunts to Hungary/Spain
The best bits were the 2 night stopover at the destination before the thrash back again
Nowadays I could spend a week in Potes area only - going out exploring in different directions daily, leaving the hotel at 10am & ride somewhere for 90-120 mins and have a mooch/lunch and then off somewhere else locally
If I want to sit under a tree, by a river and gaze at the mountains for an hour then that’s fine too
Good spot that place, shame it wasn't open when we were there last time.Aye . Been there many many times
I can totally see that! 11am and you are on your second if not third "jugo" del dia.
I forgot to add...
Booking a hotel for more than say 1-2 nights, might result in a better rate too.
Alternatively, stay in an AirBnB or similar for better rates still. This would obviously meant a self catering affair, if say Spanish late night dining times do not work for you.
Paradores often have good deals if you stay more than one night, especially if taking the half board option. Some have a dinner service at 7pm for Americans and N.Europeans. Not many veggie options. Non dairy vegan even rarer. Canned white asparagus always an option ...
Thank god I am not one of them.
Canned white asparagus is disgusting.
I like Spain for the roads and scenery, but I also love good veggie food*. Sadly Spain can't offer that to me unless perhaps I am stationed in Madrid or Barcelona. Even in Salamanca they stared at me in a bewildered manner, capable only to produce a plateful of fries and this delightful platter.
On that basis, I'd sooner go elsewhere in the world, rather than face disappointment each and every night.
*to me food is a big part of the whole holiday experience.
definitely
In my touring group, peaking at 12 people before age crept up on some, we have not had a vegetarian although two have been pescatarian. We have not done Spain as a group but they would probably cope. In France, the widespread N.African influence means good veggie options and in Germany, you often have Greek & Turkish options. I tend to pick larger towns for bases for group tours so there are dining choices. The gastronomic carnivores like me can go for the regional set menu and the non-foodies can go for pizza or burger.
If and ever you get to Portugal, it only enables you to realise just how bad Spain is, in every aspect....I live next door to Spain and it really is not very good compared to Portugal, especially the North/Central part of Portugal.
I expect those who gladly suffer the inadequacies of Spain will tell you otherwise.
Just sayin`.
I expect those who gladly suffer the inadequacies of Spain will tell you otherwise.
Just sayin`.
I hope you're soaking all this up Doc. 
Definitely. I've even bought some cigs instead of smoking yours and Rick's.I hope you're soaking all this up Doc.
Brilliant, classic Floyd. 
However he missed two 'meals' in the day. Manual workers also have a 'desayuno de forquillo ', literally a fork breakfast which is a substantial main dish, fry ups or stews, at about 9 - 10 . Then after the siesta there's 'berena' which a drink, milk or fruit juice, and a bit of cake, etc.
Then dinner is a three or four course affair with two substancial dishes but given that most people have a much lighter meal in the evenings, unless it's the weekend, holidays or fiestas of course ...
However he missed two 'meals' in the day. Manual workers also have a 'desayuno de forquillo ', literally a fork breakfast which is a substantial main dish, fry ups or stews, at about 9 - 10 . Then after the siesta there's 'berena' which a drink, milk or fruit juice, and a bit of cake, etc.
Then dinner is a three or four course affair with two substancial dishes but given that most people have a much lighter meal in the evenings, unless it's the weekend, holidays or fiestas of course ...
Doesn't matter as apparently I just get pissed every afternoon. Take the goodness out of whichever fruit is in my drink.Brilliant, classic Floyd.
However he missed two 'meals' in the day. Manual workers also have a 'desayuno de forquillo ', literally a fork breakfast which is a substantial main dish, fry ups or stews, at about 9 - 10 . Then after the siesta there's 'berena' which a drink, milk or fruit juice, and a bit of cake, etc.
Then dinner is a three or four course affair with two substancial dishes but given that most people have a much lighter meal in the evenings, unless it's the weekend, holidays or fiestas of course ...
If I don't want to wait till late to eat, especially in small towns not catering to foreigners' eating habits, I'll go for tapas, a few of those with nice wine and all is well.
I don't enjoy a dinner at, say 2130, then an early start.
I don't enjoy a dinner at, say 2130, then an early start.
It's surprising how much we are slaves to our stomachs, even after over 25 years I still never felt comfortable with the Spanish hours which was even more complicated when I worked Spanish hours, 08.00 - 13.00 and 17.00 - 21.00 ...
But out on the road there's a magic time in between 14.00 and 16.00 when at least in rural areas there's no traffic at all. Genius for riding apart from riding through villages where the smell of cooking will have your tummy rumbling ...
Similar threads
