Iberia Grand Tour

[Peter Pan]

Thanks to you all for your contributions, suggestions and wise words! I'm now toying with the idea of getting my bike serviced and new tyres before I go and the same when I get back! Yikes!

Simon - I'm going to work through your suggestions and where practical incorporate them into my route.

I've already been to Cordoda and therefore happy to skip that.

You mention Tarragona. Apart from the Roman Amphitheatre there, what else is there to see? Suggestions would be helpful. I guess one key question is whether it's worth staying an extra night there to do some sightseeing or whether an arrival on day 1 and departure on day 2 is all I need. Thanks.

 

[Simon_100]

You mention Tarragona. Apart from the Roman Amphitheatre there, what else is there to see? Suggestions would be helpful. I guess one key question is whether it's worth staying an extra night there to do some sightseeing or whether an arrival on day 1 and departure on day 2 is all I need. Thanks.

A lot depends on how thorough you like to be. There are shedloads of sites to see, the walls are 75% intact and you can walk part of them, the National Archeology Museum is worth a few hours - free on tuesdays - as is the so-called Augustus's Palace, which includes a section of the 'circus' i.e. the Ben Hur style chariot racing rink.

I wondered about your visit to Barcelona - that's no place for a biker so why not think about going there by train? It's about an hour from Tarragona or Blanes to the north. But you can also get there from right up in the Pyrenees at Ripoll - although that's a longer journey altogether. Once again, you can either 'do' Barcelona in a (hectic) day or spend at least three days getting to know the city well . . .

When you leave Tarragona there's a good country route from Altafulla to Igualada and then on to Manresa to visit the Montserrat mountain/monastery, if that's on your hit list too. Manresa is a bit of an ugly industrial city - ex-textiles, plus Montesa, Bultaco factories if I remember well - but once again you can easily access Barcelona on the suburban trains from there.

Talking of Montesa's, Bultaco's, etc. if you visit the Barcelona Motorcycle museum you get into the other 'branch at Bessalu for just one €uro more - the rides around there are fantastic as long as you stay off the horrible C14 as much as possible.

Back to Tarragona: one unmissable sight/site - me

Regs

Simon

 

[Peter Pan]

Thanks Simon. Much appreciated.

We've got a family holiday booked to PortAventura at the end of July and we were planning on doing a 'city visit' to Barcelona then.

As my focus has been on my biking holiday (self, self, self) I'd never bothered to check where PortAventura actually was and, having just checked the map, realised it's only a couple of miles down the coast from Tarragona!! So I'll use that trip as the opportunity to visit both Tarragona and Barcelona.

Thanks for the tip about the Monastery at Montserrat. I seem to remember being taken to a fair ground somewhere in that region by my parents when I was about 5 years old. Will check it out.

 

[Simon_100]

Ha ha, sounds like you've got the balance of life just about right!

There are busses into Tarragona about every fifteen minutes, but they arrive at the city's coach station at Plaça Imperial Tarraco, from there head seaward up the Rambla Nova, which is a wide tree lined boulevarde, until you reach the end on top of a cliff where the locals 'Toca Ferro' - touch iron, i.e. the old cast iron railings. Then turn left towards the old city, 'Casc Antic' with the Roman ampitheatre below you out there in the blazing sun . . .

Montserrat - it sounds like you went to a place called Tibidabo in Barcelona when you were a kid, not the same at all but worth a visit if your family aren't 'a tope' - literally full up, with fairground after Port Aventura. The latter is great but Tibidabo has got old fashioned style . . .

There are direct trains into Barcelona from Salou and Port Aventura but not many, so get the first one. Don't get off at Sants station, which is way out of the city centre and is full of thieves, but hang on until the next stop, Passeig de Gracia, where you emerge from underground right opposite some of the most famous buildings in the city.

Going home go to Estacio de Francia, which is a beautiful terminus a bit like Paddington - you get a seat before the mob join the train further down the line - and don't forget to visit the Ciutadella park and the Born market/museum on the way there -Metro Arc de Triomf - the 'Born' district, five minutes from Francia station, is very quiet and rather posh - a great way to round off a visit to the city

Cheers

Simon

 

[Peter Pan]

 

[Peter Pan]

Off tomorrow

Trips coming along quite nicely

I've already been to Salamanca, Caceres, Toledo, Seville etc. so tending to try and avoid those. Have also tried to get in as many other World Heritage sites as I can.

So far, it's looking like 4,800 miles in total - excluding the ride home (assuming all return ferries are fully booked) which will add a further 950 miles.

Travelling solo on R1200GS LC. Expected to be away 4-5 weeks. Fortunately, I have a very understanding Missus!

Any obvious places that it looks like I may have missed or tips that anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Looks like I'll have to get the bike serviced and a new set of tyres fitted part way round. Does anyone have a list of Motorrad Service centres for Spain and/or Portugal in either GDB or GPX format that they'd be willing to share?

Can't wait until the 8th September ferry from Portsmouth to Santander

 

[Wapping]

Excellent!

 

[Bounce]

That looks like fun!!!!

Hope you have a muchos fine time......

 

[leedude03]

enjoy the trip dont forget the RR when you get back.

 

[2 wheel humvee]

Looks like a great trip, looking forward to the RR, enjoy

 

[dr nosh]

To 'The Spanish Biker'.

That is really useful local knowledge for anybody planning a similar trip, and thanks for taking the time to write it up here.

 

[Simon_100]

To 'The Spanish Biker'.

That is really useful local knowledge for anybody planning a similar trip, and thanks for taking the time to write it up here.

Cheers matey, always nice to now someone reads my rantings!

@ PeterPan - we'll be in Tarragona from the 21st and there's a great fiesta that week- do drop by for tapas ...

Regs

Simon

 

[Simon_100]

So Señor Peter Pan - how dd iyt go?

Simon

 

[Wapping]

Are you back yet?

 

[twizzle]

Still tied up in a cellar somewhere.....

 

[Wapping]

Has he vanished? Fallen by the wayside? Lost to Castle Anthrax? Tilted at one windmill too many?

 

[Simon_100]

Still tied up in a cellar somewhere.....

I hope he didn't let on what is credit limit is!

Regs

Simon