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As you leave the high mountains of the Pyrenees
southwards you will appreciate a full day of rest to
recover and to relax the tired muscles in
Zaragoza.
Continuing the tour in Spain doesn't mean that you don't
have to climb anymore. Spain belongs to the most
mountainous countries in Europe. The route crosses the
beautiful rough inner land of Spain via roads which see
hardly any traffic. You pass deep gorges, vineyards, red
rock outcroppings and crystal blue water reservoirs. The
environment keeps on changing and you'll climb numerous
shorter and longer hills. Not steep, but the route keeps
on rolling.
A rest day has been planned in
Cuenca, halfway
Spain and in the middle of La Mancha, the country side
of Don Quixote. Cuenca is famous for its "casas
colgadas" (hanging houses) and is definitely worth a
visit.
In the south of Spain you'll cross in a couple of stages
Andalusia, one of
the most scenic areas of the country with thousands of
olive trees. In the heart of Andalusia you have a day of
rest in Granada at
the foot of the Sierra Nevada. |
When you say "Granada", you say "Alhambra", without
doubt the cultural highlight of Spain. The citadel with
its stunning architecture is left by the Jewish, Moorish
and Catholic inhabitants throughout the centuries. It is
a lasting tribute to the golden age of Islam. But also
the nightlife of Granada is outstanding with numerous
tapas bars and authentic live flamenco performances with
acoustic guitars, dancing, impassioned singing and
intricate clapping and footwork.
Further southwards in Andalusia we pass the attractive
town of Ronda which
is situated around a deep canyon. The houses are perched
on cliff sides and the city contains the oldest
bullfighting ring of the country. A fabulous and fast
downhill with views over the rock of
Gibraltar and the
first glimpse of Africa will bring you to the
Mediterranean. |
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