ATS1702 - Andalucia Tour

Give credit where credit is due -  Anita - the best female rider we both ever had on an Edelweiss Tour. And it was a pleasure to wait for you tough men now and than. And believe it or not, she is a Harley girl. Thank you all!  What a fantastic group, what a great week in Andalucia. Hope we`ll see each other again. Safe travels Ursula and Ted Day 7: Ronda - Malaga Whoever did not get enough curves so far on this tour, well there are plenty left. The loop down towards the beaches of Marbella, where the rich and famous go to play, offers great riding and vistas. The road back to Ronda ranks among the most beautiful motorcycle routes in all of Spain. coffee in Yubrique Anita and Uli see the guys in the background - they adapting - they are nearly like real locals, just the wine is missing charming Luiz Ted prepared a fantastic picnic - Dutch cheese, Dutch strawbeeries :-) (thanks god Tom Ritt is not with us) - thank you Ted it was delicious the biking Andalucian girls time was flying. Nobody could believe that the tour is over. A  last group picture has to be taken and there has to be an award to the best female rider both of us ever had on tour - Anita and believe it or not - she is a Harley girl Day 6: Ronda - Ronda Tourguide Meeting in Ronda our terrace in Ronda at the Reina Victoria Hotel Day 5: Arcos de la Frontera - Ronda The road we travel on today is called Ruta de Toros because the fiery Andalusian fighting bulls are bred in the many haciendas along the way. A little further along the coast, we will enjoy the splendid view over the bay to the rock of Gibraltar. From here it’s back into the mountains. On tiny back roads with little traffic and fantastic panoramas, we climb up the Sierra de Ronda.  yes I know, these are no bulls.... ...but here is one :-) Alcala de los Gazules, our fist coffee stop Luiz is watching the local playing cards after entering Gibraltar we had to queue up for a while, but... In the year 1713 with the contract of Utrecht, the steep rocky peninsula of Gibraltar became British property. Today, the rock is visited by 4 million people each year, mostly for toll free shopping.  ...it was worth it, the view was spectacular the famous Gibraltar monkeys. This one ran into the restaurant, caught Ians chips and disapeared. Enjoy your lunch, monkey this could be a present - guess for whom? haha, saugut!! Guess who it is? finally it cleared up a bit on the way in Muge had no visa for Gibraltar, on the way out Joe was in trouble But know we are going up to Ronda, on a spectacular road Ronda and the famous Puente Nueve Day 4: Antequera - Arcos de la Frontera  Through barren, almost desert-like mountain landscapes, we approach the fertile valley of the Guadalhorce River. A narrowing canyon leads us to the Garganta del Chorro, a narrow crevice carved into a sheer 600 ft. sandstone cliff. Truly one of Andalusia’s natural wonders! Nearby are the ever-present witnesses of southern Spain’s Moorish past; lush pine forests delight us as much as the bizarre limestone formations as we ride up the Pinar. In countless turns, the narrow road winds up the mountainside. It offers new vistas of this magnificent landscape around every bend. Certainly an adventure to be remembered for a long time! Descending towards the Atlantic coast, we cross the plains between El Bosque and Arcos de la Frontera. Antequera Olvera Along the fertile Guadalhorce Valley, shortly after the village of El Chorro, we come across one of Andalusia’s geographical wonders. The Garganta del Chorro is a gorge, in places a mere 30 ft. wide, which the river carved into a 600 ft. sandstone cliff. It can best be seen on the Camino del Rey, a wooden walkway along the cliff that was constructed for a royal visit early this century. Arcos de la Frontera Arcos de la Frontera is an archetypal white town, it has a labyrinthine Moorish quarter that twists up to its ruined castle. At its centre is the Plaza de Espana, one side of which gives views across sunbaked plains. Fronting the square are the superb Parador de Arcos de la Frontera and the Iglesia de Santa Maria, a late gothic building, worth seeing for its extravagant Baroque choir stalls and Reanaissance altarpiece. Day 3: Granada - Antequera Rise and shine! This morning is dedicated to one of the most widely known works of Islamic art in the world – Granada’s Alhambra. Let the miraculous harmony of space, light, water and decoration enchant you. Stroll through the open patios, or admire the intricate works of art made of the most ordinary materials. In the afternoon we will take you way off the beaten tourist path, and into the heart of the real Andalusia. Seemingly endless olive orchards will be our companions as winding back roads lead us through the rolling hills of rural Spain. The ride along the majestic limestone range of the Sierra Loja will mark the end of a perfect riding day. Our final destination is Antequera the group is arriving at the picnic place high above all the olive fields.   all is prepared for a nice lunch fresh squeezed orange juice - cheers and the Sierra Nevada is snow covered!!! saddling again and continuing on the "Route of the Kalifs" 5 star hotel Convento Magdalena in Antequera! Is this red carpet really for us??? Day 2: Malaga - Granada After circumnavigating the city, countless turns up the Montes de Malaga will put your riding skills to the test. In return, you will be rewarded with breathtaking vistas of Malaga, the Mediterranean Sea and the unique mountain scenery of the natural preserve to the west. The valley of the Velez River takes us back down to the world famous golden beaches of the Costa del Tropical and our lunch spot right on the seashore. The sharp contrast of the Sierra del Chaparral, where we gonna go in the afternoon,  some 4,260 ft. higher than we are, is something to be remembered. it seems to get a perfect day in the Malaga mountains Katherine and Mark - they have been at the Edelweiss Reunion ride last year in Gatlinburg. And guess what they remember well?? Yes the "Kaiserschmarren"at the picnic :-) there is always something. Thanks God, otherwise life would get boring Sean, Jo and Kevin at the tropical coast he is preparing our lunch and here it is.... Jo in the Sierra de Chapparal Aydin and Muge On the orders of the Catholic Monarchs,work on the Cathedral of Granada began in 1523 in Gothic-style.The Capilla Real, was built for the Catholic Monarchs and encloses the Mausoleum. Carrara marble figures of Isabell and Ferdinand top their grave. Day 1: Arrival in Malaga That is how it looks like in Malaga - blue sky, the sea and in the background the Malaga mountains are waiting welcome briefing is done, everybody is getting the bikes ready or starting for a testride. More tomorrow, stay tuned.....