Christopher Columbus Tour CCC2601
Andy and Domenico took the opportunity today to explore the beautiful city of Málaga on foot. Our first stop was the lively Mercado Central de Atarazanas, where locals shop for fresh fish, fruit, and traditional delicacies. From there, we continued along the elegant waterfront promenade of Muelle Uno, slowly making our way toward La Malagueta beach. After enjoying the sea views, we climbed up to the historic Castillo de Gibralfaro, where we rewarded ourselves with a coffee while admiring the fantastic panorama over the city and the harbor. From there, we walked back down toward the old town, passing by the impressive Alcazaba, one of the city’s most important historical landmarks. Our next stop was Plaza de la Merced, where we had lunch and visited the birthplace of Pablo Picasso. In the afternoon, we continued wandering through the narrow streets of the historic center, visited the beautiful Málaga Cathedral, and enjoyed a delicious ice cream before heading back toward the harbor. There, we admired several enormous yachts—and couldn’t help wondering who they might belong to! After one last stroll along the port, we returned to the hotel just in time for the welcome briefing, ready for the adventure ahead!
The motorcycle journey couldn't have started any better! We set off from Málaga under beautiful clear skies, pointing our bikes toward the heart of Andalusia. Our first stop was Mijas, one of the region's famous pueblos blancos. Although it was a bit windy when we pulled over, the charm of the village made up for it. We enjoyed a walk among the narrow streets and whitewashed houses before grabbing a quick (but tasty!) coffee. From there, we pushed on to Ronda—definitely the highlight of the day. We spent a good amount of time here, enjoying a long lunch and marveling at the famous Puente Nuevo. Seeing the massive bridge spanning the Tajo gorge is an incredible experience; the view down to the river is breathtaking! Before reaching our final destination, we made one last photo stop in Zahara de la Sierra, one of the most famous "postcards" of Andalusia. Finally, we rolled into Seville! We are in the heart of Semana Santa (Holy Week). Seville takes these Easter celebrations very seriously, hosting one of the biggest religious events in the world. We are really lucky to be here at this time! Tomorrow we’ll have a full menu to choose from: visit the city’s many highlights or head out for another ride? Let's see what we decide. Sweet dreams, everybody!
While Andy and Perry were out on the road with Jure having a blast in the Sierra Norte the rest of us took a deep dive into the heart of Seville. It’s Good Friday, and the city is packed and full of energy! Our walking tour started at the Setas de Sevilla (the "Mushrooms"), where the modern wooden architecture offers such a cool contrast to the ancient city. From there, we wound our way through the crowded streets of the center to the Cathedral. It was absolutely packed due to the processions, so we decided to admire its massive Gothic exterior from the outside rather than spend hours in line. Next, we visited the Plaza de Toros. Going inside the bullring gave us a fascinating look into an important part of Spanish culture and history. For lunch, we crossed the river to the Mercado de Triana. It’s such an interesting spot, built right over the remains of an old castle, and the food there was fantastic! We saved one of the best for last: the breathtaking Plaza de España. It was a full day of culture, history, and great food. Seville did not disappoint!
After leaving Seville on a wonderful sunny morning, our first stop was near Huelva, where we took a step back in time. We visited the impressive monument dedicated to Christopher Columbus and saw the replicas of the three caravels (La Niña, La Pinta, and La Santa María). It was incredible to stand on the very coast where the voyage that changed the world began! We stopped for lunch in the charming town of Ayamonte, right on the banks of the Guadiana River, which marks the border between the two countries. After a great meal, we crossed the beautiful bridge and officially entered Portugal! The best part was that we had to set our watches back one hour, gaining a little extra time to enjoy the ride. Once in the Algarve, the southernmost region of Portugal, we decided to head inland to find the real "motorcycle roads." It was the perfect choice: we spent the afternoon on beautiful, winding roads through the hills before finally heading back down toward the coast. And, last but not least, this fantastic day ended with a great dinner!
Another incredible day under clear blue skies! After a night in gorgeus hotel in Faro we headed into heart of Algarve. First we made a quick photo stop to see Silves castle, one of the most preserved Arab castles in Portugal. Right after that we rode one one of best Portugese roads taking us up to highest mountain of Algarve - Foia. A coffe with a view, and also sound as we could hear how first motorcycles started to warm up below us on Portimao MotoGP circuit. Descent towards Atlantic coas was very twisty and offered some of best views of Algarve region. As soon as we reach cost 'Chef Domenico' hosted us with unforgetable and famous Edelweiss Picnic. Fully energized we rode to Europes most South-West point - Cabo San Vicente. What a view of Atlantic ocean, it reminded us how brave was Columbus setting up into complete unknown. Impressed we started our journey north versus Sines, todays destination. Atlantic road N120 was fast, sunny, a little windy, as it should be. Greenery and animals watched us as we reached our destination, overlooking the bay and beach of Sines.
The morning began with a magnificent ride through the Serra da Arrábida, surrounded by ancient cork oak trees, enjoying every curve all the way to our coffee break in Melides. We then headed to the Tróia Peninsula, where Jure was waiting for us with the ferry tickets, and we loaded the bikes to cross the Sado Estuary. After we docked in Setúbal, we treated ourselves to a delicious lunch in a small seaside restaurant right on the bay. Of course, they had the catch of the day! In the afternoon, we pushed on toward Lisbon. Before entering the city, we made one last stop at the Cristo Rei monument. Unfortunately, the rain decided to join us just as we arrived, but the view from the lookout—overlooking the 25 de Abril Bridge (often called the "Golden Gate's twin") and the entire city—is absolutely beautiful, even under gray skies. We’ve officially rolled into Lisbon, and tomorrow we explore the city!
Despite a light drizzle, some of us decided to gear up and hit the road on two wheels. After a quick photo stop at the Belém Tower, we reached Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe. Standing there, we saw the famous words inscribed on the monument: "Onde a terra acaba e o mar começa" — Where the land ends and the sea begins! From there, we wound our way through the lush forests of Sintra and finally stopped by the majestic palace of Mafra. Then, it was time to head back and explore the capital itself. We spent the afternoon "getting lost" in the best possible way, hopping between various miradouros (viewpoints), wandering through the labyrinth of tiny streets, and watching the vintage trams screech as they climbed the steep hills. The view from the Castelo de São Jorge is also simply breathtaking. What a beautiful city! To top it all off, you cannot say you’ve been to Lisbon without indulging in the local star of the kitchen: Bacalhau (salted cod). That was our perfect final dinner. Goodbye Lisbon, we will miss you!
The weather today was finally much better, though still quite chilly in the morning! To leave Lisbon, we crossed the impressive Vasco da Gama Bridge—a modern engineering marvel—and took the highway toward Évora. But before reaching the town, we traded two wheels for four! We stopped at a go-kart track for some high-speed fun. Once in Évora, we visited the Church of St. Francis and its impressive Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos). After a well-deserved lunch, we hit the road again. Now that we’ve arrived in Zafra, the highlight of the day awaits: tonight, we are sleeping in a real castle! And, since we are back in Spain, we’ve already moved our watches forward by one hour. Another beautiful day!
It was very foggy in Zafra as we hit the road, but slowly the sun came out! We spent the morning winding through secondary roads and admiring the stunning landscapes of Extremadura. Our first stop was in Llerena, where we parked all around the central square to enjoy a coffee in its beautiful historic center before hopping back on our bikes. The ride continued along scenic backroads until we reached Belmez, where Jure was waiting for us with a wonderful surprise: a picnic! It was the perfect break before hitting the main road to Córdoba for the final 80 kilometers. We arrived early enough to have plenty of time to explore the stunning historic center and the Mezquita. The mosque-cathedral is truly spectacular and definitely one of the absolute highlights of the entire tour!
The final day of our tour has arrived, and it was time to head back to Málaga, with a lovely lunch stop in Loja. We spent most of the day winding through the rolling Andalusian hills on secondary roads, enjoying endless curves and almost no traffic. Absolute motorcycle heaven! Just before reaching Málaga, the sea finally came back into view as we returned to the Costa del Sol. There was no better way to celebrate than with a toast the moment the bikes were safely parked in the garage. Then, we gathered for our final dinner and said our goodbyes. It has been an incredible tour! A huge thank you to all the participants; we hope to see you again soon on another Edelweiss adventure! Jure and Domenico