Motorrad Mekka Spanien?

Our tour guide Angela has been on numerous motorcycle tours in Spain. Her early scepticism about riding in Spain had turned into elation. In the following article she tells us why she now loves to travel with Edelweiss to the iberian peninsula. Thinking back of the time before I started working for Edelweiss Bike Travel, I would have never dreamed of spending my holidays on the Iberic Peninsula. My mind was full of places I thought I would have to share with crowds of tourists rushing for the beaches on the Spanish coast, hungry for the sun and the ocean. I am a very enthusiastic motorcyclist, and so I couldn’t believe that this was it. Where would I find the flamenco dancing, the delicious food, the spirited and hospitable Spaniards, those famous historical buildings and fantastic roads other motorcyclist were telling me about? Some seven years later and after quite a number of tours I guided for Edelweiss Bike Travel, I got to know almost each corner of Spain, and I also learned a lot about the country. It all began with the „Christopher Colombus Tour“. Starting and finishing in Malaga, this tour covers the south-west of Spain and the south of Portugal in a loop of 2200 kilometers. The mix of colourful impressions that I found in both countries during these 9 days on tour surprised me. Both types of bikers, those who want to enjoy a relaxed ride same as those who look for the challenge on extremely winding roads will find plenty of asphalt layed out for them. Among the places we visit on the Christopher Columbus Tour, Seville, Cordoba and Lisbon are three of the most impressive places. You will find a wealth of remnants of past centuries, of historical buildings, and of famous pieces of art, each with its own charme. Needless to say, that the Spanish cuisine has a great variety of food to offer. Your vacation in Spain wouldn’t be complete without an evening stroll through old town, enjoying a cerveza in one of the tapas bars along with the famous and typical tapas snacks. And the locals will be excited chatting with you in their typical, noisy way. Most certainly, it won’t become more authentic. The only thing that will probably manage to top all these impressions is the performance of the Flamenco dancers. If you ever want to find out how powerful, passionate and effervescent the Spanish people are, I highly recommend visiting the little bar next door. Once you entered the place you thought of as a bar a minute ago, will turn out to be a flamenco performance stage. And before you even know it, you are under the spell of the flamenco dancers. After my first tour in Spain, I was hooked. Edelweiss Bike Travel sent me back to do more tours in this destination. Next on the schedule was the „Andalusia Tour“ in the southern part of Spain. This area has some of the most winding roads you can find – they are great fun! My next opportunity to get to know more about the Iberic Peninsula was the „Pyrenees Ride-for-Fun Tour“ in the North-East of Spain. Similar to Andalusia, the Pyrenees are a rider’s paradise. One of the many special tours Edelweiss Bike Travel creates for their customers took me through some of the most beautiful and most remote areas in central and North Spain.  Guess what was the consequence? Obviously, I changed from the once hesitant visitor into the enthusiastic traveller of Spain I am today.   Not for all the money in the world would I want to miss navigating my motorcycle through the twisties between the seemingly never ending olive orchards, or trying to find my way out of those typical Spanish perched villages, which look like little white spots from the distance but can quickly turn into a tricky maze once you are trying to make your way through. All this is Spain and there is a lot more to discover. Of course, I don't want to forestall too much. To discover the beauty of Spain, you will need to come on tour with us and find out by yourself – the best ride there is. See you on tour. Your tour guide Angela