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Published: October 10th 2009
Marbella Marbella has the remains of the old Muslim walls, Marbella's casco antiguo. The old town has a maze of picturesque winding streets and charming little plazas, with plenty of outdoor bars where you can sample typical Andalusian cuisine. At the center of this intricate pattern of alleyways is Plaza de los Naranjos, with the 3 to 4 century old town hall and fountain. Getting lost in this maze is the best way to experience this historic town.
Marbella also has the modern and opulent section called Puerto Banus, where all kinds of multi-million dollar yachts are docked along with the accompanying rows of parked Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Bentleys, Rolls Royces, Porsches, and Aston Martins. Elegance and glamor are everywhere in this section. The coast from Puerto Banus to Malaga is gorgous, filled with rolling hills and the long stretches of Mediterranean sandy beaches with the cobalt blue, clear ocean water. I can't swallow, breath, and soak in fast enough.
Las Alpujarras The most awe-inspiring, spine-tingling, and hair-raising roads of Andalusian, in my opinion, is the A-4130 in Las Alpujarras. To find this road, look for a village named Travelez in Las Alpujarras. Head east from that
village on the only main road, A-4129. The A-4130 will be on the right hand side not too far from the village.
If you are a roller coaster junkie, you know about the Boulder Dash, Raven, Shivering Timbers, GhostRider, and Cyclone. Those are in the top 10 best roller coasters list compiled by the junkies. I am not a roller coaster junkie, but I think the experience I have on this road is equivalent to riding those roller coasters. Every hairpin, zig zag, switchback, and blind curve on this road are G-force producing turns.
The road is safe at regular posted speeds but it can be treacherous at any higher speed as it has very narrow mountain passes and ridges with salivating bends, hairpins, zig zags, and blind curves. Going downhill is an even more nerve wracking experience because I can see the panoramic unobstructed view of how far I would plunge into the canyon if I understeer the car.
Fortunately again, there is barely any traffic on this road since it doesn't have any village along it. It is more a connecting road between two arteries. At seven at night I pass only one car in
the 10 km stretch of the purest form of joy of driving. As the sun is setting, it plays shadow with the mountains and valleys accentuating the already breathtaking landscape.Getting to A-4130 from A-4129 may not be as fun even though A-4129 has similar characteristics as A-4130 with a lot less scary parts. There are several villages along A-4129 so the traffic can be heavy at times.
Sierra Nevada Another road worth driving on, in this region, is the road that leads to Sierra Nevada from Granada, A-395. I climb all the way to 2500 meter where I arrive at a rest stop with restaurants where bus loads of tourists are enjoying the 280 degree sweeping view of the pastoral beauty of rolling mountains and valleys. At 3000 m, there is an observatory and a mountain pass that would take me to the Las Alpujarras, but the pass is closed when I get there. This road is similar to the A-376 from Sevilla to Ronda and Marbella as far the beauty and the technicality.
A-4 Cadiz to Sevilla It is not the car, but the Autovia A-4 from Cadiz to Sevilla. After two days of resting
and relaxing at the beautiful coastal and port city of Cadiz, I am driving back to Sevilla to catch a 27-hour train rides to Nice (France), a stop over for my long train journey to Ingolstadt. I find it hard to drive at the speed of the flow of sparse traffic. Autovia A-4 is relatively brand new toll road with Autobahn quality.
Saying Good Bye to Spain As my train leaves the station, I can't help reflecting on my driving vacation. After 8 days driving in Andalusian, I feel refreshed and satisfied. It was a great way to finish my one month stay in Spain providing the frosting to my fulfilling time in Madrid and Barcelona. I met many kind and fun loving travelers and residents, drivers and non-drivers, during my last 30 days. Memories I will treasure greatly, friends I will keep in touch.
I have not learned much in life, but I know one think about myself. When I drive through exciting, exhilarating roads, I find a sense of place. I arrive at a non-artificial state where I see ever so clearly how the here and now is so much more meaningful than any other
mental fabricated experiences. The pure joy of driving! Now, I am off to Ingolstadts to visit what some consider the place as their mecca…@
driving-vacation More pictures...
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indiana
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To the people that want to travel to Spain and especially Andalucía I give you a good tip. There is a great hostel where you can crash! In the White Nest Hostel in Granada, recently opened, you can find a young international group of like minded people, in fresh vibrant surroundings. You will have a great time to remember your entire life ..Based at the foot of the Alambra, the area is both central and historical.Full of tapas' bars really close and everywhere!!. I recommend you to stay in Hostels Granada and experience the life of Albayzin, Sacromonte and the heart of Granada itself.