I am currently driving around Spain and Portugal in my 2006 mk3.
We have been enjoying brilliant roads for the car to show it’s pure fun value.
I can’t recommend the “Picos de Europa” mountains enough . We have worked our way west to Fisterra right at the western tip of Europe, and now down in Porto, next stop Durro Valley then to Rioja and then home via the ferry from Bilao.
If anyone is wondering what to do with 2 to 3 weeks of their life, and fancy quiet roads with loads of bends, great food and wine then get down to this part of the world!!! It’s great
This is the Vila Gale Hotel in central Braga- has a car park- central part of the building is a (working ) Church, the left hand side is an operational Pharmacy and the right hand side is the hotel entrance which then goes backwards and incorporates the former Church hospital behind.
You might think of incorporating Santiago de Compostella……..a wonderful experience. We did feel a bit guilty in the NC amongst the Camino Walkers along the “Path of St James”
Yes totally agree with you Picos great roads spent a couple of weeks back in June touring Northern Spain & Portugal on Two wheels meet a few MX-5 drivers out there on my travels going to go back next year with my MX 5 with the wife next year.
At 15 I was proud of myself for winning a dare by cycling from skool in Frensham to Farnham and back before breakfast one fabulous summer Sunday morning ! I doff my hat sir !
We’ve just returned from a trip to Spain and Portugal, arranged through Scenic Car Tours, visiting The Picos de Europa and the Douro Valley. Our trip was made more amazing through the company of eight other fantastic MX-5 OC members.
We have a/c… but only used it once (with the roof down) as it was blinking warm.
No cruise, just plenty of right foot.
To be Honest we haven’t been blatting it much, just enjoying the twisty roads, straight lining when possible.
The traffic in Spain And Portugal is so light compared to the UK, it is a joy to ne on the road.
We went on Gravel today for 4 km to get to this place
We have a 2009 NC, with neither air conditioning or cruise control. I must admit that, when the temperature exceeded 30C, which we weren’t expecting, it was pretty hot. So we didn’t get burnt, we had to put the roof up, with the windows down. It defeats the objective of having the roof down as often as possible, but getting sun burnt wasn’t a viable alternative!
I didn’t miss cruise control. The roads in Spain and Portugal are amazing and relatively quiet. I believe it’s best to experience the roads, especially the twisty bits, through the use of the gears as much as possible. Just be careful of the speed limits, especially through towns and villages.
41C in Sevilla in June this year.No aircon.It was quite incredible.And our iPhone satnav overheated and cut out.When we reached Tavira on the Algarve we got a most pleasant 26C with pleasant breeze- most refreshing.
