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We won't be in Morocco until late Feb / early March as we still have to get the dogs titre tests done.Hopefully see you in Morocco soon…
The Marrakesh Express
- Thread starter garry55
- Start date
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Day 10 to Morocco.
Left Zarautz late this morning after having given the van a thorough clean inside. Stopped for lunch at Laredo then onwards to our overnight stop at Lierganes. Lovely little town nestling in a valley with free parking on a large, level car park next to the train station. It has a service point for grey and black waste and a fresh water supply. Due to its proximity to Santander, we have decided to spend 2 nights here and go on the train to do some sightseeing.
i
Left Zarautz late this morning after having given the van a thorough clean inside. Stopped for lunch at Laredo then onwards to our overnight stop at Lierganes. Lovely little town nestling in a valley with free parking on a large, level car park next to the train station. It has a service point for grey and black waste and a fresh water supply. Due to its proximity to Santander, we have decided to spend 2 nights here and go on the train to do some sightseeing.
- Feb 22, 2011
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- Funster No
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- Hymer B544 A Class
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- Since 2015
Are they ok with dogs on the train ?
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RENFE (the local train operator) say they should be muzzled. But those that operate the Bilbao/San Sebastian line (sorry- can't remember their name) don't have any restrictions.
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I'll get in touch when we get there. Is it true what I read today that a campsite in Agadir, which was already full, had a car park full of motorhomes waiting for a space and a further 18 queuing down the road?We’ll be here until April 1st….
Atlantic park…? If so yes… have you been reading my thread, it’s all in there.. really busy everywhere along the coast…
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I will catch up on your thread tonight
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Day 11 to Morocco.
Another zero progress day as we decided to take the train into Santander and have a look around. It is a lovely place to visit and we had a great time, along with some great wine and tapas. View from the top of the funicular well worth the effort of getting to the base station!
Another zero progress day as we decided to take the train into Santander and have a look around. It is a lovely place to visit and we had a great time, along with some great wine and tapas. View from the top of the funicular well worth the effort of getting to the base station!
Camping Zarautz. I stayed there in 2015.Surfing and food festival, what more could anyone want?
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Update. The woman at the ticket office, who had originally told us that dogs had to wear muzzles on all RENFE trains looked totally disinterested in our unmuzzled dogs as we purchased our tickets. Same at Santander - nobody cares. On our return journey an inspector passed through our carriage, randomly inspected a passengers ticket, looked at our unmuzzled dogs and just walked on.
- Apr 12, 2010
- 5,165
- 60,022
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- 11,027
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- Weinsberg Cara
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- since 2007
I’d so be tempted to play Crosby’s, Stills, and Nash en route to Marrakesh. Enjoy your trip. We loved everywhere we went in Morocco.
Phil
Phil
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Funnily enough Phil, it's on our "Get in the mood" music list, along with Maria Muldaur's "Midnight at the Oasis" and "Night boat to Cairo" among others
I hope we enjoy it as much as you obviously did!
- Apr 12, 2010
- 5,165
- 60,022
- Funster No
- 11,027
- MH
- Weinsberg Cara
- Exp
- since 2007
You must sit in one of the upper coffee bars overlooking Marrakesh main square (Fna el DJma) to watch the mayhem when all the street food stalls and restaurants go for it at evening set up time. It starts around 5.30 pm. Great fun.Funnily enough Phil, it's on our "Get in the mood" music list, along with Maria Muldaur's "Midnight at the Oasis" and "Night boat to Cairo" among others
I hope we enjoy it as much as you obviously did!
Phil
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Duly noted
Thanks..
Thanks..
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Yes I went on it in around 2010 and it was really slow! The top speed as around 40, but not often did itHaving travelled on the Marrakesh express in 1976 I can assure you your Peugeot Boxer is faster,The train travels at around 30 mph.
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Ooh!
That grub looks nice. Looking forward to some of that
That grub looks nice. Looking forward to some of that
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Day 12 to Morocco.
A short drive to Gijon today. Parked on a large car park near the sports stadium - nice and flat, no services, some road noise, 20 mins from the beach and less than 5 mins from a good choice of bars and restaurants. And a Gyros take away. That's supper sorted then!
Gijon isn't the prettiest of places but has a great dog friendly beach and an old town that's worth a look. The promenade architecture leaves a lot to be desired though. It is, however, in the heart of 1609 country
A short drive to Gijon today. Parked on a large car park near the sports stadium - nice and flat, no services, some road noise, 20 mins from the beach and less than 5 mins from a good choice of bars and restaurants. And a Gyros take away. That's supper sorted then!
Gijon isn't the prettiest of places but has a great dog friendly beach and an old town that's worth a look. The promenade architecture leaves a lot to be desired though. It is, however, in the heart of 1609 country
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Day 13 to Morocco.
A short 2 hr drive along the AP72, which affords some spectacular views as it climbs it's way to the summit of a mountain range before dropping down to Leon. Such a change from yesterday - Leon is a lovely place once you are inside the old Roman wall. We are staying on a free aire just an 18 minute walk from the cathedral. The aire is for motorhomes only and is about half full, with 20+ vans on. However, as the majority are Spanish registered, I am guessing that it is used as a storage area for local peoples motorhomes. 2 working service points with grey and black drains and fresh water supplies. No ehu.
Parking bays are a generous size for up to 7m motorhomes and clearly marked. But then the prominent "No Entry" signs at the exit didn't deter the driver of a German motorhome that used it as an entry point. Hey ho.
A short 2 hr drive along the AP72, which affords some spectacular views as it climbs it's way to the summit of a mountain range before dropping down to Leon. Such a change from yesterday - Leon is a lovely place once you are inside the old Roman wall. We are staying on a free aire just an 18 minute walk from the cathedral. The aire is for motorhomes only and is about half full, with 20+ vans on. However, as the majority are Spanish registered, I am guessing that it is used as a storage area for local peoples motorhomes. 2 working service points with grey and black drains and fresh water supplies. No ehu.
Parking bays are a generous size for up to 7m motorhomes and clearly marked. But then the prominent "No Entry" signs at the exit didn't deter the driver of a German motorhome that used it as an entry point. Hey ho.
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Day 14 to Morocco.
A short hop over the border into Portugal. Had a coffee break in a quaint old village that even had a Tourist Information office, which was closed. Onwards to Braganca, where we parked on the free aire at the bottom of the castle. It has black and grey waste and fresh water points and is reasonably level if you pick your spot carefully.
Visited the Citadel and the old town inside the walls then headed an hour further south to our overnight stop at Alfandega da Fe. The aire here is a large, level parking area in front of the fire station. It has grey and black waste disposal, fresh water and best of all, FREE ehu! There are 5 sockets hidden in a steel "bin" that has orange flashing led's on it. There are 2 small supermarkets, several bars and quite a few cafes all within easy walking distance.
And the road from Bornes (N315) is stunning! My "top of the world" photo doesn't do it justice.
Coffee break.
Braganca Citadel
And my "top of the world" photo
A short hop over the border into Portugal. Had a coffee break in a quaint old village that even had a Tourist Information office, which was closed. Onwards to Braganca, where we parked on the free aire at the bottom of the castle. It has black and grey waste and fresh water points and is reasonably level if you pick your spot carefully.
Visited the Citadel and the old town inside the walls then headed an hour further south to our overnight stop at Alfandega da Fe. The aire here is a large, level parking area in front of the fire station. It has grey and black waste disposal, fresh water and best of all, FREE ehu! There are 5 sockets hidden in a steel "bin" that has orange flashing led's on it. There are 2 small supermarkets, several bars and quite a few cafes all within easy walking distance.
And the road from Bornes (N315) is stunning! My "top of the world" photo doesn't do it justice.
Coffee break.
Braganca Citadel
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The aire at Alfandega da Fe. We have had a lovely peaceful Saturday night here - highly recommended if you are in the vicinity.
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Day 15 to Morocco
Woke up to rain this morning. And it hasn't stopped all day. We headed for Guarda, which is Portugal's highest city and not worth the effort of visiting. We only stopped to take a photo of the outside from the inside and to programme the sat nav to take us to our overnight stop. And here we are on a free aire at Unhais da Serra. It being a Sunday, there isn't a lot open. In fact there is only 1 bar open in the village. We got there at 17:00, which just happened to coincide with closing time. However, the owner took pity on us, served us some drinks and left us in the covered outside area whilst he locked up, set the alarm and drove off with a cheery wave. Top guy! It's a quirky little village full of tiny streets lined with tastefully renovated houses, some not-so-renovated and some just derelict.
The aire is located beside the local river, has space for about 10 motorhomes, has a barbeque area and 2 clean toilets in a wooden shed. There is a separate service area which I haven't checked out yet, but will do in the morning. It costs 3 euros a day, which is collected by someone from the local office, but obviously not on a Sunday in torrential rain!
Woke up to rain this morning. And it hasn't stopped all day. We headed for Guarda, which is Portugal's highest city and not worth the effort of visiting. We only stopped to take a photo of the outside from the inside and to programme the sat nav to take us to our overnight stop. And here we are on a free aire at Unhais da Serra. It being a Sunday, there isn't a lot open. In fact there is only 1 bar open in the village. We got there at 17:00, which just happened to coincide with closing time. However, the owner took pity on us, served us some drinks and left us in the covered outside area whilst he locked up, set the alarm and drove off with a cheery wave. Top guy! It's a quirky little village full of tiny streets lined with tastefully renovated houses, some not-so-renovated and some just derelict.
The aire is located beside the local river, has space for about 10 motorhomes, has a barbeque area and 2 clean toilets in a wooden shed. There is a separate service area which I haven't checked out yet, but will do in the morning. It costs 3 euros a day, which is collected by someone from the local office, but obviously not on a Sunday in torrential rain!
CAB96
LIFE MEMBER
Doors!
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Always a door photo when the opportunity arises!
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Oh what a night.....
As Storm Something swept through the region. Torrential rain from 21:00, ably assisted from 02:30 by a very strong, gusting gale. The van took a battering but survived the ordeal. Some of the wind gusts were epic. No sleep 'til Monsaraz....
As Storm Something swept through the region. Torrential rain from 21:00, ably assisted from 02:30 by a very strong, gusting gale. The van took a battering but survived the ordeal. Some of the wind gusts were epic. No sleep 'til Monsaraz....
I recognise those dogs are you trying the local beers on the way down!
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At every opportunity!
The same weather here in Dorset last night, epic rainfall and a very windy night, a lot of the site is flooded.
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Where did you see the dogs?
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