[ds968]

So we postponed what would have been our early-mid April vacation to Spain until late April to early May ( we're leaving next Monday ) and changed reservations, etc with the only reason for doing so being the Paso Robles 968 meet. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> Not surprisingly <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/dry.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> the last two weeks' climate in most of Spain has been extraordinarily pleasant - sunny, and low 80s F.. Now as I look at the forecast for our arrival, and what may be at least the entire first week we'll be there, the prediction

points to RAIN and a cool mid-60s F. Not that we care about the cooler weather, but F'ing RAIN ?! Now my wife is PO'd about having convinced me that we should indeed move the vacation, so I can attend Paso. Arrrrghhhhh.. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/mad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/mad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[94SilverCab]

If it's any consolation, we did not see highs above 70 degrees when we were in California. Last week LA saw 90 degrees...



Still, it was great to be in Paso Robles and to see all of you fine folks.



I'm back in the thick of thigs here, but have some great pics to post.



Jay

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[ds968]

Well, I can only keep my fingers crossed and hope that what the weather channels call "rain" means very light, intermittent sprinkles, and not the worse kind of rain, or a change in currents and weather patterns happens between now and then moving that rain elsewhere, or to a different timeline, or that the forecasts are just way off given it's still early to predict with certainty, though with the accuracy of the doppler radars nowadays, I'm afraid I'm hoping against hope.. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/dry.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



I tried to PM both our own "madridcab" and "jc" ( to see if local, long term forecasts are consistent with these global websites or not )

but for some reason PM-ing does not work right now.



Anyway, if one of our Spain 968 owners happens to read this thread - the regions / timelines where weather is relevant to this trip are - Barcelona 26th trough 29, Seville, Malaga, Marbella, Granada, 30th to 6th, then Madrid & Toledo. etc until the 9th.. and then back home.



thx <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/cool.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[ebarone968]

Think positive and forget about what the weather forecasters have to say. They are generally off the mark. Enjoy your trip. I am sure it will be great ! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[ds968]

Thanks and yes, rain or shine it'll still be enjoyable...just an impact in the different levels of the enjoyment factor.. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[rxter]

And ply your lovely wife with Spanish wine. That will make a dash through the rain to the cafe enjoyable, no?

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[JWahlsten]

Where you headed in Spain? I've spent a lot of time in the Rota/Sevilla areas, and loved it there. I liked Madrid too. I would love to go to Palma de Mallorca (sp?).



Much to do, rain or not.

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[ds968]

Joel,



Barcelona 26th trough 29, Seville, Malaga, Marbella, Granada, 30th to 6th, then Madrid & Toledo.







Yup, tapas and red wine ( but beer or white wine for the wife - red wine triggers migranes for some reason ) will surely certainly lift any dampened spirits caused by rain. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[ebarone968]

Sounds like a great trip. Post some pics when you get back. I would love to do a trip to Spain some day. How bad is the dollar there now ?



I generally thought that white wine causes more headaches than red wine. especially the sweeter ones....

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[ds968]

I think it's about 1.44 US dollars to one Euro. Slightly better than 2 months ago, but still pretty bad. So I expect the trip cost after all is added up, will be roughly equivalent to the market value of a perfect condition 968 coupe ( LOL, I benchmark everything nowadays by that standard... vacations, house remodeling projects, various other major purchases, year-end tax balances, <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> )

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[JWahlsten]

I like the way you think. It will certainly be a great trip. Enjoy.

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[StephenHallman]

Just think of it as getting the real Spain experience. I'm pretty sure since it rains quite a bit there.

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[94SilverCab]

Dan,



If you are going to Marbella, you must make time to see Gibralter, its more British than London. Also, take a drive to Ronda. They shoot a lot of the Eurpoean Car commercials there, very scenic!. It also has the oldest bull fighting ring in Spain.



Regards,



Jay

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[JWahlsten]

If you go to Gibralter, watch the monkeys. Those things are nasty...

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[ds968]

The Rock is not on the master plan, so the monkeys will just have to do without me.. then again who knows where and how we may shift plans depending on the weather, although right now my wife has just about every day scheduled in 30 minutes segments ( sheesh, she must be related to Flash <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> ) so tough to escape from the itinerary. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/dry.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[bva]

who cares about rain if you're spending all night in the foam parties and disco raves in malaga and torremolinos...daytime is for sleep

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[ds968]

Yeah, that's it - the parties in Ibiza don't really start, or are pretty tame until I show up . <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



As it turns out, I sacrificed a few chickens to the Weather Gods ( well, technically I made some scrambled eggs..so what I sacrificed are "would-be" chickens.. btw, don't you guys use this a basis to turn this thread into an abortion debate and deliberate when an egg is really a ckicken <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/tongue.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> ..) and according to the latest forecasts it does appear the "rain" is now expected to subside into a mix of intermittent showers and sun during many of the days we'll be there, so looking more and more encouraging..



And if indeed the weather is nice, I hereby promise not to: 1) ask the concierge at our hotel in Seville if he can recommend a good barber in town , 2) ask anyone in Alhambra if their bottled water is better than the tap water, 3) ask for directions in Toledo re which is the best route to Cleveland, 4) exclaim " this is really gaudy" , while in Barcelona... well, you get the idea.. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[ebarone968]

"and according to the latest forecasts it does appear the "rain" is now expected to subside into a mix of intermittent showers and sun during many of the days we'll be there"



I told you ! Think positive <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> weather forecasting really is not a science. Have a great trip !

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[ds968]

Back, and finally recovered from jetlag. All I can say is this: I LOOOVED Spain , it was a perfect vacation. And the weather cooperated after all; out of 15 days we had no more than about two half-days of some passing showers and that's about it. Wooo-hoo.

The ONLY downsides: no 968 sightings while there <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> , and we rented an Audi A4 diesel, which was a slug; but even as slow as that was, at a mere 100 km/hr ( which is usually the speed I reach even before leave my driveway <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> ) we were still turning every other car on the highway into lampposts. People drive waaaay too slow in Spain - what's up with that ?! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/unsure.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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