Te está esperando el sol español. The sunny south awaits: For the fourth time, 70 classic cars and their drivers cross two language borders. Alegría, vamos a Almería.
As soon as you land, you will spot a familiar brilliance: your trusty wheels glistening in the Spanish sun. They will take you straight to a paradise between two seas: the Mar Menor and the Mediterranean. Bienvenido a la Manga, Europe’s take on the Florida Keys. Never seen the Costa Cálida before? You have now.
This year we go uphill, to the foot of the Pyrenees, but that is still a long way off. First, we go to the Costa Blanca with its magical bays, beaches, rocks and impressive hinterland. Forget the Benidorm Bastards.
Many a song has been written about both cities, and you are more than welcome to hum along while driving. We keep the Costa del Azahar to our right and drive through woods, mountains and hinterland to Spain's fifth largest city. The city of my dreams. At least, that's what Flemish crooner Jimmy Frey sang.
Back to the coast again, because Barcelona, prime seaside resort and so much more, beckons in all its splendour. It will sweep you off your feet. Here, in Barcelona's port, you will blissfully sleep off the Priorat wine we tasted along the way.
With the Costa Brava on your right, you complete the Spanish loop. The peninsula's contours have revealed their beauty. In five days, you have visited five autonomous regions: Andalucía, Murcia, Comunidad Valenciana, Aragón and Cataluña. Your Spanish is fluent by now. Or not. It doesn't really matter. It is however time to brush up on your West-Flemish accent.
This is where the fourth stage of your Grand Tour ends. But the south holds many more secrets. What comes after France, Portugal and Spain? Discover it in 2021. 5 jours – un homme – sa bagnole – la gloire.