Visiting European Countries

Spain has hundreds of thousands of little beaches everywhere - once you drive away from the tourist areas, John.
All you need is a car to drive a little further away loaded with a cooler (ice is everywhere) and a couple of chairs or large beach towels and a large beach umbrella.
Don't forget one of these plastic containers for notes, coins and keys (they have a little "o" ring inside to keep things dry - they are sold everywhere in Spain. I still have mine from when I was there and I used to tie it to the string of my swimming trunks:

Yes did your Spain with first wife and our kids, current wifey and daughter haven't seen Spain, her sister has well Benidorm at least and a weekend in Barcelona.
I say when in Spain, go and do what the Spanish do, when in France do as the French do, see the real culture not fish chips and beer in the Sun!

Exactly! I never went near the Brits during the days, but had to mingle with everybody in the nights so I could walk back to wherever I was staying. I used to stay in the Spanish quarter(s) and chat with them in the early evenings.
If you are driving around, go to the poligono's which are the industrial estates just outside towns. If your Spanish is reasonable or you are not shy enough to try to chat with Spanish people, they sell the best value for money food and the "menu del dia" (menu of the day) is always good.

Also, visit a flamenco bar in Andalucia if you can - your wife will love the passion in the music and the dresses of the ladies when they twirl.
I am missing Spain right now.

The plan is 10 days down to the Mojacar area then hire a car for 10 days and travel out from Mojacar to different areas then a 10 climb back up to Calais

You are driving down to Madrid?

If we go to Madrid ( I am not a city lover) it will be on the way back up between Mojacar and the Somport tunnel in the Pyrenees.
Yes I am driving all the way route is Calais Millau viaduct Barcelona Mojacar Somport tunnel Lourdes Dordogne Calais I think it's about 2500 km if I remember it right from Google maps.

Many years ago I bought a brand new Renault 5 in a burgundy / claret / bordeaux colour. And during a month off work, drove it around the perimeter of France over a 3 week period with the ex wife and baby daughter. We left Calais, driving down the west coast, stopping along the way for a night or two, down to the south coast near the Spanish boarder at Perpignan, eastward along the south coast then up towards Switzerland staying in Switzerland for one night before finally driving back to Calais via a route bypassing Paris.

I very nearly lost the car as I naively parked it on the beach and couldn’t get it out of the sand with an incoming tide. A French gentleman kindly gave me a tow out, to my relief as I was expecting until then to lose the car....

There are some great places inland in Spain such as Granada. I had a couple of weeks in a place called Antequerra and it was vastly different to any holiday I had before.

3 months off for us yet on a flexi ticket all will be fine

I slept on the beach there for a few nights when I was hitch-hiking when I was around 17 years old.

The Prado Museum is amazing:
https://www.museodelprado.es/

I have driven from UK to the South of Spain many times, where I used to live.
Went through France first and then via Santander on the ferry which was better as driving through France as well was tiring .

For me, most places away from the coast are far better as Spanish people are much more friendly.
The touristy coastal towns have suffered from too many drunks and vice since the 60's.

Just tucked inside the Spanish French border is a must see museum. The Salvador Dali museum.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalí_Theatre_and_Museum

Bit of a coincidence with Rick Wakeman (who featured in the Vivaldi YouTube video in "For Dom") and Señor Dali:

When Rick Wakeman pushed Salvador Dali off the stage:
https://norselandsrock.com/when-rick-wakeman-pushed-salvador-dali-off-the-stage/
Oh those crazy rock stars

Oh those carefree days and nights when we felt invincible

This is a target area

Whooaaa. No travel to France for Brits from today.

Are you celebrating wolith the Whooaa comment?