Saturday May 11th - El Turismo

Overnight the big news from home is that absolutely everybody got to see the Northern Lights. How long will it be before Rees-Mogg is punting this as a benefit of Brexit.

Our hosts have suggested a couple of spots to visit and we decide that today would be a good day to go. The morning is forecast to be sunny with a bit of rain coming in around lunchtime. Our first target is Santillana del Mar, about twenty minutes drive to the west.
Jean-Paul Sartre described this place as the most beautiful town in Spain, as all of you who have read his novel Nausea will no doubt recall. Less literary types, such as D, expect to be visiting a seaside resort but are disappointed. The sea is, and has been for some time, 3km away. Just when you think that you are getting to grips with the old Espanol.
There is a considerable old world charm to the place and traffic appears to be restricted to residents and Amazon Prime vans, so walking about is quite relaxing. 
We learn something today. Don't have coffee at a pavement table on sloping cobbles if you don't want to spill it.

From Santillana we head further west and then south on the eastern fringe of the Picos de Europa. We stop at a parking area for our packed lunch just as a thunderstorm rolls in with a spectacular light and sound show. And it rains a bit.
Our route threads a deep and winding limestone gorge which is being rebuilt for much of its length.
Many sections of the road have wire nets to catch rocks falling from above. 
At the summit there are views of snow capped peaks to the west and cows with bells much closer in.
Going forward we are on  an undulating plateau. The ornithologist is delighted to spot Red Kites and White Storks. The latter seem to have a fondness for nesting on bell towers.
We only get lost slightly a couple of times on the way home and enjoy noodles with prawns and chorizo for supper.
Yesterday's competition winner was AM. 
Well done! 

Comments

  1. chouxdle13 May 2024 at 03:34

    OH COME ON! I knew the singles singer. Was just taken aback you had heard of it :p
    Rumour has it, he is from my natibhs.

    Hells bells, that sure ain't no coo :(

    Dinner looks positively yummy.

    ReplyDelete

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