The CANTS go to Cantabria

---

We’re off again, this time revisiting our Honeymoon exactly 25 years ago.

Then we toured Paradors in Southern Spain, now we’re heading along the north coast from Bilboa to Santiago de Compostella - not quite the ancient pilgrims’ route (which went slightly further south), but along the Atlantic coast instead.

We flew from Southend (great) to Bilboa on Ryanair. What a joke outfit... we declined paying for allocated, seats, got random seats, 10 rows apart and I end up with loads of room down the back and a spare seat beside me. Oh well the flight was fine and on time....

We arrived in rain, hired a decent car and drove 1 hour in the rain to Limpias in time for late supper ..in the rain.

Paradors are a state owned and run chain of hotels throughout Spain, many in repurposed castles, palaces, convents etc...usually spectacular. Limpias was not a disappointment and we enjoyed a fine supper and a large comfortable room there.

Today, Monday, the weather bucked up and we headed westward, to Santillana del Mar, with a brief stop in Santander (unremarkable). Santillana, on the other hand, is wonderful: a medieval jewel of a town. Most of the buildings are in rough-hewn, honey coloured stone with dressed stone around the huge doors and tiny windows, terracotta pantiles and carved wooden balconies dark with varnish and age. A bit touristic but lovely ... and the sun came out as we explored on foot..see the pix! We’ve shopped (so what’s new?) - in Santillana Steve bought another leather man-bag, and I bought a gorgeous pair of long pendant earrings: beaten silver with rough turquoise stones.

Again the Parador is great and we’ve identified options in the town for dinner tonight.

---

Photos

Cathy enjoys a foie gras starter
Unusually, the foie gras was sprinkled with sugar and then flamed like a creme brûlée!

Comments

[Mara]

hola xx