Santander

 Hi All,

From Comillas we headed for the port city of Santander. It is the capital city of  Cantabria. We met several people that came across on the regular ferry service from the United Kingdom. It seems to be a major port although tourism is an important part of the city's economy since it has some nice beaches and a mild climate.

Arriving at our apartment ....

 

 

Santander is really hilly and so the government has installed escalators in many parts of the city. The date palms are abundant!

 

Built around 1910 the Magdalena Palace was a summer home for the privileged Spanish royal family. Its situated on a 69-acre peninsula at the entrance to the bay.

Also located on the peninsula is a small aquarium and three galleons of the Cantabrian mariner and scientist Vital Alsar Ramírez. Vital made several extremely long sailing expeditions around the world and is worth reading about.

In 1973 Las Balsas expedition used three rafts, and became the longest-known raft voyage in history. Some 9,000 miles from Ecuador to Australia! It is the only known multi-raft crossing of the Pacific to date.

 

 

 

 

Now that Ive got dinner ready, I'll end this....

 

We only could stay in Santander for just a few days because we couldn't find a place over the weekend. Like I said, it has beautiful beaches and a mild climate.

So we head out to a town called Potes near the National Park "Picos de Europa". I'll have a new blog on that coming soon.

Regards,

KnJ

 

Llanes and Comillas

 Moving from the Asturian mountains to the coastal city of Llanes famous for their seafood, cheese and cider.....

 

 Outside the cider house the sculptures show how the cider is "thrown" into the glass to add a touch of fizziness to the drink.

Here we're having a sampling of the cider, the famous Asturian bean stew and prawns from the Cantabrian sea.  Some of the best Spanish food so far but next time we'll have beer and wine!

One of many beaches on the camino del norte....

Moving out of Llanes...

 

Moving on to Comillas Cantabria....

Views from our Hotel in Comillas....

Near our hotel we visit the spectacular Capricho de Gaudi!

El Capricho is a villa designed by Antoni Gaudí. It was built in 1883–1885 for the summer use of a wealthy client, Máximo Díaz de Quijano who died a year before the house was completed.

 

 The detail of the home is incredible. Here you can see the stained glass windows that show (amongst other things) a dragonfly playing guitar, a blackbird playing piano, & butterflies flying in the blue circles.

Mr. Gaudi and I contemplating the future of the world....

 

The house is covered in these custom made sunflower and leaf tiles. A true work of art by the master Antonio Gaudi. In 1977, the last descendant of the López-Díaz de Quijano family sold the property and it was restored and turned into a restaurant in 1988. Finally, in 2009, the building became a museum.

 

Not only does Comillas have the Capricho, but also other architectural charms such as the Capilla Panteón de Sobrellano. This chapel was constructed in 1878.

 

 

 

And also the extravagant Palace of Sobrellano. Note that Gaudi assisted architect Joan Martorell in the design of this palace

 

 

 

Comillas was a special stop for us in many way. Seeing some of Gaudi works outside Catalonia and also taking a cold swim in the Cantabrian sea made this destination one of a kind.

See you on the next post.

 

Cangas de Onis

 Que tal Amigos?!

Finally have another blog for your eyes to feast on.....

On this leg of the journey we head out of  the strikingly beautiful city of Oviedo and take the Feve train (a 1 meter gauge train line) to Cangas de Onis.

 

 

 

 

 

Cangas de Onís was the capital of the Kingdom of Asturias until 774. Its interesting that King Pelayo made this town the capital of Asturias as he initiated the "Reconquest" against the Moors....Here's the sculpture of him in the centre of town....

 

 

 

Our first apartment in Cangas 

 

 

 Our Second apartment in Cangas

  

Our third place in Cangas!! Why three apartments? We just had a hard time leaving.

 

 

What do we do here in Spain everyday...well without unlimited funds for eating at restaurants, we find ourselves grocery shopping and cooking a lot. Almost daily we make picnic lunches and hike off to some forest or park...like this....

 

 

It's the season for chestnut trees in the forest! They're dropping nuts, so we've been collecting and roasting them.  They can be a challenge to peal but hey, who doesn't love roasted chestnuts!

       

A short bus ride from Cangas de Onis are the glacial Lakes of Covadonga national park. The park is spectacular. We spent the whole day hiking....

KT and his new hut....

Also nearby is the historic town of Covadonga where the first battle of the Reconquista took place i 718. This was the first battle won by the Christians over the Moors. In this mountainous region, there are two rivers that converge and so there is water everywhere. 

Basilica of Saint Mary 

There's an incredible waterfall that spews out beneath the chapel and the tomb of Pelaya (Pelagious of Asturias)....Can you find KT??

On another hike we come across another hórreo, these are basically storage sheds for grain. Most are very old and protected. Built in wood or stone, raised from the ground on pillars which support flat staddle stones. These stones keep rodents out by providing a horizontal ledge, making it almost impossible for them to climb up and into the hay or grain stored above. Fascinating ancient design!

 See you all on the next post.....

KnJ