Four Weeks in Spain's Northern Coast During February and March 2007

Spain's Northern Coast

The Tour de Basque welcomed back to Spain as we pulled off the side of the road to watch them go by. It was rainy but we were expecting a bit of that along the Atlantic in the winter. The pay-off is incredibly green breathtakingly beautiful scenery. Our first night was in Santillana, another wonderfully medieval pedestrian village loaded with charm and character. We had a great night in the Casa del Organista with a delightful room and view in this boutique hotel. We made our way the next day to the Altamira Cave Center reconstruction, which was very interesting and well worth the visit, although not the same as seeing the real caves in France. We worked our way along the coast in a very pleasant day trip, seeing some early works of Gaudi, in his hometown of Comillis."_blank">Gaudí: EL CAPRICHO

We spent the rest of the week in the Picos de Europa National Park. Spectacular scenery. First we treated ourselves to a bed and breakfast with our breakfasts and dinners taken there. We took day trips at that end of the park including a day of hiking that was along one of the most popular trails in Spain. We traveled around the park to the south and spent another few days deep in the interior on the east side. Very different scenery but just as imposing. The weather was pleasant enough for hiking and experiencing the park. We then made our way east through the Rioja Wine Region to our next apartment in Lakuntza.

Lakuntza is close to Bilbao and Pamplona as well as an easy drive to San Sebastian, Rioja, and many hiking trails. It was a good location for the week but we did not have the best of weather. Plus we were a bit tired of traveling and had lost a bit of the luster. The apartment was akin to being in an IKEA showroom - really comfortably done up. We did however have good day trips to each of the above-mentioned areas - following a bit in Hemingway's footsteps. We left a copy of "The Sun Also Rises" for the next English speaking visitors to enjoy.

Our final week had us on the road again to a variety of places including several days in Zaragoza. They were preparing for the World's Fair that coming summer so we saw the construction area and several of the pavilions. Exciting. A good town with lots of energy - good restaurants - and a huge plaza, which it turns out, is over a parking garage. A young man befriended us who was recently there from the USA and wanting to share his experiences.

Another highlight of the final week was the Monistario de Piedra, where chocolate was brought from the Americas and cultivated here. But what made the day enjoyable were the extensive "natural" gardens the monks created. We were not expecting to spend the entire day there but enjoyed the different water features. It was a prefect tranquil day and we were in the right place to appreciate it. We touched down in so many villages in this route that it is hard to differentiate but we were left with a good solid feeling of the Spanish people, culture and of course, the incredible food. We will look forward to our return!

buildingHighlight Trip Photo
Spain's Northern coast on the Atlantic Ocean was an incredible surprise. This view of the coast just East of San Vicente de la Barquera shows the green landscape set off the blue waters of the Northern Atlantic.
L'Escala Area Images - Click on an image to view large version

Tour de Basque Bicycle Race near Comillas

Pam enjoying hiking the trail to Cain - Picos de Europa NP

Henry on the trail to Cain - Picos de Europa NP

Pam on the trail to Cain - Picos de Europa NP

Our hiking Goat companion - Picos de Europa NP

Pam soaking in the sun - Picos de Europa NP

Henry checking out the view - Picos de Europa NP

Our little village - Picos de Europa

Marques del Riscal Winery by Frank Gehry

Our Renault Clio at Parque Natural Bardenas Reales

Henry at Parque Natural Bardenas Reales

Palacio Aljafería - Zaragoza

Henry at Parque de Piedras

Palau de la Musica - Barcelona

Palau de la Musica - Barcelona

Pam savoring Barcelona sunshine on final afternoon before flying back to USA

Schedule

Itinerary Highlights.

Fun things to do.

2006 - 2007 SPAIN - FRANCE SCHEDULE
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
18 February 19 20 21 22 23 24
Visit St Emilion, scenic drive south of Dordogne

Montcaret, Bordeaux, Fr

La Vigne

Visit Cadillac, scenic drive

Toulouse Lautrec Château

Montcaret, Bordeaux, Fr

La Vigne

Relax, walk, hot tub

Montcaret, Bordeaux, Fr

La Vigne

St Foy la Grande, Gallo-Romain de Montcarret

Montcaret, Bordeaux, Fr

La Vigne

Scenic Drive with Lunch in St. Emilion & Hot Tub

Montcaret, Bordeaux, Fr

La Vigne

Scenic vineyard drive

Bergerac Tobacco Museum

Montcaret, Bordeaux, Fr

La Vigne

Walk around Biarritz & Saint-Jean-de-Luz

Tour Bilbao Airport

Santillana, Spain

Casa del Organista

25 26 27 28 1 March 2007 2 3
Altamira Cave Center

Drive to Comillas & San Vicente de la Barquera

Santillana, Spain

Casa del Organista

Drive to Panes

Picos de Europa

Hike Poncebos-Cain Trail

Cangas de Onis, Spain

Hotel Aultre Naray

Picos de Europa

Hike around Lago De la Ercina

Cangas de Onis, Sapin

Hotel Aultre Naray

Picos de Europa

Hike Poncebos-Cain Trail

Espinama, Spain

Nevandi Hostal Apartamentos

Picos de Europa

Fuente De

Hike Espinama Trail

Espinama, Spain

Nevandi Hostal Apartamento

Picos de Europa

Hike around Fuente De

Hike Pido Trail

Espinama, Spain

Nevandi Hostal Apartamentos

Picos de Tres Mars

Fuente de Rio Ebro

Reinosa & Ebro Reservoir

Lakuntza, Spain

Apartmento Aralarpe

4 March 2007 5 6 7 8 9 10
Drive to Sierra Aralar

Lakuntza, Spain

Apartmento Aralarpe

Day Trip to San Sebastian

Lakuntza, Spain

Apartmento Aralarpe

La Hechicera Dolman

La Hoja Bronze Age Village

Marques de Riscal, Elciego - Frank Gehry

Lakuntza, Spain

Apartmento Aralarpe

Trip Planning - Rain Day

Lakuntza, Spain

Apartmento Aralarpe

Tour Pamplona in the Rain

Lakuntza, Spain

Apartmento Aralarpe

Trip Planning - Rain Day

Lakuntza, Spain

Apartmento Aralarpe

Parque Natural Bardenas Reales

Zaragoza, Spain

Hotel Husa Via Romana

11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Tour Zaragoza:

Visit Palacio Aljafería

Basílica Señora del Pilar

Zaragoza, Spain

Hotel Husa Via Romana

Ciudad Celtibera

Bilbilis Roman Ruins

Monistario de Piedra

Calatayud, Spain

Meson de la Dolores

Murero Fossil Beds

Tour Daroca

Tour Teruel

Teruel, Spain

Hostal Aragon

Visit Albarracín

Tour Cantavieja

Hike around Pitarque

Villarluengo, Spain

Hostal de la Trucha

Open Open Barcelona, Spain

Tryp Barcelona Aeropuerto Hotel

18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Drop-off Renault

Barcelona, Spain

Tryp Barcelona Aeropuerto Hotel

British Airways

Barcelona - Heathrow

Flight #: BA0477

Dep: Mon 19/3/2007 07:35

Arr: Mon 19/3/2007 09:00

Duration: 2hrs 25mins

Heathrow - Denver

Flight #: BA0219

Dep: Mon 19/3/2007 13:35

Duration: 9hrs 40mins

Back Home in Denver, Colorado

Happy Travels,

Pam and Henry