We landed on French Brittany Ferry at super Santander.
SANTANDER CITY
Santander clifftop drive, jogging path and cycle track. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
I loved Santander's hilltop drive. The nearest UK seaside city I could compare it to would be Bournemouth. Elegant. Little sailing boats, as well as big ships in the port. Walks down by the sea or up on the cliff. Running and cycling alongside the trees along the clifftop.
We drove downhill to the huge palatial Casino and stopped for breakfast in the grand hotel opposite.
The Cathedral was tiny, at the back of an uphill square. But we found a reasonably priced underground car park sandwiched between the cathedral and the modern museum of art.
The cathedral was tiny.
Hotels in Spain
Post 1
Santander, the sweet Seaside city of Santander
Santander Hotel
Grande Hotel is on the seafront. Right where the action is.
BILBAO
Bilbao: Big, Busy and Bustling
Hotel Bilder boutique hotel. Bilder means picture. It has some pictures of old times. The ground floor restaurant, door beside reception serves Tapas in the evening and full meals at the restaurant at the back where you have breakfast.
The car park is a short drive away. You are lucky if you get a parking spot nearby to unload or load.
What's good? Location, location.
We walked across the bridge to the railway station known for its indoor stained glass mural.
We stopped at two wine shops to stock up on Spanish wine which is cheaper and in some cases not by exported to the UK. Ruiz, a family business, has a collection of mugs, like toby jugs in British pubs, around the top shelf.
A larger wine shop, El Rincon del Vino, has a tasting room at the back but apparently nothing happening for the public until September.
Next day we drove out via the Guggenheim museum, an awkward looking building. Love it or hate it. Some people loved the building but were not keen on the artwork inside. I was the reverse. We stayed at a hotel opposite on my last visit.
My impression of Bilbao. Big, busy, bustling. Crowded.
Hotel Bilder Boutique
Least Liked
At first I didn't like the black tiny lobby.
Best, Most Liked
But the adjacent restaurant for dinner and breakfast was convenient. The location was fabulous.
Parking Tip
Parking in a nearby car park, mean first unloading and later loading up suitcases on leaving on the bay outside. However, the police made us move from what we later realised was a spot for the handicapped, to another slightly further spot which became free.
PARADOR FUENT DE
The paradors were founded decades ago to restore or renovate old, historic buildings and encourage tourism to the regions. Hotels have antique furniture and regional food.
Parador Fuente De in the Picos de Europa
Expect a long winding drive, with road works. Soaring peaks.
The parador is the end of the drive, beside the cable car to the rocky hilltop.
Least Favourite
Queue for cable car tickets. Cable car cancelled in bad weather - sudden mist.
Most Liked, Loved
Almond tart/cake for breakfast.
Good shop beside the cable car where I bought a rucksack. Upper floor lounge with a view.
Cows with a cowbell in the slope behind.
Best - most favourite parts of this hotel stay.
Balcony with two chairs. Bidet. Fridge. Cows with a bell.
*************
We spend another four days seeing Porto in Portugal and the wine museums.
Hotels in Portugal (Post 2)
Wow Museum, Gaia on the southern side of Porto, the left bank. Hillside museums. Hilltop view. If elderly, look for the indoor lift.
Douro Museum.
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