Espaniola - A Smart Trip, for Smart People, in a Smart Car…

[geotim]

Thank you all for the good wishes, life is the adventure that you make it

Yes, the older Smart was less capable (we took a 600cc to Tuscany ), but as with bikes, it’s not always about the size it’s about what you do with them.

The soft top is just so much fun in good weather, so the temptation to take it is strong.

We manage to fit enough clothes and shoes etc, as it’s a hotel based holiday, so it’s not much different to packing for a flight based trip.


So today we have been enjoying a particularly smooth sail around the French coast and are scheduled to arrive in Santander tomorrow morning.

The ship is one of the newer ones, does exactly what it says on the tin and the staff are great. Prices reasonable, considering you’re a captive audience.

Spain and sunshine awaits tomorrow…

 

[geotim]

Spain, day 1.

An early arrival in Santander, 8:00am off the ferry and off to discover the coast.

We aimed for Suance, with a plan to break our fast and then take a walk along the coast to inspect the cliffs…

An abortive attempt at speaking Spanish, followed by some miming and a lot of confused looks from ‘Sonia’ our attentive waitress, and breakfast was delivered. Eggs, toast, salmon and avocado. Freshly squeezed orange juice and great coffee. Perfect.

A walk along the cliffs, lots of extremely interesting fossiliferous limestone, which weathers to give some spectacular rock forms.


Keys for scale, in the absence of a pencil…

After the breakfast wander we headed back in to Suance for coffees and then further along the coast to dip our toes in the water at Playa de Santa Justa.
A lovely little beach, with an interesting ‘hermitage’ built in the shelter of an antiformal structure. Smart builders, these religious types;



Notice how they’ve used the rock formations to form a protective ‘roof’?



A closer inspection revealed tension gashes filled with what I think is most probably carbonate material. Not following the axial plane, but obviously influenced by the folding;


We then headed for Comillas, for a late lunch. A very quaint harbour, with a basic, but serviceable restaurant serving fish and assorted delicacies from the sea. Just the thing to set us up for our onward travel.


A short drive to Santillana del Mar, where we gained access to our hostelry for the night:


The room is large enough to swing several large feline species, with a balcony worthy of a grand operatic performance.


On the terrace with a large (free) welcome drink, contemplating dinner.

A lovely end to an interesting day.

Tune in tomorrow for the great trek across the Picos, to Lerma.

 

[geotim]

Looking warm for our arrival in Lerma tomorrow afternoon…

 

[Arsey]

View attachment 433475

Looking warm for our arrival in Lerma tomorrow afternoon…

Bet the room will be cool. The walls are about five feet thick

 

[geotim]

Bet the room will be cool. The walls are about five feet thick

Delightfully so… we actually turned the aircon off last night.

And here is this mornings view from our terrace at Parador Gil Bas in Santilliana del Mar;



And a Spanish version of a ‘green’ roof

 

[Doc]

Delightfully so… we actually turned the aircon off last night.

And here is this mornings view from our terrace at Parador Gil Bas in Santilliana del Mar;

View attachment 433502

And a Spanish version of a ‘green’ roof

View attachment 433504

Nice ashtray. You and your lass still smoking the weed ?

 

[Arsey]

Delightfully so… we actually turned the aircon off last night.

And here is this mornings view from our terrace at Parador Gil Bas in Santilliana del Mar;

View attachment 433502

And a Spanish version of a ‘green’ roof

View attachment 433504

I meant in Lerma as it’s like a fortress

 

[geotim]

I meant in Lerma as it’s like a fortress

It certainly is!

 

[wessie]

It certainly is!

are there any waiting staff in the lounge? A pretty scarce thing when I was there a couple of years ago

 

[geotim]

Spain day 2.

A leisurely breakfast to start the day. Meat, cheese, eggs, fruit, some weird cake thing. All ‘specialities’ of the region. Apparently.



A long drive today, down to Lerma in the heat. We stopped off to see the spring which is the rising of the Ebro river. The Romans made some comment about it and there’s a small park there now. Obviously culturally significant for the Spanish, as the Ebro is a large river system here in the North.



We arrived in Lerma in time for a cooling beer in the Hotel, 36 degrees outside. The poor little Smartie had to cool herself down a bit when we turned off, but has coped admirably so far. Turned a few heads, especially when around town with the roof down



Time for a shower now and then out for dinner somewhere in the square.

Soria beckons tomorrow, with some interesting sights en route I hope.

 

[geotim]

are there any waiting staff in the lounge? A pretty scarce thing when I was there a couple of years ago

4…

Being an imposing type I collared a young chap as I arrived - they’re VERY good at walking across the room without making eye contact with anyone!

 

[geotim]

Galoria… I would recommend this place for dinner, very nice. And atmospheric.




Might need to call the bomberos!!!

The streets of the town are interesting, there is nothing better than wandering the ‘out of the way’ places.

This bench, set on a rather jaunty angle, is advertising the catholic savings bank… who knew?!?!



Some of the houses need a little tlc…

 

[Tinytim]

Enjoying this Tim. Keep it coming.

 

[Simon_100]

A lot of Soria needs some TLC. Interesting place. Are you going on to Teruel I wonder looking for Teruelite?

 

[Doc]

Nice report and pics Tim

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Cracking read, sir
An alternative viewpoint, which is refreshing

 

[jasp]

My friend and near neighbour sculpted that bronze of the divers, incredible artist. I have had the pleasure of making some bits for him, plinths, displays etc.
Really enjoying your trip report, thank you .....

 

[Redboots]

View attachment 433502

Doc needs one of those chairs.

 

[geotim]

A lot of Soria needs some TLC. Interesting place. Are you going on to Teruel I wonder looking for Teruelite?

Oooooo, I hadn’t planned to. But now that you’ve told me about teruelite…

I’ve worked in Dacia (dacite), the Nkomati area (Komatiite, Spinfex textures in Spinifex creek), the Atamcama (atacamite) the Lizard peninsular (lizardite) and visited a few other ‘type locations’. Always fun for a rock licker

 

[geotim]

Doc needs one of those chairs.

It would suit his sartorial elegance.

(I’m stick tickled that he takes a proper mug for his “brews with views” - that’s classy).