Spain in Fall 2024
We arrived in Bilbao where we overcame our jet lagged and walked around this cool small town.
After riding with BasqueMTB for a week we rented a Leon from Eurocar for about $450.00 for 10 days! From San Sebastian we stayed close to the coast to visit beach towns.
Our first night was at Santillana del Mar – is a historic town in Cantabria that’s maintained its Medieval nature. While not busy in October we could see it could be. It is also part of the Northern Camino de Santiago route.
From there we stayed at the small town of Las Arenas de Cantabria. We stayed at Hotel Los Angeles and hiked Ruta de Cares, Texu Trail. We also drove to the larger town of Potes where more hikes are accessed from.
From there we drove and stopped in the towns of Llanes, Ribadesella, and Gijon. We stayed at Hotel Rural Alavera east of Gijon as it was a holiday and there weren’t a lot of options. This was a quiet nice hotel. Glad we had to stay here.
From here we continued our drive and check out the towns of Ortegal, Xove, Ribadeo. We drove to most Northern Tip of Spain – Faro Da Estaca. Stayed at Refugio o Castro to visit Playa de Catedrais.
After this we drove to the modern city of La Coruna, the historic city of Santiago De Compostela, and the most western coastal city Fisterra. We stayed at Playa Langosteira for one of two nights in Fisterra, but then moved to nicer, quieter Hotel Tematico Do Banco Azul which was right in town and on the water.
Bilbao
Bilbao was originally an industrial town with heavy industry along the river. There was a crash in the 1980’s when industry crashed and Bilbao reinvented itself as a service economy with the opening of the Guggenheim Museum. Bilbao is an easy walking city with lots of see and many Tapas bars to eat at. Worth a visit for sure!
Hotel Conde Duque
Walking street from the hotel to the Old Town
Famous bridge
Central traffic circle on the way to the Guggenheim
The Puppy in Spring. It takes 10 workers, 5 days to remove and replant the flower each Spring and Fall.
Puppy in Fall.
The Mother at the Guggenheim
Lower floor exhibit of Iron rings – cool walking experience.
Exhibit of lights at the Guggenheim
Tulips and Andy Warhol
Seasonal exhibit of Stages of life by Hilma af Klint
San Sebastian – what can you say about San Sebastian! Cool town, lots of food. Also very walkable. We also did a Hike with Carlos in at Lusarbe-Kukuarri.
Our Hotel – Guest House Ibaia Et Arramak – nice and quiet.
Old Town
Lots of Pastries for Lee!
Craft Beer for me!
A hike with Carlos
Along the Camino de Santiago
North Spain Drive
The coast is very beautiful and well worth spending some time along. Stop by any seaside town for good food and a beach walk.
A night at Santallana Del Mar – a town that’s kept its Medieval looks for tourism.
Lunch at a beach town
Santa Llana del Mar
View from our hotel – Posada La Solana
Playa De Pechon
Playa De Amio
We then went to Picos De Europa and stayed at Las Areneas de Cabrales in the municipality of Asturias. We stayed at the Hotel Las Angelas.
For the hikes we did in this area click HERE.
Sidreria’s are the local restaurants for drinking cider and eating MEAT dishes. Asturias would not be a good place to be a vegetarian.
After Picos De Europa we continued our drive on the minor streets through Asturias to Llanas where we walked along the sea wall.
View of Picos de Europa as we drove back to the coast.
Town of Llanes
Beach at Llanes
Then Lee had to see Playa de Poo
Another Beach
Since we were here on a Holiday Friday there were not a lot of places to stay in the major towns. We found a great hotel – Hotel Rural Alavera and ate in the town of Tazones
for dinner. We had Mariscos de Arroz at Restaurante Mar-Bella
We then went to the city of Gijon, the beach was lined with high rises and the old town at it was a great place to walk around.
Beach along city – very nice.
Walking Street
Another drive now through Galecia we saw the hills dotted with Windmills. Wind energy supplies much of the electricity to this area.
We then went to the most Northern point of Spain – O Vicedo – which has a lighthouse, abandoned US Military building and a bird research station.
We then stayed at Refugio o Castro to check out Playa De Catedrales
More photos of Playa De Las Catedrales are HERE
View from Refugio
We then continued our drive West and stayed in the town of Fisterra
View from our hotel – Hotel Tematico Do Banco Azul
Start of the northern point for Camino de Santiago
Another Random Beach
Galecian Graneries
Cool cemetary in Muxia
Drive to Campostella de Santiago cause why not.
