This is the first offering I've made to this blogging site. We are motorhomers and have done a fair amount of travelling around Europe. Currently we are in Northern Spain having ventured further in than ever before for the first time. We try to go to places we haven't already been. Some of the best ideas we get on where to visit can be gleaned from meeting other motorhomers/caravanners. The first of which we visited just approx 20 miles west of Santander. Santilana Del Mar, known as the town of 3 lies. It doesn't have a saint, it's not flat and it's not by the sea. It is certainly up there with one of the most beautiful towns in Spain, and we've seen a few. Full of beautifully preserved and maintained in the original style, houses, buildings, church and including a Museum of Torture. This houses examples of the many ways humans have inflicted pain and torture on his fellow man. All exhibits include English translations and show those which apparently are still used in certain parts of the world today!
There is an Aire there where motorhomers can park either for the day €4 or overnight €10. We found it sufficient to do in a few hours. It is also on the Camino route and of course we saw many people arriving there from all over the world on their way to Santiago De Compostela.
Driving along the roads you can see there are lots of lovely beaches and small villages to visit, one of which was Luarca where we stopped to have a break given it was suggested as a good place to stop. It is by the sea and has very well signed parking, even for motorhomers, from which you can walk into the town. It's a town built into hills and an attractive square to enjoy a drink and or something to eat. Worth a visit.
Also worth a visit is Lugo, a very large city, but has the most complete circular Roman wall in the Roman Empire according to the guide books. Again there is a very adequate Aire for motorhomers where we stayed. A short walk through the park brings you to the main entrance gate where there is a very interesting and beautiful cathedral. The wall that has been protected and saved from ruin is well used by both locals and tourists alike to walk round (approx 2.4 kilometres). The local tourist information office has lots of information about the wall including very atmospherical films about the Roman history and from the towns perspective how they nearly demolished it. Thank goodness they didn't.
Tomorrow it's Santiago de Compostela........
