DAY FOURTEEN 29 OCTOBER TUESDAY PUENTE VISEGO CANTABRIA SPAIN AREA

As is to be expected a cool start to the day but it has every indication it will be mild later with partly sunny skies. Off for the buffet breakfast, that circuit in the Spa yesterday evening means we both have an appetite first thing this AM. We asked at the desk about the caves and were re directed to the information gal in the corner. The caves are closed on Monday and Tuesday during the off peak season (now). She told us of Comillas where Gaudi built a huge country house for the summer use of a wealthy client in the late 1880s called El Capricho. They call it a chalet!

So off we went to explore another part of Cantabria! Comillas is a very pretty summer destination on the coast. We stopped at a bar overlooking the harbor and beach. It was a gorgeous morning, sun and blue skies. Then we set off to try and get close to El Capricho. Bloody Garmin took us in ever decreasing circles! The most promising access was blocked by a bus from the Netherlands with a bunch of old people (ie us) blocking the road. They wouldn’t move, so we tried a different way but, no parking and a helluva lot of walking involved! OK for me but walking is not Paul’s forte! So back through town and WOW what is that? A parking space? Excitement ensues! Right next to a gift shop with all sorts of Cantabrian goodies! So, we buy a postcard of El Capricho and a bar of chocolate , flavor of blue cheese (I kid you not!) and asked about said summer chalet. Oh, says the lady in the shop, its been sold, to the Chinese! We stood aghast! What, we asked we cannot visit? Only the out side she replied. By this time we are so over the whole thing!

So off we toddled to the next town over, St Vicente de la Barquera , and realized that we had driven through here before . Nice town on a tidal river/ Estuary the tide was out and we decided to keep our luck going and headed toward Santander! We have visited here before and really like the city

We found  a 100 Montaditos for lunch and a walk above the sea. We watched a surf school class of 15 or so on the beach, unfortunately today there were NO waves to try their new skills. The Cantabrian sea was as smooth as glass. Now that is unusual!

Paul was delighted to find an Easy Gas station of the way out of town and the normal 95 without lead petrol normally running 1.359 euros was listed for 1.219 euros. Even their diesel at 1.139 versus 1.279 diesel meant that the volumes of cars were constant to reap the savings. Good deal!

It was an easy drive back to our village with time for a siesta. Then it was time to eat…again. So help me God! I am getting tired of eating! I will be as big as a house soon, however needs must, so off we walked across the bridge to a place we had eaten at last year. Fish soup and local veggie salad, before a solomillo steak. It was all very delicious including the mousse de limon and would hold us over until breakfast!

The countryside around here is just so beautiful and diverse , from green mountains with sheep and very pretty cows, all redheads, beautiful dramatic coastlines and little sandy beaches. Just lovely. Puente Viesgo is in a valley with steep hills all around and a river running through it along with mineral hot springs.! Sounds like the title of a movie, doesn’t it? Tomorrow I will visit the most important significant caves with prehistoric drawings in the world! At least that’s what they tell me.