Thu 21st Sep – Day 22 - Tour Day 6 - Picturesque Santillana del Mar and on to Santander

7.00am: Breakfast opens
7.30am: Bags out

8.30am: Depart for Covadonga, Cangas de Onia, Santillana del Mar and Santander 

Thursday Sept 21

I woke with the alarm, showered, washed my hair and it took ages to dry with the luke warm hair dryer, that never got hot. At least it did get dried.

A small breakfast spread. I just had a cold slice of tortilla, some cheese, ham and assorted sliced fresh fruit. No coffee, just OJ today.

A wet morning and we got away almost on time. We have one couple who are almost always the last on board. 

Took a few photos along the way.

We arrived at Covadinga cave area around 10:00 am and left there at 10:35am.

We were dropped off at Cangas de Onis around 11am.

A walk up the Main street to take a photo or 2 of the “Roman Bridge”, which isn’t Roman. I checked out a supermarket, looking for a snack but couldn’t see anything that appealed to me. Took some photos at their Plaza Mayor. Will have to do some research on those photos. 

Old Asturian with toquilla

Sebastián Miranda (Oviedo, Asturias, 1885 – Madrid, 1975)

TITLE: Old Asturian with toquilla, ca. 1930-1933?

LOCATION: Plaza de la Iglesia, Cangas de Onís, Asturias

MATERIAL: Bronze

OPENED: 2002

OTHER INFORMATION:

Modern copy made after the death of the artist, it is again an enlarged reproduction of the original, donated to the city of Cangas de Onís by D. Juan G. Quirós Corujo.

The bronze plaque on the front of the pedestal reads: "VIEJA ASTURIANA / AUTHOR: SEBASTIAN MIRANDA / DONATED TO THE CITY OF / CANGAS DE ONIS BY / D. JUAN G. QUIROS CORUJO / YEAR 2002"

Statue of Don Pelayo, victor of battle at Covadonga and first King of Asturias

Church of Our Lady of the Assumption of St. Mary

We were all picked up at midday and continued on our way to Santillana del Mar. 

We arrived there around 1ish and don’t have to be back at the bus until 3:45pm. 

I walked all the way up one of the main (tourist) streets until I arrived at a church.

Quite a few “pilgrims” here on their way to Santiago del Compostela. Took a couple of photos and then headed back the way I came but cut across to the other main street. I did check the prices of a couple of restaurants but a bit pricey and one that I did enter, didn’t have a seat for a single, so they missed out.

I ended up going to the cafe/restaurant near the bus park and had a HUGE (couldn’t finish it) salad with tuna, hard boiled eggs etc plus 2 glasses of white wine, all for 14 euro. The wine was 2 euro or approx $3.00 a glass and very drinkable. 

We were all back at the coach by 3:45pm and on our way to our hotel in Santander.

Eurostars Hotel Real 

View from my room

I caught up with the sisters Heather and Lorna from Victoria and had a drink with them.  After they left, Barry & Pieta joined me, while they had a light meal. I was still full from my late lunch, so didn't have any dinner.

Finally decided at 9:30 that it was time for bed, so have returned to my room and will be heading for bed once I publish this.

Night all