JULY 2015 : SPAIN : El Camino del Norte : Day 12 : Santander - Santillana del Mar (19 kms - 4 and a half hours with train)

Distance walked so far : 249 kms

Distance to go : 563 kms

        

          We are pleased with our efforts so far and you can see on the map that we have nearly

          achieved a third if the distance to Santiago.

           

           

               It was all road walking today, which is tiring on the feet and knees. But it was only 23o

               so pleasant conditions.

         

           We met Bob and Julie at a state of the art panderia for breakfast.

        

         The guidebook and several authorities told us to catch the train, near our pension, to Mogro.

          This avoids 9.3kms of boring scenery exiting the city and solves the problem of a river crossing.

         

            Crossing the river effortlessly, rather than walking kilometres on a circuitous route.

          

                 Lots of road walking through small towns.

         

               Mixed farming and industrial communities.

        

           Quite a few walkers today. Here we are just dispersing after trying to locate the correct path

           and a local woman yelled from her window and pointed in the right direction, moving us on.

        

          Much of the route was well marked.

         

            Industrial area around Requejada. Coal-powered electricity station.

      

         Up into the hills through small hamlets, wondering if we'd ever reach our destination, when...

        

          we came over a hill and miraculously, a medieval village appeared, Santillana del Mar.

         

           The cobbled streets were alive with tourists. It is a medieval 'in tact' town which thrived

            because of the wool and linen industries and was settled by the nobility. Jean-Paul Satre

            said it was the most beautiful village in Spain. Understandably one of the high points on this

            Camino route.

                                        

             

                                            Music to greet us.

           

               Refreshments welcome.

         

              Frieze on the 12th century of the Collegiate church.

                              

                              Tourist paraphernalia well camouflaged in the beautiful stone buildings.

           

   

        

           Jorge, our host, at the Albergue Solar de Hildagos.

       

          Our 6 bunk room with bathroom. (30 euros for two)

          

     

       2kms from Santillana del Mar is the Altamira cave, where one of the oldest cave paintings

      were found in the 19th century. Thought to be from 38,000 years old. We visited the museum

      and we're very impressed with the reproduction of the cave.

     

  The Gothic cloisters of the church. Unfortunately there was a funeral in session, with security

  guard at the door, so we were unable to visit the church proper.

   The scenes on the capitals around the cloister depict biblical scenes.

        

          Bodelquita del Mar for dinner. Delicious. With very attentive hosts.

          What a lovely town this is!

M&M