Silken Rio Santander

Twas a rough old night as we free camped (including a wonderful fish barbecue) on Oyambre beach, and it soon became apparent that our surf boards were non too happy perched a-top the van roof; this to the extent that they attempted to become detached at around 5am ...

A very pretty (cobbled alleyways, olde worlde stylee, cows in a field with not only udders, but also tuneful bells which, when youºve got a dozen, made quite a din a la Mike Oldfield) little town, unlike the campsite which was essentially a sodden piece of grass, for which we were charged Euro 22, for the pleasure of a night's shut-eye.

Leaving San Sebastian behind we drove to Santander to spend the night. With nothing more then the car, no place to stay and no plan. As luck turns out we found a cheap Pension to stay at, and ate in their quaint little restaurant, treated to warm hospitality, good food, and free Grappa and Lemonchelo

... came up, and the controversy over the additional expense to have Calatrava design it, rather than a less famous architect. Clara and Sara made it sound like this was a very common debate that happens any time Calatrava designs anything. Truth be told, I'm all for Calatrava designing that bridge, simply for the fact that he'll probably end up importing a number of female Spanish employees to Calgary to complete the project. I will shed unlimited ...

... quickly, hovering, dissipating, then coalescing once more. It was like watching a fluid Rorschack inkblot test, and proved to be very entertaining for quite some time. Think of the Gnarls Barkley video "Crazy", and you'll have a rough idea of what it was like. Interestingly, the only things I could make out in the clouds were Spanish senoritas and French pastries. Says a lot about my personality and priorities in life, don't you think?
Santander, Cantabria, Spain and Canary Islands pwong

... the summer studying Spanish, and were living in Burgos. At the time, I remember thinking how great an experience like that would have been, to be able to do that during the university years. So that's why I visited Burgos - not much of a reason, but I've never needed much of an excuse to stop in any Spanish town.

On the bus - I finished off the honey-roasted nuts I picked up yesterday (******, by the way), and took a nap. The ride to ...

... women with slightly less in the
pneumatic chest department. This really is the 21st
Century you know! At least I think that by employing the marketeers
from Brittany Ferries they would maybe have called the festival
Tractores y Chocolate y Tetas or some such giving some clue to the
actual content, I mean anyone hoping for a bar of chocolate or a ride
on a tractor would be sadly disappointed.
Anyhow, things ridiculous aren't
confined to ...

... br>

Things got better on arrival into Santander as the rain i feared would be waiting for me on arrival had thankfully been replaced by mostly clear and sunny skies. With a Brittney Ferries fry up in my belly and a spring in my step i disembarked and pedeled my way through the maze that is Santander. After about an hour i broke free from the shakles of the city onto the open road ...

... the other end of the monument cattle and goats were in a line with thier owners behind a man on a horse. This man was the leader of the rebellion. His horse was in midair jumping towars the farthest statue of the monument. The leader's arms were raised with those sticks towards the last statue, which was the arch-bishop of Spain. Apparently this arch-bishop had not been keeping his promises to the people of Santander, which is why his hand holds a long handled axe instead of the ...

... Catholic icons everywhere - very Spanish. Kandie and I went for a wander around Santander, which at this time of day (around 2.30pm) was deserted, everyone of course being off on their siesta. It is quite an interesting town, moreso in appearance than in attractions, with lots of narrow streets with struggling ramshackle shops on either side, unsmiling people scurrying around and, of course ...