FUN-travel: Northern Spain – Santiago de Compostela to Salamanca, Spain
July 24, 2012 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Northern Spain – Santiago de Compostela to Salamanca, Spain
Day 13 – Sunday, July 22 – Santiago de Compostela to Salamanca, Spain
Salamanca Cathedral
What I LIKE
Plaza Mayor
- another beautiful sunny day
- turns out this Parador is 5 ***** and the “best address in Santiago”
- get map & directions out of town from reception
- get to Salamanca @ 3:30
- nice warm breeze blowing
- this Parador is new & sits high on the hill with stunning views of the cathedral & old town
- town is only half mile away
- nice walk to get there
- 4 pm happy hour @outdoor cafe
- 5 pm have snack of salad & lentils – yummy! & wine of course!
- cathedral & churches look splendid lit up @ night
- download new software update for Garmin
- sit outside sipping nice wine from Duero region before bedtime
Hanging Ham
What I DON’T LIKE
View From Parador
- GPS keeps freezing up
- seeing more & more graffiti
- still have to stop & ask how to get to Parador because streets have no signs
- no TP twice today & had tissues in car
FF (FUN-fact) – Driving across the middle region of Spain looks a lot like Arizona and El Centro. Dry grass and barren hills with small farms sprinkled across the landscape. Lots of sun flowers too.
FUN-travel: Northern Spain – Santiago de Compostela, Spain
July 23, 2012 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Northern Spain – Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Day 12 – Saturday, July 21 – Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Cathedral
What I LIKE
Altar
- wake up to more sunny skies
- really, really hot coffee finally!
- bigger breakfast spread than yesterday
- 11 am stroll through streets to market
- several blocks long & wide – vendors selling everything
- lady cooking & serving up plates of fresh caught octopus with olive oil, salt & pepper
- cathedral having special service – have to wait until 1:15 to get in
- 2:00 decadent splurge!
- Case Marcelo lunch – Michelin star restaurant – 9 course meal – always wanted to do this!
- eat things I’ve never eaten before like fresh sardines – (too fishy for me)
- mostly fish & small portions – 2 are desserts – finish 4:30
- take a siesta
- 8 pm head out to wander the streets
- 1st stop – wine & tapas @ locals place – Cotolay
- 2nd stop – back to O Biero Vinoteca for more great wine
- wines from Duero vs Rioja region
- printing out google directions for tomorrow on hotel computer
One of Four Courtyards Inside Our Parador
What I DON’T LIKE
- way too much food at lunch!
- beggars @ church working the crowd
FF (FUN-fact) – Santiago wins the gold medal for a UNESCO site that is really cute, easy to get around, & FUN in our Travel Olympics. Plus the weather is typically very rainy here and we’ve had warm sunshine!
FUN-travel: Northern Spain – Cangas de Onis to Santiago de Compostela, Spain
July 21, 2012 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Northern Spain – Cangas de Onis to Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Day 11 – Friday, July 20 – Cangas de Onis to Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Parador
What I LIKE
Church of San Francisco
- coffee is strong & hot – best ever
- nicest breakfast spread
- beautiful scenic drive through Picos de Europa
- Spain is very clean
- Parador in Santiago is right on the plaza with the cathedral and most spectacular so far!
- beautiful blue skies & warm
- head out to old town – cute, cute, cute!
- 6 pm Happy Hour
- found my purse – not stolen!
- stroll thru narrow streets
- dinner @ 8 – mussels, scallops, sardines & wine
- O Beiro Vinoteca – nice wine selection
- room is pitch black – great for sleeping
What I DON’T LIKE
- 10:30 raining outside
- 11:30 depart for Santiago & parador name on reservation is different than GPS
- mountains shrouded in fog
- Ford rental seats not very comfortable for 4 hr drive
- can’t use Ipod & GPS at same timeada – car only has one plug
- GPS freezes 20 miles out of town – no bueno!
- set my things down @ happy hour bar to find Vinoteca – come back – no purse! (left in car when parking)
Old Town
FF (FUN-fact) – This is a most magical city and far from any other major city. For more than 1000 years pilgrims have trekked here to see the glorious cathedral. Our parador was the Hospital of the Catholic Monarchs.