SPAIN 2010
Travel Adventure
Hondarribia - 23 April 2010
After a great day of touring La Rioja, I had a light meal at the Paradore and plotted my next move.
First let me say that La Rioja is one of the prettiest places I've seen. I want to return in the late summer when all of the vines are in full fruit. The vistas must be fantastic.
The people are geared to travelers, as La Rioja is Camino de Santiago country. And everywhere you go there are friendly smiles.
I mention that because I am now in Pais de Vasco (Basque Country), and have quickly noticed that folks are not as out-going as in La Rioja or Cantabria. I wonder if it has to do with the separatist strife here?
Other than that, WOW!!!! What a beautiful place!!!!
This
is the view from my hotel room window. That is France on the other
side of the bay. To the left in the photo is a jetty protected
passage to the Atlantic Ocean (see photos). The hotel is in a
Castle/Palace used as accommodations for the governor and royal family
in the 10th century, and was expanded and fortified to its current
configuration in 1539 at the request of Carlos V. At 36 rooms, it
is a coveted spot and caters to English, French, Spaniard travelers and
the occasional lucky bastard Americano.
How terrible that the Wi-Fi connection only works in this interior court
yard. I am forced to sit here to communicate, and share the space
with song birds, children's laughter and the sweet tones of the church
bell from across the plaza. It is a tough job, but someone has to
do it.
One thing I must say for the Spanish government, they sure know how to pick the good spots for hotels.
I came here for a couple of reasons: first, it is near Biarritz, one of my longed for surfing destinations, and second is the proximity to Midi-Pyrenees in France.
The Midi-Pyrenees region figured into a book I read recently, and I'm going to venture into that region tomorrow. (Ruth-I said we would all go together, but I'm here now and cannot waste the chance).
Hondarribia is a busy spot with lots of young families and a thriving economy. I plan a big walking tour of both sides of the bay.
I hope all of this get through. You can imagine that the electricity i a 500 year old castle is kinda iffy at best.
Signing off now. More later.