Bilbao, Pamplona & San Sebastian?
Discussion
I toured through in the summer...unfortunately the only time I was sober enough to do anything was when I was driving 
I can recommend the guggenheim in bilbao, and definitely take the coastal route, the view is outstanding 
try and get off the beaten track a bit to experience the real culture of the place, and I also heartily recommend going to places like ovieto, little known places but lots and lots of fun at night time - englishmen are treated royally there I can attest
and even more so if you show up in an interesting car 
plus the ladies love the accent 
as long as you can speak spanish/portuguese/french as well though otherwise you might struggle to be understood..
oh, did I mention the ladies?
I can recommend the guggenheim in bilbao, and definitely take the coastal route, the view is outstanding try and get off the beaten track a bit to experience the real culture of the place, and I also heartily recommend going to places like ovieto, little known places but lots and lots of fun at night time - englishmen are treated royally there I can attest
and even more so if you show up in an interesting car plus the ladies love the accent as long as you can speak spanish/portuguese/french as well though otherwise you might struggle to be understood.. oh, did I mention the ladies?
Visit the Picos de Europa if you get time. This impressive mountain range is quite small in terms of overall area, but a drive from the sea at Ribadasella for instance, inland, can take you up above 4000 foot within a few miles. The peaks are inhabited by real Golden Eagles, not Buzzards, and they circle endlessly on the thermals.
One hotel we stayed in was just under 6000 feet up a few miles from Cangas des Onis IIRC. The eagles squawked up above our terrace all night long while the cowbells jingled. I'll dig out the name and tariff if you want it.
There are some impressive walks and monasteries in the area too, even if you don't like that sort of thing.
The good thing about most of Northern Spain is that you don't get loads of Brits there; it is in fact where many 'poorer' Spaniards holiday. Therefore, food is reasonably priced, cafes are authentic, tapas bars are plentiful and obviously if you are fiendly, they are too.
Just don't go looking for dead cheap wine --- it's mainly cider (with bits in, like green Tropicana).
One hotel we stayed in was just under 6000 feet up a few miles from Cangas des Onis IIRC. The eagles squawked up above our terrace all night long while the cowbells jingled. I'll dig out the name and tariff if you want it.
There are some impressive walks and monasteries in the area too, even if you don't like that sort of thing.
The good thing about most of Northern Spain is that you don't get loads of Brits there
; it is in fact where many 'poorer' Spaniards holiday. Therefore, food is reasonably priced, cafes are authentic, tapas bars are plentiful and obviously if you are fiendly, they are too. Just don't go looking for dead cheap wine --- it's mainly cider (with bits in, like green Tropicana).
Toured that area for a weeking culminating in a wedding with a 13-course meal in the small town of Lekeitio
Bilbao is excellent and very cheap, we turned up on the first day of the fiestas in August and got a room in the five star Carlton Hotel 200 metres from the Guggenheim for 60 euros. Much lobbing of flour and fireworks by the locals ensued San Sebastien is great too, reminded me of Brighton seafront, good nightlife and food. Busy though, try to book ahead for a hotel as we struggled a bit.
St.Jean de Luz is a lovely old town, just over the border, nice seafood restaurants. Would be worried about taking a posh car there though, narrow streets, zero parking and lots of nutters in beaten up vans who don't give a toss. Zarautz is also a cracking little seaside town. Enjoy!
in the small town of Lekeitio Bilbao is excellent and very cheap, we turned up on the first day of the fiestas in August and got a room in the five star Carlton Hotel 200 metres from the Guggenheim for 60 euros. Much lobbing of flour and fireworks by the locals ensued
San Sebastien is great too, reminded me of Brighton seafront, good nightlife and food. Busy though, try to book ahead for a hotel as we struggled a bit. St.Jean de Luz is a lovely old town, just over the border, nice seafood restaurants. Would be worried about taking a posh car there though, narrow streets, zero parking and lots of nutters in beaten up vans who don't give a toss. Zarautz is also a cracking little seaside town. Enjoy!
Picos is great. I drove from Porto over the plains to (Riano) Picos to coast to Bilbao . . . in 3 days. Great trip.
Bilbao is a must see (Guggenheim) stay for a whole day but take a small hotel in Plentzia. Lightrail connection to Bilbao centre: you'll see it all!
www.hiszpania.ires.pl/pics/bilbao.htm
Beaches is Plentzia
"On 11 November 1995, Line 1 opened from Casco Viejo to Plentzia, using existing suburban surface tracks formerly served by the Basque Railways (EuskoTrenbideak) between Lutxana and Plentzia. A new tunnel was built between Lutxana and Casco Viejo (Old Town) through the city centre. Metro Bilbao therefore uses 1-meter-gauge. The second section, Casco Viejo - Bolueta, was taken into service in July 1997. At Bolueta, the Metro line connects directly to EuskoTren's suburban service towards Bermeo and Eibar."
More:
www.urbanrail.net/eu/bil/bilbao.htm
The round hotel on the square is fine.
Bilbao is a must see (Guggenheim) stay for a whole day but take a small hotel in Plentzia. Lightrail connection to Bilbao centre: you'll see it all!
www.hiszpania.ires.pl/pics/bilbao.htm
Beaches is Plentzia
"On 11 November 1995, Line 1 opened from Casco Viejo to Plentzia, using existing suburban surface tracks formerly served by the Basque Railways (EuskoTrenbideak) between Lutxana and Plentzia. A new tunnel was built between Lutxana and Casco Viejo (Old Town) through the city centre. Metro Bilbao therefore uses 1-meter-gauge. The second section, Casco Viejo - Bolueta, was taken into service in July 1997. At Bolueta, the Metro line connects directly to EuskoTren's suburban service towards Bermeo and Eibar."
More:
www.urbanrail.net/eu/bil/bilbao.htm
The round hotel on the square is fine.
Went camping on the coast at the foot of the Picos a few years back. It's like Teesside, it has its own bloody climate - rain. But drive 20 miles up in to the hills, and there's an arid plain like bloody Arizona!
Have some pics somewhere taken at Balcon de la Cardosa, with the deer statues....
I forget where we were exactly, but San Seb rings a bell, maybe it was nearby.... booze and food were cheap, I remember. Especially the Carlos Tercero brady...
Have some pics somewhere taken at Balcon de la Cardosa, with the deer statues....
I forget where we were exactly, but San Seb rings a bell, maybe it was nearby.... booze and food were cheap, I remember. Especially the Carlos Tercero brady...
anonymous said:
[redacted]
To the Spanish roads . . . .
. . . . which are bloody fine to drive: take a diesel cos you'll need all the torque on the up and down going. Looks like every Spanish car is diesel btw . . .
Fuel in Spain is cheaper than in France . . . Gasstations are sometimes 50 miles away . . . and not always clear where they are. Near hotels a few miles off higway etc etc etc.
If you like a bit of pampering, pop into this place for the night
www.hotelciudaddecenicero.com/
its built by the rioja winery in the area, and has a delightful restaraunt with a 7 page wine menu !!!
the best wine we tried was 70p a bottle.
www.hotelciudaddecenicero.com/
its built by the rioja winery in the area, and has a delightful restaraunt with a 7 page wine menu !!!
the best wine we tried was 70p a bottle.
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