We are nearing the border with France now. But we have unfinished business in northern Spain as there are still a few places we want to visit before leaving. But the day didn't start well. Last night Angela set the alarm on her mobile phone for seven in the morning, and then turned it off! So it was nearly seven thirty before we got up. The weather was miserable, the sky threatening. But by nine thirty Margery was parked on the aire at Santander. Now breath. She had a space, and we could relax.
Time for a second breakfast for Angela whilst tears of rain persisted. Slowly the aire awoke and people began to walk out. So did we. Time to see what Santander had to offer. We headed down to the beach first.
The area looked miserable on this cold dank day. Why had we come to this miserable looking place? Deciding to give the city a chance we walked on to the cathedral stepping inside it looked interesting.
But we'd never know if it was or not. We were ushered straight out way as a mass was about to take place. Some vittals for lunch bought from a supermarket we wondered if perhaps we may need to move on from Santander. Then the clouds gave in. Making way for a perfect seaside blue sky. It was still a little cool, but we didn't care. Now we began to see the area in a new light. We walked on, stopping to take in the views across the water to the Picos Europa, now emerged from a duvet of low cloud.
The city has many sculptures, one on the waterfront of some naked boys was explained to us in Spanish by a local man. We nodded as if we understood, but we didn't, so translated the information board which told us that the boys were Raqueros who in the early 19th and 20th centuries used to hang about and dive into the waters of the bay to collect the coins that curious people threw at them. Another group of sculptures of naked men and women were particularly popular. Especially the men's penises which were shiny from too much handling. Two women, we think they were German, didn't get John's joke when he said the willy's were very popular.
Perhaps he should have said, the Wilhelm's were very popular! As we walked back to Margery, we couldn't believe we were in the Santander we'd arrived at. Beautiful aquamarine water kissed the shore.
The views now far reaching. Sorry we dissed you Santander.
