Comillas

Wednesday 3^rd September

We left the aire at about 10.30. K was driving, and did so all the way to around about Santander, where we stopped at a ‘mock’ service station (it was a small town with a petrol station and a restaurant), and I took over.  We saved about an hours driving by taking the toll motorway – which cost less than £10.00 – so quite good value I thought.

Lovely drive through the Cantabrian countryside – this is a very pretty place, and looks positively Scandinavian in part – the pine trees and the mountains. It’s a bit warmer though – about 28 degrees.

We were heading for a town named Comillas, which our guide book tells us has some lovely and unique buildings. We arrived about three o’clock and found the closest campsite to the town. Happens to be on a clifftop overlooking the main beach – not bad. Had to use both 25m leads to connect us to power – but managed it. We got the bikes down and went for a ride into town. Found the tourist office and got a map. Rode around a bit and found a supermarket. Bought some bits, and more wine, and headed back to the van. We decided to do the tourist bit the next day – armed with the map.

Back at the van we showered and sat outside for a bit until it started to rain, then we retired inside and listened to more Terry Pratchett for the evening (after I had made food).

Thursday 4^th September

After breakfast we decided to wash the bedding and towels, so I took a long walk down to the men’s toilet block where the machines were. Only cost three Euros each for a wash and tumble dry – so that was good. The weather was cloudy, but not wet, and clearing. By the time the washing was done, and I had wandered across the road to find the house to pay for our stay (that hurt a bit – 26.15 Euros a night!), it was near lunch time, so we had some soup and bread then set out on the bikes.

We went to the cemetery first – old and interesting with an angel guarding it. Then we found several of the other buildings listed on the tourist map, ending up at ‘Gaudi’s Caprice’ – which is the first building that he designed on commission. Very odd building. 

We spent quite a while there, then sought out the few remaining sights that we hadn’t seen. We returned to the camp, and stowed the bikes, had showers, and sat out for a while looking at the sea. It wasn’t too sunny – but it wasn’t raining. Then it started to drizzle, so we retired inside. I cooked a rather large pasta bake thingy, which we ate about half of. We listened to the end of an audiobook.