Last days in Northern Spain

We'd booked two nights in Leon but stopped in Lugo for lunch and a look at the Roman walls and gothic cathedral. What a pretty little town.

 Our full day in Leon was very wet, but we did the cathedral and town museum which is very informative and well worth the visit.

 Then on to Haro which claims to be the capital of the Rioja wine industry but had to stop for lunch in Burgos (also a pretty little town with a world famous cathedral) where we ate in a "private" club in an old palace!  They even gave Chris trousers as shorts were not allowed.  

Haro is smallish but pretty and we walked both days, once in the jagged limestone hills (tough) and then in the sandstone hills covered in vines with loads of grapes and people picking by hand. In the village we walked from it was fête day with a folk band.  A great end to our trip - would happily come back and buy more rioja!

Vigo

Have spent three great days catching up with Jill and Andy and being taken around to local places of interest, coast walks, archaeology, industrial archaeology together with, of course, a bit of eating and drinking.  Very interesting area.  Off to Leon now then on to rioja region.

Picos de Europa

On our way to visit Jill and Andy in Vigo we spent three nights in Arenas de Cabrales in the Picos.  Walked the Ruta del Cares, aka Gargantua de Cares, stunning mountain scenery.  They tried to build a canal for the hydroelectric plant in the 1920's and the path goes alongside the 71 tunnels. Loads of people but very enjoyable. 

  Next day what looked like an easy 11km loop from Arenas - took us 6 hours!!! Knackered!  Off to Vigo in the morning, almost looking forward to a day in the car.