Out and about in Cantabria part 3

Here's the final episode in the 'Out and about in Cantabria' series where I share the best pictures taken on our adventures along the coast and in the mountains.  These pictures are from the end of May and beginning of June, 2013.  They were taken in the Pas Valley, Santoña, Picos de Europa, and Galizano.

Valles Pasiegos:  On May 31, my friend Pepe took me to see his mountain cabin in the Valles Pasiegos (Pas Valley), about 40 km from Santander.


Background:  The Pas valley is an area of northern Spain that includes parts of Cantabria and neighboring Burgos.  In February, I watched a documentary film at the library called Pasiegos: Los Valles del Silencio.  Ever since then, I've been intrigued by the Pasiegos, the inhabitants of the Pas valley and mountains. 

The filmmakers, twin brothers Carlos and Higinio Sáinz Crespo, used oral testimony from the older generation to preserve a record of this traditional way of life. They describe it as a 'heritage of generations, an identity, and a lifestyle with its own special customs and traditions, but with an uncertain future'.  For more information, click on this link:  film trailer

First, we stopped in Selaya, and visited the shop where the famous quesadas and sobaos are made.

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned quesadas and sobaos 

before in this blog, but just in case you missed it, quesadas are a typical Cantabrian cheesecake, and sobaos are a typical Cantabrian sponge cake.  Both are specialties of the Pas valley -- and are especially delicious because of the high quality of the milk and butter produced from the local cows. The links above will take you to pictures and recipes.

Pepe's cabin

next door neighbors

across the street neighbors

fields full of wildflowers

Santoña:  On June 1, Corin and I took a bus to the beautiful town of Santoña, southeast of Santander, and famous for it's anchovies and bonito.  We walked up and around Monte Buciero.  Having reached the top, we then went down 766 steps to a lighthouse.  And back up.  The steps were steep and scary, and getting back up was exhausting.  However, as you can see in the pictures, it was worth it!

Church in Santoña

scariest steps ever ...

Corin leads the way down the scary steps...

Faro de caballo

Picos de Europa:  On June 8, I went back to the Picos de Europa with my friend Santi and the teachers' hiking group.  This time,  Corin was able to come too!  The route was 'from the lakes of Covadonga to Poncebas' in the heart of the Picos, on the Asturias side (Asturias the province to the west of Cantabria).  Despite on and off rain all day, it was a great success.  Over 9 hours of breathtaking views and strenuous climbs and descents made for a day to remember!  Here is the itinerary:

ITINERARIO:   Aparcamiento de Buferrera → Mirador del Principe →  Campu la Tiese →  Majada la LLomba → Majada Belbín → Los Reguerones → Parres → Arnaedu → Collau Xerra Buena → Vega Maor → Ostón → Posadoriu → Culiembru → Los Callaos → Poncebos.

And here are some of the best pictures from the day.

Corin and me on the way up

“ ¡Picos de Europa, claros, dorados troncos vivos,                                                                  

en pie sobre su altura, más arriba del aire,

luchando en pie y venciendo; clamando en pie; soñando;                                           

quizás amando en pie… igual que los arcángeles!

(…)

Duros caminos, sendas que conquistan a pulso

los cielos de caliza donde el rebeco pace.

Roca sobre la roca, gargantas en silencio,

mortales jous, argayos, azulados glaciares.”

                                                                                                                                                

Juan MOLLÁ

the little buildings are cabins/sheds for the cows

the group, at the top

fun in the snow at the top!

Santi and Charo

Corin is about to start The Great Descent

The Great Descent begins .....

Galizano:  Time is just about up ...... for my final 'Out and about in Cantabria' entry, here are some pictures of my coastal walk with Pepe in Galizano.  Galizano is a small town in the area of Ribamontan del Mar, along the coast to the east of Santander.  I walked along the coast from Somo to Galizano in March, and you can see those pictures in Out and about in Cantabria part one.  Today's walk was a loop that starts at Galizano beach and goes up around the coast and through a forest.  It wasn't the best day weather-wise, but we had lots of fun.  Here are a couple of pictures:  

Playa La Canal, Galizano

out on the cliffs

My friend Pepe

oops, cut off by the tide and hat about to get blown away ...

That's it for now ... Goodbye Cantabria!  I'll miss you ....