Friday, 19 August 2011

Rias Atlas - Spains dramatic northwestern coast

Pics first, text later^^



Cliffs near the Lighthouse



quite a way down^^




stunning vistas



freely running horses around




superb coastline




what a view... couldnt get enough




woohoo... so awesome^^


Thursday, 18 August 2011

Oviedo, Aviles and the Praya de Silencio

From Santander we continued to Santillane del mar (17.08.). It is the village of three lies, as it is not holy (santi), flat (llana) nor near the sea (del mar). It looked like a friendly village, but big caravans of tourists were there waiting to go to the nearby cave. So we decided no to stay here for. Instead we continued straight to Oviedo.
A lovely town we spent some hours strolling through the city, getting lost (as it was much smaller than we expected, hence we walked out of the area our map covered^^). Finally we got our hands on internet to get some news and answer some mails...
After Oviedo we went to see the new Centro Niemeier building in Aviles. Unluckily the building is not very pleasent. A huge square made from beton missing any charme. But that is what Brasilia is infamous for...
So we continued to Praya de Silencio, which was supposed to be an awesome beach. And indeed, the setting was great. We arrived late, enjoyed a bbq and went to sleep in our tent. Unluckily the next morning when we wanted to enjoy a swim, it was raining and temperatures dropped a lot. Thus we left to see the north-western coast of Spain.



chilling Oviedo




New opened Centro Niemeier building in Aviles




Praya de Silencio





Good morning view after leaving the tent :D

Wednesday, 17 August 2011

Castro Urdiales and Santander

After a good morning swim in San Sebastian (16.08.) we left early taking the coastal road towards Castro Urdiales. On the way we stopped for a brunch. Quite some great views along the coast.
Arriving in Castro Urdiales the next Fiesta waited for us. The centre of the small town was filled with people and tents. They seemed to be grouped by T-Shirts sharing the same tents. They didn't intend to sell anything but just enjoy their party at the docks.
Everyone seemed half naked, texts written all over the body, mixing 50 litre pots of Sangria - simply enjoying an awesome party :D When the needed a refreshment, they simply jumped from the docks into the water... a rescue boat was waiting there, just to be sure^^ As well as 5 ambulances around the docks. I guess they know why they need it :P
Everywhere BBQs... Grills filled with steaks and spare ribs, yummy :D Water was cooled in the huge Sangria pots, where else?
But we just had a short stop here to enjoy the folks and then continued on our road towards Santander. Famous for it's bank the city is much more sophisticated. Quite stiff compared to the partying cities before. But we found a convenient spot at one of the plenty beaches to spent the night. Unluckily we forgot about the truck renewing the beaches every night... so that one woke us up... but we just turned around and continued sleeping :P
The next morning a refreshing swim waited for us before we continued to Oviedo.



BBQ at the coast :P




Party folks in Castro Urdiales




Banko Santander




Good morning swim after a night at the beach

Tuesday, 16 August 2011

San Sebastian - the Basque Country

When we arrived in San Sebastian at late evening (14.08), a huge firework was waiting for us. The biggest I've seen so far.
Later we were told that it was the beginning of Fiesta, a one week city fest hold in spanish cities in summer :D Lucky us^^
The streets were filled with people, young and old. We walked along the beach promenade towards the city centre... all the streets were filled with people singing, dancing, drinking, eating... what a party all over the city.
"Dos grande cervezas, por favor" (2 big beer please) - a sentence we repeated plenty times that evening hopping from bar to bar. Musicians were playing in the streets, even a concert near the docks. At 7am we went to sleep on the beach, the party was getting quiet slowly.
The next midday we woke up on a busy beach with people chatting, sun bathing (tho there were many clouds) and swimming :D Good timing to take a morning swim in the Atlantic :P
After we recovered at the beach we went sightseeing through the town at early evening. The streets were filled (still or again?). A hike up to San Sebastian's Jesus statue gave us a great view over the city. Tho San Sebastian is not a huge city, the centre seemed like millions of people were living in that city :D
Next we went into one of the Basque Country's famous Tapas bars and enjoyed the delicious pintxos^^ Not only the streets but also the bars and even the cathedral were full. Where did all that people come from?
We saw a lot of young people wearing stickers shouting for a free Basque Country. But now it was Fiesta, everyone simply wanted to enjoy the huge party.




View from the hill after the fireworks




View on the surfer beach from the Jesus statue




Tapas bar :D




busy cathedral

Monday, 15 August 2011

Toulouse and Auch

At the evening (13.08.) we arrived in Toulouse to meet with Maxime, our couchsurfing host. After a refreshing shower he took us on a tour through Toulouse. Showed us the best spots in town at sunset time... perfect ambience. Then we went to have Tapas for dinner before enjoying a cocktail in one of the plenty bars.
Toulouse is an awesome city... behind every corner awaits you the next city part which can be totally different from the one before. The city is filled with young people... and even tho Maxime told us the city is empty as it is holiday time, still the streets and bars were filled. Interesting topics to talk about... keywords: Muschipups, MILF :P
The next morning we discovered the city on our own again, but not much was left to be see. So we went on road towards Spain, as suddenly on the way we discovered the city Auch. Unmentioned by guidebooks it houses the most beautiful cathedral I have seen so far. After that stunning view we continued to San Sebastian.




Sunset time at the Garonne




Pon Neuf - the "new bridge" which is the oldest in town^^




huge and beautiful cathedral in Auch




What a scenery in Auch!

Sunday, 14 August 2011

Montpellier and Carcasonne

A wake up at the beach followed by a breakfast before we visited lovely Montpellier.
First we stumbled through the new city part which is impressive... a whole city part in one style. But it looks boring and cheap compared to the stunning old city :D
The cathedral, an old monastery, is simply massive. The old city is filled with lovely buildings, charming streets... simply a great place :)

Afterwards we visited Carcasonne, one of the most famous castles in the world I guess^^ This is the place many films resemble, the symbolic medieval fortified city. The centre of Carcasonne had not much to offer, so after a coffee and a talk with a German expat we continued to the Castle. Unluckily it was very touristy, but bearable^^  Thus we had some walks through the narrow medieval streets before we continued to Toulouse where we were to meet our couchsurfing host.




Montpellier's newly build quarter




beautiful old city




massive cathedral




simply gorgeous :D




Carcasonne - as in the films^^




Castle within the fortified city of Carcasonne

Friday, 12 August 2011

Starting the roadtrip - Lyon and Avignon

Benjamin and I started our roadtrip towards Spain/Portugal on 10.08. and after starting at 4 am we arrived 3 pm in Lyon. Right away we took a walk through the city :D A really lovely old city centre.
At the evening we met our couchsurfing host Thomas who took us to a CS picnic to hang out with some more Lyon CSers. After the picnic we were a little tipsy and enjoyed a ride on city bikes through the city at night. A perfect first day on the trip^^ The next morning we went sightseeing through the city again, especially to see the Basilika and the great view over Lyon from there. Afterwards we enjoyed a 3 courses menu for lunch which was absolutely amazing and proved why French are famous for cooking.
At the later afternoon we drove towards Avignon and walked through the city centre during sunset time. Then enjoyed a picnic in front of the pope's palace before we continued to Montpellier, where we slept at the beach :D




Cathedral and Basilika




Awesome paintings all over the city




Cycling under the sun :D




View over Lyon centre




Pope's palace




holy mary and jesus overlooking our picnic