We arrive in Santander

Its an early morning arrival at about 0700 local time and so they start playing music in all the cabins to wake you up at about 0545, ( really nice) . So we packed up our overnight bags and departed for the breakfast room and had to wait about an hour before they said we could return to the car. We had to wait nearly 45 minutes sitting in the car before we could drive off an then headed for immigration, which was quite quick, and then to customs where we were pulled aside and asked how much money (cash) do we have to which I answered about 450 Euros, he then disappeared with Noels passport and retuned with a form I had to sign as he kep on telling me its OK to sign, don't worry he said, but I did for a while.

We drove out of the Port which seems to be going thro some changes and it took about 10 minutes, it seemed like, to leave the Port and then in to and around the town of Santander where there were also lots of road works in place. After about an hour we started to climb and to the point we were beginning to get surrounded by snow capped mountains and with signs for skiing which we did not expect and the outside air temperature dropped to 2C and with the car warning us of expect ice patches.

WE headed South on the motorway and we had set ourselves a longish drive for the first day of about 6.5 hours plus stops but the roads were empty compared to UK roads. We stopped at a café/petrol station and filled up the car with fuel and purchased a sandwich for lunch of toasted ham and cheese which we sat and ate in the cafe.

With bladders empty and tummies full we continued to head South in the direction of Seville but as we got closer we turned off to the right and headed to our Hotel in a place called Zafra and it was one of the Parador Hotels of Spain. If you don't know Paradors are historic building of Convents, Monasteries , Castles etc which are to expensive for local towns to up keep and so the Spanish state will take them over and adapt them to Hotels , we have stayed in this chain on previous visits to Spain.

We checked in and were given a room, nay suite, on the 2nd floor it was quite large but an odd shape but was Ok for our purpose. After a brief rest we went for a walk around the old town which was quite busy and then decided a beer would go don well and so we found this little bar which was doing a roaring trade and enjoyed a couple of beers before heading back to the Hotel at around 1930. Dinner in the Hotel would not be until 2030 and so shortly before we made a trip to the bar to check it out and then on to the restaurant which was quite quiet.

 Noel had the fish after explaining his food restrictions and Jennifer had the venison which she enjoyed but most likely it had garlic in and what with a late dinner time, which we don't, we both found it difficult to sleep. Not such a long drive tomorrow.