The Basque Region

It is hard to believe that we have only been away from home for one week, as we have seen so much that it seems ages since we left home, although I am already worrying that time will pass too quickly!

Our stay in this region has been simply superb, with a great site and wonderful cliff top walks direct from the caravan. The ocean view is huge and the photo shows the area very well. Each day has been like a time lapse video with flowers and foliage bursting out and continually providing us with any ever increasing verdant landscape. The cliff walks have supplied a riot of spring flowers including Primroses, Violets, May Flowers and a host of others too numerous to mention. We face a spectacular cliff face which changes colour as the daylight alters and also provides shelter for a couple of Peregrine Falcons that can be seen and heard frequently. The area abounds with footpaths and is perfect for lovers of fresh air and scenenry.

We have visited the local towns of Deba and Zumaia on the coast and yesterday we took a trip into the hills to visit the birthplace of St Ignatius Loyala, a rather splendid cathedral built around his family home. Today we let the Basque train (Eusko Tren) take the strain and for the pricely sum of 6 Euros 50 cents we both travelled return to San Sabastian on the most glorious of days. The bay is perhaps one of the most spectacular in Europe with a 180 degree sweep of sand and a narrow entrance to the sea, which provides shelter. At the entrance to the bay there is a moderately high mountain known as Monte Urgull, which is basically a park with paths leading up to the summit by either direct or circular routes. The top is the site of a former castle which has been much renovated and provided stunning views around not only the Basque area of Spain, but also to France.

On Wednesday we move on towards the region of Salamanca, but our impression of the Basque area has been a very pleasant revelation.