Slippery Slope!

Friday 4th January 2019 - Santander.

Yesterday, our plans were constantly changing.  Initially we thought about having a look into Caceres and then get as far as Salamanca for the night.  I had researched the Renaisance and Plateresque buildings of Salamanca and was ready to explain the difference between the two!!  However, we decided to get quickly to Salamanca, missing out Caceres (even though it's a UNESCO site).  We drove on lovely quiet motorways but hit freezing fog as we approached Salamanca.  We stopped at Salamanca just to fill tanks and checked the forecast....it showed that the night would be -6 C degrees.  We didn't fancy that, so, the plan changed again and we carried on the journey.  The fog lifted as we moved north and we eventually carried on to Santander, a total of 350 miles.  Santander weather is frost free and about 10 C in the day with constant sun...it still feels a bit chilly after what we are used to but still not too bad for January.

The place we are staying is near to Santander Real Football Club ground and close to the beach area of El Sardinero and just behind the Universidad of Cantabria.  It is a newly purpose built area for 25 motorhomes and is free.  We are allowed only 2 nights.....we would actually like to stay 3 nights but we are considering whether or not to move on our last night.

This morning I popped out to the supermercado to get some gin for our home stocks....it's quite a bit cheaper in Spain.  The checkout lady spoke a little English, so I told her that the three bottles were for breakfast!

I came back to the van.....and this is what I found.....

Janice was wearing one of my slippers!.....and she didn't even realise!  Now if that isn't the slippery slope to old age confusion I don't know what is.  That was before her breakfast gin too!

The Larios is pretty good.....we have tested it several times.

We continued our 'naughty' treats by cycling to the nearest Decathlon.  We (mainly me) made a few purchases that are hard to justify but couldn't resist.  I bought some walking trainers and some trek trainers....what's the difference?

Good question.....I told you it was hard to justify....the pair on the left are for cross country running and the pair on the left are for cross country walking!

After lunch we cycled around the coast and onto the Santander seafront.  It was cool in the wind but what a beautiful place.

This is the Palicio de la Magdelana built for King Alfonso XIII in 1912 because he particularly enjoyed staying at Santander.

You may just be able to make out the ferry harbour in the distance.  We remember arriving in Santander about 5 years ago and seeing the lovely beaches from the incoming ferry.

This is the Santander Bank building....it's one of the few banks that I haven't got an account with!  They aren't offering a good enough interest.

Apparently the city was ravaged by a terrible fire in 1941 and most of the city was rebuilt from that date.  It feels a bit like a swish French resort with lines of pollarded plane trees along the sea front.  We still haven't been into the city centre but will save that pleasure for tomorrow.