Northern Spain

What a surprise to us!  After leaving the incredibly built-up San Sebastiàn area, the mountains we came to were quite imposing in the grey light and it was only when we came nearer to Burgos we felt more “at home” with the country.  Maybe the rainy weather had something to do with it. 

Burgos

 

The countryside from Burgos to Caceres was constantly changing with only one dry and arid patch near Cuéllar.  Otherwise very green, undulating and really quite pleasant. 

The cities we visited gave the impression of life being lived rather than the “closed for lunch” feeling in some French towns.  

Council offices Palencia

  

The people are very smiley and friendly, well dressed and seem quite affluent, but perhaps it’s just this region of Spain hasn’t felt the economic downturn like the south.

However, evidence of overspend is everywhere on the road network with half finished roads to nowhere and road bridges with no road attached.  The ‘spaghetti junction’  type intersections had hardly any cars on them and one wonders if they were really required - unlike the long promised new A27 road near where we live.  We also saw large apartment blocks unoccupied and part finished.   

Salamanca Cathedral

All in all we liked this part of Spain and look forward to seeing the North Western area on our return journey.  Don't forget to check the diary sections for more details of our trip.