looking for a B and B or Hotel near Santander

[Medoc Bob]

Hi

At the end of August we move back to the UK full-time!
We are booked on the ferry from Santander on the 22nd of August and we are thinking about a few days exploring that bit of Spain.

I was hoping someone would have some good ideas of places to stay or visit. Possibley "off the beaten track" but doesn't have to be as we have never been in that part of the world so everything would be new.

Also any tips for a great Paella in Santander or a great Tapas restaurant

Thanks Bob

[CSE]

Paella in Santander??? it is not a traditional thing in this part of the world, neither are Tapas.

Give me a while and I will dig up some Off the beaten track ideas...How long are you going to be in Northern Spain for?

[Medoc Bob]

Hi

Sorry for my ignorance I do understand Spain is as regional as any other country but I have visited on very few occasions. It is likely to be a couple of days but we could extend to a week if I get the house in France finished with my chores and shut down

Many thanks for any ideas

Bob

[Mouse]

In Santander the typical food would be 'pintxos'. It's common to bar hop having small beers or glass of wine and eating pintxos (basically a slice of bread with tempting food combinations on top) they're displayed on the counter top as you walk in and you help yourself. Usually they have a 'stick' to keep the food in place on the bread slice and you save these as that's how they tot up your bill.

It's an elegant place to shop and there's a nice tour round the harbour which shows you the best of the coastline (catch it near the statue of boys, past the big ferry stop)

Can't help with accommodation, we stayed in Bilbao (another fab place!)

Mouse
x

[CSE]

In my ignorance many many years ago, when staying Burgos I had a Paella. It was not very nice. So what I should have said was save the experience for somewhere more authentic.
Recipes from that region will include.

Sorropotún (Tuna with Onion and potato).
Maganos encebollados (Squid with onion)
Beef with picón cheese
Pollo Campurriano (chicken and rice).
Cañas (wine with aniseed)
Pasiega (cheesecake)


Whist you are in Santander you could visit the music festival.
http://www.festivalsantander.com/fis2/web/inicio-es

If the weather is good and you like beaches visit Laredo beach.
Santillana is hardly off the tourist route unless you are there at night, when the tourist buses leave the place in piece it is transformed. http://www.santillana-del-mar.com/


Of coarse in the Basque country you can visit either Bilbao and/or San Sebastian. Both are well on the tourist map.
http://tourism.euskadi.net/x65-18805/en/
Off the tourist map are the caves called Arrikrutz.

http://www.cuevasturisticas.es/cueva_31.asp?c=34

Or you could drive past Santander and into Asturias and the Picos de Europa.