I can’t believe I haven’t had one minute to do this blog, but the last 6 days have been pretty eventful… We set off from home on the 18th March on our way to Suances (Cantabria) stopping overnight in Consuegra (south west of Madrid). That day was fabulous, great drive and good weather and despite the inevitable what’s been forgotten moment (a pork pie that Jack was so looking forward to eating is still sitting in our fridge), all went brilliantly.

Consuegra is well worth a visit, it’ s especially famous for its windmills which are well worth visiting and overall its a well kept town. We managed to find a bar where the owner, an avid Real Madrid fan, banged a drum at the start of the game (on TV) and then when Real Madrid scored, the same again. Interestingly he ignored the other team scoring a goal… We stayed at a hotel called La Vida de Antes which was really nice. Old style but in good condition, and the breakfast was especially good.

Day two didn’t go quite so swimmingly, the weather was much worse and at one point when I was driving (and I didn’t drive much) we spotted snow ploughs waiting…and it snowed a bit over the top as we approached Carrión de los Condes, which is north of Palencia. We stayed there in the Hotel Real Monasterio de San Zoilo, which as the name suggests was a monastery but it was amazing as I hope you can see from the photo. The cloisters and chapel area were regal.

Day 3 from Carrión de los Condes to La Borbolla, Asturias, where our friends live, was nothing short of terrifying. It had snowed in mammoth quantities in various places in the North of Spain and we were watching which roads were closed with baited breath. We had to cross an area near Reinosa which said the road there had a yellow warning, so caution but not closed. It was hairy. When we joined the A67 towards Reinosa the conditions were awful. Jack fortunately is a very calm and competent driver and in the end we joined a single lane of trucks moving slowly but getting there. We reached Torrelavega and I needed coffee to steady the nerves…but we made it, phew. Now all we have to do is make it back! I have included a photo of breakfast to make amends for forgetting the pork pie Jack… it was almost as good.