Thomas our precious grandson joined us in Madrid and is serving as our companion and driver. As much as we loved the city of Madrid this drive and stay in the Basque country is even more wonderful. We left the city in the dark heading toward Bilboa with several stops along the way. Breakfast at a working man’s cafe was hot milky coffee and a potato tortilla. The second stop was a little village called Lerma. There was a large square with a hotel on one end, a church and former convent on the other and shops on either side. We bought fresh bread, pate, marmelade, and olives and a knife to slice the bread. Lunch was ready for us when we were. Our next top was Burgos, a small city with am impressive cathedra. The tomb of El Cid the Spanish hero is here and the cathedral is the third largest in Spain. The front of the plaza was filled with cutouts decorated to represent Basque and Spanish pride. A bubbling fountain and the ever present cafe was waiting for us. The weather was cold and we did not stay as long as perhaps we would have if the weather had permitted. The scenery was spectacular. Mountains covered with leaves changing colors. Vineyards and farm lands. All soothing and inviting.
We left Burgos and drove to Salvatierra eating our lunch along the way to stay in a beautiful hotel that Tom selected and had a cod dinner in a restaurant he chose. Our room looks over the river and this evening kayakers and small boats go up and down. There is a walk leading to a light house that once guided fishermen home. Thomas was fascinated with a combination bridge and ferry that carries cars and people across the river. It hangs about 10 feet above the water on a series of cables and glides across delivering people home and to work. Franco destroyed it is the Civil War and it was rebuilt in 1943. WE have decided to stay here a day longer and explore the small villages in the area. Now the lights are coming on across the river and we settle in for the night.
