The same way Paris has the Eiffel tower and New York has the Statue of Liberty, Santander has the…read moreCentro Botin. The Botín Center is an art center designed by architect and Pritzker winner Renzo Piano. It is located in a privileged location in Santander right on the water, and through a broader urban intervention, the architect manages to integrate the city center and the historic Pereda Gardens with its bay. Light and lightness have been essential aspects in the conception of the project. Depending on the angle that you look at the building, you an see a sliver of architecture through the tress or a massive round edifice on the water. The main thing I loved was that there is an open top floor from which you can see the entire city of Santander and the bay. You can reach this vintage point by stairs or elevator. It's free to go up. Periodically there are cultural events and art galleries inside the center.

This a very beautiful and uniquely designed art center that overlooks the bay. I believe that…read moretickets during our visit were about 10€, and I thought the exhibitions were worth the entry fee (even if a couple were not my cup of tea). From my POV, Centro Botin gave a bit of a mix of modern and classical exhibitions. While I enjoyed most of the exhibits, I will admit that the views of the city and the bay from the Centro were a bit more interesting than a couple of the exhibits. Outside of the museum, there are plenty of places to take pictures of the beautiful scenery of the bay.

After visiting the Altamira Caves one recent afternoon, Gayle and I weren't quite ready to return…read moreto Santillana del Mar. We decided that a scenic drive along the Atlantic Coast would be nice. That excursion would take us to both Comillas and San Vicente de la Barquera. Both are also along the Northern Route of the Camino de Santiago, but I found the signage to be sketchy. More interesting was traffic control within the small villages along the way. Instead of speed bumps, there were a series of flashing yellow lights and "fake" red lights that forced you to slow down. Very effective. One thing to keep in mind is that we were here in October, which is off season. Hence, it was pretty quiet in these parts. We found that especially true in San Vicente de la Barquera, where after the long bridge and views of the Harbor and Camino, we were quickly on our way back. Comillas was quiet too. We walked along the deserted beach and were particularly taken with the Cemetery, which contained various Art Nouveau markers and an immense Angel statue by eminent Catalan sculptor Josep Llimona. What we missed were cobbled streets and squares with ancestral houses, towers and Modernist style buildings. That includes "El Capricho" by Antoni Gaudí, Sobrellano Palace, a Neo-Gothic construction; and the Pontifical University, which dominates the Village. And who knew that you could find an island of Catalan culture in the middle of Cantabria?

The Picos de Europa are where Spaniards go to play in August - where temperatures are cooler,…read morespaces are not clogged with foreign tourists, and... where you can breathe. So why would anyone come to the Picos to stay in a crowded, larger hotel? Carlos has owned this property since 1991, and has been running it as a B&B for over 20 years now. He is a master carpenter; having taken a home that had been abandoned for more than 50 years - and converted it into a warm, inviting establishment. He managed to retain the rustic feel while finishing the place with modern touches, resulting in a VERY comfortable establishment with all of the old-world charm. It is simply beautiful! Each room or suite features a private bathroom (except the loft... a cozy nook for two or three). The views from each are simply stunning. Each room is heated (as needed) and has a TV. There is WiFi throughout. Carlos provides a wonderful breakfast each morning - featuring local meats and cheeses, breads and sweets, along with local honeys (four flavors based upon the elevation where the flowers were 'visited' by the bees); jams, oil, tomato, coffee, tea... and if you'd rather pack a lunch for your day's outing, he can fix you up as well. Carlos's knowledge of the area is almost encyclopaedic...from the local history, culture and lore, to the best places to eat or simply to relax and have a 'cuppa.' While we were there, he turned us on to the "roads less visited." So even though we were in the Picos at the height of their season, we did not suffer any overcrowding. The roads were narrow and mostly empty, allowing us to really enjoy the views. The restaurants that he suggested were each outstanding in their own right. He has a dear friend that is fluent in English, so don't let language hold you back. This is a place that will give you memories to cherish, and make you want to come back. We're already looking forward to our return!

We had a wonderful 14 days trip to Spain and Portugal through Totally Spain. All the pickup, drop…read moreoff worked well. Guides were exceptional. Hotel rooms were as per our expectations except one. The hotel at Sevilla had overwhelming sewer smell at the reception and the breakfast area. It was not a pleasant experience having breakfast with the over powering smell. The room we stayed had no issue.

Just completed a 2 week tour of the Basque country and Barcelona. The entire trip was planned by…read moreTotally Spain, including hotels, transportation and timing for each locale. I was extremely pleased with the entire trip and itinerary. I had to make a transportation change during the trip, and their response time was immediate and exactly as needed. I will suggest Totally Spain to any and all.

Gayle and I returned to Fuente De almost 11 years after our last visit. During our May stay we…read moretook the nearby Teleferic up the mountain (in 4 minutes) and walked down to the Parador via a trail that took about 4 hours to complete. That included some winter-like weather on top, more ups than we expected, and light rain during most of the last half. About a third of the way down is the Hotel Áliva, of which Gayle and I stopped for coffee and a snack. Back in 2011, we decided not to take this trail as we arrived at Fuente De on a whim and weren't properly outfitted for a long hike. Coming back, we sort of expected a idyllic pastural walk, but that didn't quite turn out to be the case. Yet, we were happy we did it, really enjoyed the scenery, appreciated some map help by a French couple (who were really prepared), and felt really accomplished at the end. And we stayed 3 nights at the Parador de Fuente De. We drove in from Baiona (Atlantic Coast) on Day 1, took the Teleferic Hike on Day 2, and enjoyed a tour over mountain roads to the Cares Gorge on Day 3. And after that, we were off to San Sebastian. In between were a couple trips to Potes, an inspirational visit to the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana, and some local village and culinary exploration. The Parador? Marvelous! is huge mountain hotel, of which we had a really nice and comfortable room with a sitting room view (see picture). There are several spacious common areas, a inviting bar, and a nice restaurant. We weren't the only ones here, as the hotel seemed popular with the British motorcycle touring group. These folks were having a great time, and all we needed to do was hang out in the bar or linger in the breakfast room (which had a nice spread). The stunning outdoor and regional culture options here seemed endless and of we course just scratched the surface. I just hope we don't have to wait 11 years to come back again.

I stayed at the Parador de Fuente De near Fuente De, Spain on 5/17/2018. It was my 1st time there…read more It was also the 1st Parador in Spain that I ever stayed at. I was traveling with Tauck and they chose the hotel. Great staff and located in a beautiful natural location. Plus, I took photos.

Jesus Otero was a well known Spanish Sculptor from Santillana del Mar. He's a "Favourite Son" of…read moreCantabria and his works often concentrate on nature and animals. Many his works can be seen right here at this Museum and Garden just off the Church plaza, and were donated by him just before his death in 1994. . There's also a Bison sculpture just across from the Parador, a cute drinking goat fountain just outside of town, and a commemoration bench at the Altamira Caves Complex. One thing that Gayle and I particularly enjoy about foreign travel is the chance to discover new cultural works that we were not previously aware. The works of Jesus Otero are definitely worth a look, a little artistic research, and a relaxing stroll through the pretty grounds and interior exhibition space.