...I get up early and start my drive around the Picos de Europa massif to my final trekking destination
...the road I drive on is just so beautiful I have to come stop for photos a lot!
...I pass many scenic villages and stop at Póo de Cabrales, where I take photos of the magnificent mountain panorama and see a place where they "make the best blue cheese in the world". How can I say no to that?
...I hit some bad traffic jams due to road repairs
...I cross over to the neighboring region of Cantabrigians, saying goodbye to the pretty Asturias, and arrive at the cable car Fuente Dé, the region's major attraction - it takes travelers to 1,823m above sea level, around 750m above the road
...I am thankful once again for amazingly beautiful cloudless weather, not a given in the mountains, and for the fact that it is low season, just after Easter. I hear just last week you had to wait 2h to get on the cable car. Now I don't have to wait at all.
...I notice plenty of Russian tourists in mountain areas. They know the good stuff! Although women trekking in high heels must be a Russian specialty for sure
...I am too late to do my intended trek to the Collado Jermoso hut and although the staff of he cable car company are not helpful at all (to say the least! Check their reviews on trip advisor) I manage to follow some trail from the upper cable car station and have 3 h of fun trekking including a lot of walking (and some wading) in the snow!
...I barely manage to return and catch one the last cable cars at 6pm, after which I take a long drive to my next hotel - destination Burgos!
...I lose my way a little (not paying attention to your gps will do that!) and arrive very late. I do some late shopping and go to my hotel.
...I arrive at the hotel and am very happy to find a parking spot but there are a few surprises: they said there wouldn't be anyone at the reception but there is, there is no keypad to enter the hotel and the receptionist can't find my reservation. It soon turns out I made a mistake and drove to a different hotel - one that I had considered booking but in the end - didn't. Funny!
...I drive to my real hotel, which has a very central location. Great for sights - bad for parking. I cruise around for 25 minutes like a dog chasing its tail and finally I find a spot 10 minutes walk from the place. Luckily parking is just as cheap as in other provincial Spanish towns.
...I check in and this time the keypad is there. Hotel is pretty nice and right on the main pedestrian street, 100m from the famed cathedral.
...I walk around a little m and have a few beers. City seems depressingly quiet for Friday night. The bartender, however, explains it's the long weekend and everyone has left town.