..Run for the Sun

Prior to leaving Bilbao we visited the Guggenheim. It's one of those must see things.The atrium doesn't contain a single flat surface other than the floor and pumps visitors round the museum like a heart. We also discovered that Arsenal contributed to the creation of the "Matter of Time" exhibit on the ground floor in a room whose design inspiration was a carp. The carp in question was caught and observed in the architect's bath. So, there you have it, fishing and football integral to a contemporary masterpiece. The carp also contributed to the titanium surface of large parts of the Guggenheim (scales like the carp) and also to sustaining the architect (he ate the carp, bastardo!).
El Sardinero (one of the lovely beach areas of Santander) provided our base after continuing west along the coast. Tickets duly purchased, we bowled up to the Campos de Sport del Sardinero for the visit of Villareal to Racing Santander. We supported Racing (pronounced RaThing) against Villareal who have ex-Arsenal jogadores Pascal Cygan and Super Bobby Pires. Bobby started on the bench while Cygan kept out Racing who fell behind to Villareal goal against the run of play. They were then let down by a Ref who sent off a Racing player for an innocuous challenge (El Dairio later described it as an 'expulcion inexplicable' I'd have to agree). The fans went mad and they variously described the Ref, but 'puta madre' seemed the favourite. Pires took advantage after coming on and set up Rossi to score. Our first La Liga game was good fun even though our adopted team for the night went down 0-2.
The following morning (Thursday) we checked out at noon and decided on a run for the sun. Even though our intended route was further west into Galicia the need to warm our bones won out. The run south through the Picos de Europa was spectacular and the contrast of Cantabria (wet & green) to the rolling Sierra's of Castille y Leon (sun dried brown) were marked. The journey brought about our 1st contact with the Guardia Civil. We were pulled over at a roadblock and I was asked to switch off and get out of the car. Asked for documentation I clarified " Para mi O para vehiculos?". "Dos" he replied. At that point I thought we were going to get a good going over. Documentation duly supplied and in order, pleasantries exchanged, we were on our way. I even got a friendly pat on the shoulder! I must say I was pretty pleased as I conducted the conversation purely in espanyol and was a little apprehensive about how it could have gone, as he was well stroppy at the outset. But I think I won him over enough to keep it cool and uneventful. Besides which, they had an easy target in a bunch of pikey workers in a wreck of a truck to keep them busy! Later, we dropped into Alcala de Henares (birthplace of Catherine of Aragon) northwest of Madrid and then wankel'd (inventor of the rotary engine) our way southwest. By midnight we reached our destination in the hills above Valencia. Galicia will have to wait; there are clear skies and some sun to be worshipped.
Hasta luego.