Sacha & the Starfish

A quick break from our Spanish adventures for a few posts bringing you up to date with our Vendée life.

Like all the family, Sacha loves reading: here at La Paillote with Mamie for a sneaky apéritif

The pool's in good use again...

...with this drying dinosaur...

...sunning himself on the outdoor furniture.

Martin, Jess & Henry came to stay in town and we all met up at the beach by La Cabane de Marie (aka Pedro's)

Sacha with Cynthia

Customers are loving the new look Starfish...

...especially this football fan...

...and huge crowds at the Euro semi-finals...

...and finals.

My neighbours at the bar were drowning their sorrows in multi-coloured shots. I won't describe the guy's state when he left!

Osorno & the San Miguel de la Escalada Monastery

Our journey from Burgos to Leòn was mainly along fast roads but we made a couple of detours.
First stop for our lunchtime picnic bread was Osorno.

This was the post office!

Next, the monastery of San Miguel de la Escalada, a little off the beaten track but well worth some extra kilometres.

These two photos were taken minutes apart...

...there was a real downpour: thunder, rain & hail!

Some excavations round the back

This looks almost like a painting!

Burgos Castle & the Abbey of Santa María la Real de Las Huelgas

Climbing in the heat was not really to be recommended, and once there we found the castle was closed for the day. Never mind, we could enjoy the view!

We saw yet more storks' nests, a definite feature of the city

After lunch we took the car just out of town to visit an monastery, still in use today. No interior photos were allowed understandably. 

It's hard work all this sightseeing!

Burgos Cathedral

Burgos Cathedral was stunning in all its Gothic glory. The weather helped too!

Some miscreant trying to photobomb

Once inside there was a feast for the eyes especially if you looked up.

We also visited the cloisters with their beautiful stained glass windows

Burgos by night & by day

Having settled into our latest AirBnb off we set for the centre of Burgos, and what a beautiful find.

The view from our apartment, the cathedral towers to the far right

A few pairs of photos for you now, taken shortly after our arrival, and next day:

Nesting storks

The magnificent gateway to the city

The cathedral in all its glory

The public entrance to the cathedral, with a wonderful floral display on the steps

But, tired as we were, a quick beer on one of the 'plazas' and back home to bed