The Picos de Europa

We had never heard of the Picos de Europa when booked to stay two nights at the Parador de Fuente de.   We said farewell to Monforte de Lemos around mid morning and the only clue that we were heading somewhere very special was that Dotty had calculated that our short journey of 200 kilometers would take much longer than we'd anticipated.

It wasn't long before the reason for this became apparent.  The change in scenery was dramatic.  Almost suddenly we were faced with steep, towering mountains and plunging, green valleys and gorges.  The windy roads and switchbacks took us higher and higher -  we had arrived in the Picos!  We stopped in the village of Potes for afternoon tea and some supplies at the delicatessan for another of our favourite picnic dinners on the balcony of our room at the Parador.

The last part of the journey from Potes to Fuente de was spectacular.  Even more narrow, winding roads, with sudden drop offs to the side.  The tiny hamlets we passed took on an Spanish 'alpine' charm.
Finally, at the end of Potes Road we arrived at the Parador which sits at the foot of the massive vertical slope of the moutain.  The Parador is reminiscent of a rambling country house or hunting lodge and the view from each window was breathtaking.  Behind the door of each room were two pairs of wooden hiking sticks and a note with the gentle warning that the area around the Parador is very steepand guests are encouraged to take the hiking sticks with them when they venture outside!

A short walk from the Parador is a cable car that in three and a half minutes takes you to Aliva, 2000m almost vertically up the mountain.  For there you can walk and hike to your heart's content.
Back at the Parador and in the evening's cool mountain air we had our picnic on the balcony and watched the mountains disappear into the darkness as we planned our next day in the Picos.

It is no wonder at all that the Picos de Europa were declared a UNESCO world heritage site.

High up in the Picos - Collado des Llasba look out

The Parador de Fuente de

Almost vertical cable car