Plymouth to Santander: 27th - 29th April

Arriving in Plymouth we headed for the Travelodge, put our packs in our room and went for fish and chips. there is a good fish and chip shop/cafe near the market. Almost opposite was an internet cafe, not that we needed it, but any other walkers/pilgrims using this route might find it useful.

We went for a walk on the Hoe and then turned left to walk along the footpath, past the Barbican, by the harbour side. Here we found our first pilgrim shell, a huge gold one, on the wall. Beneath it was a plaque explaining how pilgrims embarked from here on their way to Santiago. This is the third year we have stayed in Plymouth prior to travelling, but the first time we have walked this way from the Hoe and so the first time we have seen this particular shell sign.

Our ferry crossing was good, including seeing dolphin, and we found 3 other pilgrims on board, one going to Pamplona for the Camino Francés and two going to Oviedo for the Camino Primitivo. Arriving in Santander we set off together briefly before the others went to the bus station or overnight accomodation.

Our first call was the Bank of Santander to buy our tickets for the museum at Altamira, then lunch and then to our hotel. The afternoon was spent wandering around Santander and also buying our 'tarjeta azul' to give us our pensioners rate fare on the FEVE. We had to provide photocopies of our documents (passport photo page) to get them this year, but there was a kiosk open on the station which could do them. We were glad that we did them then and not just before the train went in the morning!!

Feeling hungry we found a little cafe-bar whose owner happily cooked us a meal well before normal Spanish eating hours. He doesn't mind what time he cooks which is very good.