My husband and I recently went on a two week trip to the Northern part of Spain. We stayed in Bilbao, Burgos, Leon, Santiago de Compostela, Salamanca, Madrid & Pamplona; we also made short stops at Ponferrada, Avila, Segovia and San Sebastian. Here is my trip report : http://sujaa.wordpress.com/2014/09/2...-a-pilgrimage/

Suja

Thanks for the nice report and all the great photos. Seems like you've had a great tour in a wonderful part of the country. But next time you should stay in San Sebastian, the culinary capital of Spain if not all of Europe, at least for lunch ;-) http://www.cntraveler.com/stories/20...-san-sebastian
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandst...rink.shopping2

Great report Suja. We loved the Guggenheim and very much enjoyed lunch there. I agree with you re Yoko Ono's so called "art". Your photos are great. On our trip to the Basque country we were so amazed by the long stretches of beautiful beaches.

Beautiful pictures.

Now I want to go to northern Spain, too. The question is how hot it will be in mid-to-late-June. Southern Spain was too hot this summer, but the north should be colder. Right?

That's a really nice trip report. Thank you for posting.

You did an interesting arrangement of photos into collages. Did you do that with photoshop or did you use some other program for that?

@Kimhe : I am not much into beaches so I had not originally chosen to stay at San Sebastian. But after our short stop, both my husband and I agreed that it was very charming and worth coming back to! We didn't have lunch but I did indulge myself in some delicious pastry from a wonderful shop

@Micheline : Thank you I am glad to know that others share our opinion on Yoko Ono's 'art' - I felt like the kid in the story 'Emperor's New Clothes'!

@anyegr : Thank you In fact it was very cool throughout our trip except in Madrid where we at least saw a 25 degree day. At all other places it hovered between 18-22 during the day, cooler at night. I felt a bit cheated of my summer - but at Switzerland it has been much the same as well.

@Isabel : Thank you ! I used Photoshop Elements for the composite images. I find it has more than enough features for the level of photo manipulation I do.

Thank you for the lovely report and all the photos. I have not been to Northern Spain. That made me want to go.

One question. You were in Madrid and literally only a few minutes from Toledo, which has a magnificent cathedral. I was surprised you did not go, given your love for cathedrals. Have you already been there?

@Sassafrass : Thank you, I am glad you liked it Yes, you are absolutely right, I went to Toledo on my previous trip and it is indeed magnificent! Spain has so very rich in its treasures..

What a great report and photos.we are planning on going something similar in about 5 weeks but heating across to Barcelona and up the east coast after San seb and Pamplona .

@berniebabe : Thank you On a previous trip my husband and went to Barcelona, flew across to Granada and drove in that region. That was a great trip too! Most people enjoy Barcelona, I hope you do too. Bon Voyage

SUJA, wonderful report - thanks so much. Loved northern Spain...

@latedaytraveler : Thank you! I did too

Great report, thank you! Just a quick note: Gehry is absolutely American (that means he can be anything from Argentinian to Mexican and US born), but given the equivalency between "American" and "US born", maybe it´s worth noting that Frank Gehry was born in Toronto, Canada.

One more point: Spanish cuisine is excellent for vegetarians...all "menú del día" offer minimum one or two vegetable only dishes, and you can have two firsts if seconds don´t suit your likings. No need at all to go to an Italian restaurant.

@mikelg : Thank you!! You are right, I will edit my one-liner on Frank Gehry to be more accurate.

I honestly tried examining the menu at so many Spanish restaurants but seldom found vegetarian choices. Perhaps it is a regional thing? Or perhaps just my bad luck! We did eat in a 'nice' (more expensive) Spanish restaurant where I was given an excellent vegetarian meal.