This has been a long time coming. By the time this wedding comes around, we will have been together for over eight years already!
We are so excited to finally tie the knot, but we're just as excited to share what is genuinely a magical place with you all. We're really hoping this occasion will serve to kick-start or wrap-up a stay in what is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places on earth.
The reason we're getting married out here is because Astrid is very much from here, with familial connections in the area going back generations along with cyclic summers of a well-spent misspent youth. It's also a place that is still largely forgotten amidst the throngs of British tourists churning up the Southern cities. This is the place where the Spanish themselves go to escape.
The mountains; the beaches; the food - by god the food; the wine... it's a place that the majority of us know very little about. This is not the Spain you know. This place beholds a much older and much more mysterious magic, stepped in curious customs and enveloped in a land and language you've likely never seen before. This Tolkian description may sound a bit over-egged, but you really won't be disappointed. In this part of Spain, we eat Pinxos and drink some of the best wine. We can't wait to share this with you.
Astrid's family is originally from Burgos (Castilla y Leon), where Spanish (Castillian) originates. Astrid's family then moved to Vitoria - Gasteiz (capital of the Basque Country)... and that is where we got engaged (Bermeo, Basque Country)!
I recommend a bit of reading up on Basque history before you land; about a people left alone by the Romans for being 'too fearsome' and 'too civilised to conquer'; a people descendant of ancient Greek colonists; a people whose quiet resistance has embedded a sense of identity that still transcends borders today.
If you're savvy and you manage to book a weeks' holiday, you could start your excursion to Spain with our wedding, and then visit the Picos de Europa (if you fancy hiking), visit Santander, Bilbao or San Sebastian for a city break, or if you want to venture further south you could work your way down to Jerez in Southern Spain for the May Horse Fair... Jerez literally translates as 'Sherry' and it's essentially the World Sherry Drinking Festival - where everyone dresses up in traditional costume, parading around on SUPER fancy horses and then, you guessed it, dance WELL into the night drinking copious amounts of fortified wine. What's not to love?
You will soon find out! Astrid is slightly biased as she has spent her childhood summers growing up here (and you will meet her amazing group of friends) and George has loved spending holiday's out here practising his Spanish (and dance moves).
Sitting pretty on the North coast, tiny Cantabria offers a completely different vision of Spain. Still largely unknown to outsiders it has 130 miles of rugged Atlantic coastline to explore.
One place to stop if you have time, the capital city of the area which is Santander - it is a city stretched across a wide bay with many stunning beaches.
Surrounded by mountains and countryside, the streets wind up through the hilly landscape to afford fantastic views of the Cantabrian Sea, which supplies the city's restaurants with the fantastic seafood for which Cantabria is renowned. A shopping hub, the best shopping can be found on the Alameda de Oviedo Boulevard, bustling with street vendors, and the stylish and completely pedestrianised Calle Burgos. Yes, you will find the largest Zara very quickly as it is right next to the Cathedral.
The Royal's summer pad, the splendid Palacio de Magdalena, is built on the beautiful La Magdalena peninsula looking out to sea and is a great place to spend a day walking up to as the views are worth it. Enjoy the greenery of the Jardines de Piquío, which separate the two golden beaches of El Sardinero with glorious views over the beautiful blue sea. These beaches of El Sardinero are Santander's most popular beaches but there are others such as El Rostro, for a more quiet, relaxing experience.
Santander is also a perfect gateway to exploring the Natural Parks of Caberceno, the largest animal park in Europe with lots of space for the animals to roam freely i.e. Spanish Bears (the grizzly ones); the stunning mountains of the Picos de Europa for hikers amongst the group; and Parque Natural de las Dunas de Liencres, the largest dune system on the Cantabrian coast.The Cantabrian coast line is full of coves and rugged beaches which is what you'll find in Noja and Isla beaches. Think of it as a warmer Cornwall but with different food, culture and wine!
The beaches
Cantabria’s wild and sparsely populated beaches are the perfect antidote. The region’s gorgeous coastline, undulating for 150km past secluded coves backed by emerald headlands, with many only accessible on foot, which keeps the crowds down and enhances the close-to-nature vibe. Surfers, day hikers and pilgrims on the Camino del Norte – a lesser-known feeder route to Santiago de Compostela – all thrill to the dramatic scenery. If you want to do a spot of surfing, Noja, Berria and Somo are two places really popular amongst surfers and Noja's surf shop will definitely be open to hire boards and wetsuits.
The mountains
Cantabria’s natural allure doesn’t end at the seashore. In the region’s southwestern corner, only 15km inland from the Atlantic, the breathtaking Picos de Europa rise to heights exceeding 2500 metres. These jagged limestone peaks – named for their welcoming role as the first visible signs of the continent – once served as a beacon for homecoming sailors. Nowadays they lure outdoors enthusiasts with some of Spain’s most scenic landscapes: high-altitude lakes, cow-speckled alpine pastures and deeply chiselled gorges. We love Fuente De and all the Picos area as we spent Summer 2020 (the summer we got engaged driving around it in our camper and spending our days hiking or getting lost in the trails). You'll see some of the pics in our Gallery.
Potes is a must see village if you are travelling further in-land and its famous for its bears (it is known as the Sierra del Oso) and has a tasty liquour!
Altamira Caves
Cantabria’s fissured limestone landscape served as a refuge for Paleolithic people, who left behind some of the world’s most remarkable prehistoric art. Ten different caves in Cantabria have been marked as Unesco World Heritage sites for their cave paintings including hand prints and geometrical symbols such as the 40,000-year-old red disks at Cueva de El Castillo – widely recognised as Europe’s most ancient cave paintings. Altamira is the most famous, and I'm sure you've seen a copy of it before!
About Noja
Astrid's favourite place on earth (hence the photo cover being Astrid's favourite hill climb in el Brusco). Famous for its two sandy beaches, Ris and Tregandin, Noja is in a perfect coastal location that is popular with families but quieter than nearby Santander. The beach at Ris, in particular, is a Blue Flag family-friendly beach of fine golden sand.
Set against a backdrop of encircling mountains, it is no wonder that the town is at the heart of many religious myths and legends. One local legend even suggests that Noah's Ark washed up on one of the mountains nearby.
Explore the town and its wonderful architecture, especially the palaces and villas of Spain's rich in days gone by. Or why not head out to sea and visit the Isla San Pedruco, where the hermitage of San Pedruco lies at its heart of tangled and overgrown trees?
Full of independent stores and markets of fresh produce, Noja also has a surprise in store with the nuns at the Convento de Sta Maria de la Merced in the town making and selling delicious cakes. Alongside the nuns' remarkable produce, seafood and traditional meats and stews are on the menu here - this is a town of homely food and good wine to be enjoyed together.
Nearby are the coastal towns of Santoña which is famous for its fishing port, including its anchovies and tuna!If you are sticking around and fancy a city break, we would recommend San Sebastian in the Basque Country which is renowned for its excellent pinxos and even Michelin star restaurants. Or, if you fancy mountains and sea, then San Vicente de La Barquera, Santillana del Mar to the West or Picos de Europa to the South.
We can't wait for you to taste all the local food from the region! Please do let us know if you have any allergies to anything.
We are not eating until 2pm so please do have a big breakfast. We are also putting on a free bar until 11pm. We will have a mix of Spanish drinks for you to taste also.
George and I fell in love with the Palacio. Unfortunately it was not meant to be that the whole wedding be held here... but we are lucky enough to have the Palacio as our base for the weekend. We will be there from the Friday night until Monday morning. We will be getting ready the morning of the 'BIG DAY' at the Palacio, and similarly, for those still standing the 'After-Party' will be held at the Palacio. Some of our friends and family are also staying at the Palacio, so you are always welcome to come and say hello.
The Palacio has a BBQ and if you'd like to join us on the Sunday, bring along whatever you would like to cook on the BBQ (there is a supermarket in the village) and we can drink any left over wine or stick to citrus infused water! If the weather is lovely, we can also all venture to the local beach to chill out and reminisce about the Wedding the night before.
The Wedding Ceremony will start at 12:30pm. We will then have a few photographs after the Ceremony, throw some confetti, and head to Villa Abarca which is a short drive away for the tapas and toast! We will be putting on a bus from the church to Villa Abarca.
The Ceremony will be held in Spanish but we will have Orders of Service in English and the readings will be translated.
The Church is located in Isla’s old part of town (Casco histórico) and you can see the sea and mountains in the distance.
The wedding party will start at 1:45- 2pm at Villa Abarca. We will be welcomed by Spanish tapas / pinxtos and welcome drinks for the Wedding toast. We will be serenaded by a flamenco / Spanish guitarist! We will then be seated for a formal dinner and speeches! Which will be followed by the first dance, cutting of the cake and the DJ will open the dance floor to dance the night away until midnight...
Keeping everything crossed for sunshine.
The food will be prepared by a 4* hotel (Hotel Balneario de Puente Viesgo) who have won awards for their wedding catering 5 years in a row! We will be able to eat some of the finest food from Northern Spain.
villaabarca.com/wp/ 4* Catering from El Hotel Balneario de Puente Viesgo (balneariodepuenteviesgo.com/en/) (balneariodepuenteviesgo.com/en/)