The Basque Country... autonomous and independent

Once again we enter the Basque Country. Everything seems very familiar to us, except this time we are not rushing through in the autumn, but instead we have plenty of time. We are captivated by this autonomous region that does not want to be Spanish or French, and we want to explore this beautiful place in detail for the foreseeable future. Euskara is the language that you really don't understand, and it is the oldest of all languages.

Ondarorra is the first town where we spend the night. Besides the beach and a rather dirty river, there is not much to see here. However, we are completely blown away by Lekeitio. A town with narrow streets, huge squares, a beach that is second to none, an island like in the South Seas, and a clean river flowing into the sea - everything that makes humans and dogs happy is available here. The small island in the sea can only be accessed at low tide. A green, moss-covered stone path full of crabs leads to the island, surrounded by the finest sandy beach with clear water. There are many dogs on the beach. The Basques, like all Spaniards, are very relaxed when it comes to dogs. They just let them run around freely, and guess what: nothing happens! They all play together. There is no leash requirement, and not only are our dogs very relaxed, they also frolic happily on the beautiful beach. We can park for free and enjoy our stay in Lekeitio very much. This is definitely one of the most beautiful places on the Atlantic coast that we have found so far.

After a few days, we continue our journey. This time we drive a little inland. A short stop in the mountains for one night and we arrive in the 'capital' of the Basque Country, Vitoria-Gasteiz. The city in the mountains is considered one of the most beautiful in the Basque Country. Huge parks, located right in the city, make it bearable for the dogs. A huge, really great old town is waiting to be explored. Countless old buildings line the streets and squares, and we stroll around with great enthusiasm. In the morning, there is a market at the free camper parking lot. The stalls are set up right in front of our Hummel. We notice that we are in Spain. The market stalls are not ready until 10 o'clock, and by 2 o'clock, when it's time for siesta, everything is already over. Cheers to Spain's coziness.

By chance, we end up in Burgos. We need a long hot shower once again and find a great campsite by the river. The town of Burgos is located at an altitude of 900 meters in the mountains, 4.5 kilometers away, and is a popular destination for pilgrims because of its magnificent cathedral. Brave hikers can be found here by the hundreds. We also don't miss the opportunity and set off in the morning. The dreamy path always follows the river. Our furry friends are delighted. Through a huge gate at the river, you enter the old town and find yourself in the Middle Ages. Great old buildings line up next to each other, huge squares surrounded by well-preserved colorful houses can be seen. Narrow flower-decorated alleys complete the picture. At some point, we stand in front of the huge cathedral with its hundreds of towers and are truly moved by this work of art and the great atmosphere here. We walk around the city in all directions and get lost several times. In the evening, we walk the 4.5 kilometers back to the campsite and all four of us fall exhausted into bed. Conclusion: Burgos is a must-see.

Unfortunately, it is still very cold in the mountains. At 8 degrees, we even had to turn on the heating in the evening. Since the weather forecast for the next 10 days predicts bad weather in the mountains, we saddle up our Hummel the next morning and head south. After so many cities and culture, we long for nature, solitude, and warmth.

Five hours later, we find our next little paradise at the Portuguese border. Somewhere in the middle of nowhere near Ledesma, we can park by the river. A green, secluded spot right by the water all to ourselves. Perfect! The dogs are thrilled and immediately disappear into the reeds to hunt for frogs. We will stay here for the next few days and process the many impressions of the past weeks. And we will plan our next travel direction. The thermometer shows 22 degrees, and the weather forecast promises clear skies... we are excited to see what lies ahead.