A Mythical Port of Passage



 We are on the border of Cantabria and Castilla y Leon. It is also Armistice Day so you will excuse the not flying of flags. Instead, we have a sign - for Cantabria.  Castilla y Leon seem not to feel they need to bother.  The border is on the top of the pass.  The Portillo de Lunada is 1350m above sea level.  Chris was blown away by the place.  ‘Unbelievable drive and views.  But we drove on a weekend so there were lots of cyclists,  motorcycles, and even a 200 vehicle road rally.  So if you are going to try this route I would suggest a weekday visit.’  



U. Gonzalez is even more forthcoming.  ‘Mythical port of passage in the communities of Burgos and Cantabria, in the heart of the Valles Pasiegos. Typical landscape of meadows and pasiegas cabins, with little forest mass as a result of grazing in other times. With little traffic and ideal for routes by car, motorcycle or bicycle. You have to pay attention in winter as it usually remains closed during periods of snowfall.




The port rises from the Cantabrian valleys, flanking the Pico de la Miel in the south (1563 m) and the Picón del Fraile (1619 m) in the north, at the top of which there is an Air Force radar station. It is the third highest mountain pass in Cantabria.’




 Look, this is for Cantabria and there is little else to see so let us look at Factsnippets 19 facts about the autonomous community.  To be honest most are things like when the place was established.  Lets pick the best.


7.  The predominant countries of origin for immigrants to Cantabria are Colombia, Romania, Ecuador, Peru, Moldova, and Morocco.


12. Comarcas in Cantabria have not reached administrative nature and barely have definite borders.


13. Until the 13th century, Cantabria was organized in valleys, as was typical in all of northern Spain.


15. The eastern part of Cantabria contributed to the origins of Medieval Spanish in a significant way.


19. Cantabria has been the birthplace of exceptional and notable individuals in fields such as literature, arts, sciences, etc.


Use this knowledge wisely.























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