Last weekend before the “rentrée” (the back to school time), the traffic jam on the border in the direction of France is tailing out over 7 km, but we are passing quickly the irritated vacationers as we are going in the opposite direction. Our first stop is Vitoria-Gasteiz, the capital of Álava.
Vitoria-Gasteiz
The capital of Álava, Vitoria-Gasteiz, offers a wide range of activities to visitors. History buffs will appreciate visiting the old Medieval town with its impressive, slightly askew Cathedral of Santa Maria whose tower opens a magnificent view of the city and the surrounding mountains. The main square, Plaza España, is a great place to have a ‘pika-txiki’ (small beer with lemon) and admire the classic bow windows, a typical feature of this rainy part of Spain. The fans of outdoor activities will enjoy Vitoria's Green Ring, a 30.8 km circular route that can be done on foot or by bike. On the way, there are rivers, streams, wetlands, and woods typical of the Álava Plain. Vitoria was a European Green Capital
