6/3 – Hermitage, Plentzia, Butron, Sailor's chapel and Bermeo

6/3/89 – Randy, Ria  and I headed out to see a lot this Saturday. We drove east towards Plentzia, stopping along the way at one of my favorite buildings. This is a 12th century hermitage, just off the road. There has been some rebuilding through the years but it is still a lovely thing, built low and long with a wide covered porch on both sides.

A little further along is the coastal town of Plentzia. It has a wide sandy beach and lots of room to dock small boats. On these trips we were not interested in lying on the beach, we wanted to see what was in the area.

Further inland is a special attraction, Butron Castle. This is near Gatika but it's not in town. It wasn't open to the public, but it was common for locals to bring their visitors out to see this unusual sight. It was built in the 14th century and has gone through several remodeling and restorations. I think it has always been a private home.

By now it may have changed hands again.

Back on the road, and back towards the shoreline, further east to Bermeo. A few miles before Bermeo, we came to an even better sight. There is a rocky bit of land which is connected to the mainland with an even smaller spit of land, 

and on top of the bit of land is a small chapel/hermitage. Later I learned it is called San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and may have some loose association with the Knights Templar, but we always called it the Sailor's Chapel. 

It's scenic as all get-out, but at some point you realize that the trail going up to it isn't a road, it's a walking path. With about 230 steps upward, once you get across the path. 

No matter, we parked the car and started walking. There is a bit of a walk to even get to the path. Looking out to the left, we could see how stormy the water was. 

But when we looked straight down into the tide pools, the water was clear as glass.

Near the top we saw a few stone tablets which, although I couldn't understand, I liked.

From the chapel looking back, the path looks like a miniature Great Wall of China.

It was wonderful and I hated to leave, but we still wanted to see Bermeo that day. The road to Bermeo runs along some of the loveliest coastline.

Bermeo is a fishing town, offering a harbor to commercial fleets,

and opportunities to smaller fishing enthusiasts, along the man-made water-break.