Origin: Hotel Altamira Canton 1, Santillana del Mar
Destination: Pension Romero Uria 36-38, Oviedo, Asturias
Sunday on the slow FEVE (narrow gauge) train to Oviedo, west through the scenic, green Asturian countryside with stops in about 30 rural towns and villages, got several glimpses of beaches, 
and enjoyed the way the sun presented us with views to the towering peaks of the Picos de Europa. 
Oviedo, capitol of Asturias:
Vibrant, narrow streets of historic district.
Plazas.
Remains of medieval walls.
Gothic Cathedral with the Holy Ark containing relics from Jerusalem.
Daily market.
Outdoor cider bars.
Restaurants with Asturian specialties.
And sculpture
(Yes, Woody Allen) throughout the city center.
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World Heritage monuments high on a tranquil hillside overlooking the city: pre Romanesque Asturian architecture from the mid 9th century.
Santa Maria del Naranco--part of a palatial hunting lodge, and San Miguel de Lillo- King Ramiro's palace chapel.
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From ancient to new architecture: Santiago Calatrava's huge (perhaps too too huge) Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos, hotel and shopping center (2011).
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From ancient to new architecture: Santiago Calatrava's huge (perhaps too too huge) Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos, hotel and shopping center (2011).
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Notes not found in tourist guides:
We were told by our host that Oviedo has won prizes in Europe for being the cleanest city. Amazing to see the city sanitation crew on Sunday power washing all the stationary trash receptacles around the park, and blowing or sweeping all debris off the wide walkways.
We were told by our host that Oviedo has won prizes in Europe for being the cleanest city. Amazing to see the city sanitation crew on Sunday power washing all the stationary trash receptacles around the park, and blowing or sweeping all debris off the wide walkways.
Monday night, bagged garbage and full cans provided by the city were set out neatly next to buildings in the town center. Beginning at midnight, garbage was collected, then cans were washed,
and, as we walked early to the train,
the same crews were collecting the clean cans, to be again distributed on the next collection day...yes, a beautiful, clean city with obvious pride.
A man at our pension had just completed his "Camino" trek, and, to our surprise, it ended in Oviedo, not Santiago de Compostela. We learn that this is the older, if less known, traditions--for reasons too bound in complicated church history.
A man at our pension had just completed his "Camino" trek, and, to our surprise, it ended in Oviedo, not Santiago de Compostela. We learn that this is the older, if less known, traditions--for reasons too bound in complicated church history.
We knew there were many "caminos", but the number and variety is greater than we had imagined. Here is a map of just one region with each dotted line showing a traditional route. The scallop shell--seen on many packs of hikers and on a statue of St. James in the cathedral--is, indeed, an apt symbol for the convergence of many routes.
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Just having fun!
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