Gijon and Aviles

This area still has heavy industry in the shape of coal mining and steel manufacture. The tour started in Aviles, where there was a 1 hour 30 minute walking tour. This seemed a bit long but it did give an impression of a town which had been subject to many changes over 800 years. At first, it did not seem very hospitable. TSH and Diva tried to get a drink at a smart hotel but the bar was not yet open., although they used the clean loos, which really was the point of the exercise. The first street café did not serve either tea or decaff coffee, so that was useless. But the next one not only served with a smile but they produced complimentary biscuits and then a small piece of frittata on bread.

Diva thought the best part of the tour was the visit to the Labour University – a vast Franco-built attempt at a worker’s university. Fascist architecture but very impressive. Parts of it are still in use for education.

The city of Gijon is probably more attractive than Aviles and certainly seems more prosperous. TSH was most taken with a glimpse of the train museum and a steam engine. Although it was a five hour trip Diva and TSH were back in time for lunch – salad and fruit being a major part thereof.

Referendum: Diva had a chat with a British woman who seemed to want Brexit and did not see ‘what Brits have in common with Romanians and Bulgarians’. She had not lived in Britain since

1975.

Photoblog

This a summary of the Silversea cruise on Silver Cloud from Lisbon to Southampton:

Santiago de Compostela:

Parador at Santiago de Compostela:

Church in Northern Spain near Gijon:

A cow:

Lake near Gijon:

Scary mountain scenery - these were the white-knuckle roads:

Guggenheim at Bilbao:

A traditional food shop in Bilbao:

Sailing into Bordeaux:

Church in Bordeaux:

Silver Cloud in Bordeaux:

Message from Rosie:

Diva ready for formal dinner:

St Malo

Silver Cloud's grounded tender:

Parachutist model from St Marie eglise:

Stained glass window from St Marie eglise:

Breakfast pastries from Lisbon:

White knuckle ride and an overdose of food

Left Gijon for ride to lakes and mountains, Diva not realising quite what was to come. The first stop to see Covadonga Basilica was fine. But then narrow steep roads and sheer drops. Just enough room for the coach to drive to the extreme edge with part of it over-hanging, before full lock on to turn into the next hair-pin bend. Fortunately the driver was very experienced and careful.

Scenery en route was spectacular – jagged tops and limestone outcrops. The lakes were a bit disappointing. Neither large nor as beautiful as what we saw whilst getting there. The first lake was a steady up-hill walk from the car park and the second was indicated by the guide as being twenty minutes walk away. As the guide was a fast walker and Diva isn’t, Diva opted out of the second one. But as usual TSH went for the whole experience, although he said afterwards that it wasn’t any different from the first one and not really worth the effort. Diva wished she had brought her Kindle. 35 minutes waiting in the mist in the middle of nowhere.

Many alpine wild flowers seen whilst in the mountains including gentians, aquilegia and hellebores plus many nameless others.

Then it was off to a Parador for lunch. 4 cold starters and 5 hot ones. And everybody got all of them. A massive piece of hake in a fabulous cider sauce for  mains and then 4 desserts. This was all way too much for lunch. And then on return to the ship butler Rosie had laid out English Breakfast tea for TSH, Earl Grey for Diva (because that what what they ordered for breakfast on Friday) and a plate of sandwiches. Diva had really wanted peppermint and TSH wanted camomile (yes, I know. He had it in Lisbon when there wasn’t anything else and decided he liked it.) Rosie is trying so hard. And is so trying.

But later Rosie redeemed hersef by delivering a selection of salads to our suite in lieu of the dinner we had no appetite for. Just the thing for a light meal with a bottle of champagne!!