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.