The day started off cool again and we decided we
would drive over towards the old part of town. The Parador is in the Parque de
la Reina Isabel so we went for a little ramble round there first. I guess it is
the nature of today’s world but I found it a little disturbing that the little
lake was surrounded not only by a low wooden fence but also an electrified
fence! There are many species of birds in there and I suppose they had issues
before this and had to protect the local resident birds! Anyway it was a
beautiful park not too sculptured as the Spanish are not into cutting grass on
a regular basis and that kind of made it more charming. Paul gave up after a
bit and I continued on exploring. It is something they do well over here, there
is something for everyone, a children’s play area, an exercise area for adults,
lovely walkways with the roses trained overhead on arches (and just starting to
bloom), lots of trees for shade and shrubs lining the paths. There was even a
aviary with lots of screeching birds.
Off we went to explore the other side of the old
town. The old fishing village is on a hill which juts out a bit and on either
side there are wonderful wide sea front promenades. Lots of walking and biking
right next to the harbor on one side and the beach on the other. Remember,
Spain is on a big rock and building sea walls and wide promenades does not
cause the erosion that it would cause in our area. We found the tourist office
and a lovely girl called Aida who insisted that I let her practice her English!
I happily let her do so. She is a girl with ambition, she wants to spread her
wings and fly. Terrific young lady I wish her all the best, I know she will do
well!
Paul gave up on me again and I set off up the steep
hill to Cimavilla the old sailors area. Bit of a climb to the top and a little
odd. Lots of empty buildings a few restaurants a totally empty glass structure which
looked out on an ancient battery with cannons pointing out to sea. Gijon has
had the usual invaders, common to Spain, the Barbarians, Visigoths, Romans and
even the Muslims liked it there. A checkered history indeed.
On the way down the hill, I encountered a School
for Lawyers and a Center for Marine Navigators. Found Paul meditating next to a
tower of 2500 Cider Bottles! Seriously.! The artist asserts that it is not
symbolic of anything but recycling. The
trees grow and produce apples which are made into sidra and bottled in glass
which is then sterilized and reused for more cider! It is huge, the sculpture I
mean. The Spanish do love their sculpture whether it is stone, glass or metal,
and I have to say it really makes life more interesting and very pleasant.
We had a late lunch back at the Stadium in a
German themed place, I say German but it was only the beer that was German! We
opted for pollo campero which is, I guess, a free range kind of chicken from
country farms which is quite different to our sanitized white meat bird. The
meat is quite pink and flavorful, very Asturiano! Always trying something new!
After siesta and our welcome drink in the Bar at
the Parador where we made friends with the pushy resident peacock we wandered
around the other side of the bay looking for somewhere different to dine. Everything
was oddly themed with exotic drinks, giant Buddhas, sofas and roll down wind breaks, which was
fine, as the wind was a bit brisk, but we did not get good vibes from any of
them, so after watching the sun slip ever lower in a blaze of golden light and
strolling along the promenade we headed back to the Carlin Goal.
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