DAY TWELVE A CORUŇA travel day Moving on to the Parador Gijon SUNDAY 22 MAY 16

We had anticipated rain today, at least that was the forecast but it was bright and sunny and a good day for a very long drive. We had our usual coffee and croissant and loaded up. We had rinsed out a few things and after three days they were finally dry, what a relief! We head out! After a couple of hours of driving mountain and coast roads we stopped to stretch our legs and have a Bitter Kas.

I only mention that because of the lovely wrought iron bandstand across the street , the deep fried chicken knuckles and the quintet of elderly Irish ladies in hiking boots at the next table. Now I say chicken knuckles but as chickens don’t have knuckles I am not sure what they were. Everyone was given some so a lot o chickens died for those tasty, boney nibbles! The bandstand is self explanatory but the elderly Irish ladies were a little more mysterious. There wore hiking boots, had walking sticks and backpacks so we made the assumption that they were peregrinas on their way to Santiago. There was a lot of discussion as how to accomplish this and they decided to take a bus somewhere but how to get to the bus? More discussion followed and one brave soul ventured off to consult a taxi driver. She returned in a trice and said the driver would make two trips for 3 Euros each trip and off they went!

We continued on our way secure in the knowledge that the ladies would do fine. They were brave adventurous gals and would do fine. We only offer our help in translating if people are really confused otherwise you come across as being a bit bossy.

We decided to stop for lunch in Aviles as Paul needed to gas up. Only our second gas up! Take that American cars! (790Km on this tank full, had over 850Km on the first tank) Anyway I asked about a good place to eat and was referred to a gentleman who was buying his bread, at the gas station no less, fresh bread! Anyway we climbed up the hill, passed two redondos and turned left on to the very narrow road, as instructed. The place was a sideria (cider house) and la brasa (grill house), inside they quoted 45 minutes wait time outside, take your chances immediately. And so we wandered outside to lay claim on a table. Still a tad cool for us but OK as long as the sun was out. Slightly windy at times meant you had to mind the brown paper tablecloth launching itself into the air like a paper airplane. In fact just after we were settled the umbrella from the nearest table was launched by the wind at Jane and the shrubs behind her. Nothing hit, nothing damaged as the umbrella was retrieved and placed into storage. Our meals were absolutely outstanding:

·         Jane had a salmon, oranges, potatoes, lettuce salad topped with Serrano ham. Paul had solomillo de buey with fries. A bit pricey for lunch, at 45 euros but worth every cent. After lunch we continued on to the parador which to our surprise, Carmin Garmin found with ease as it is local next door to the sports stadium complex. We drove into city center found parking and walked along the promenade. Stopped for a drinkie and found the Swinging Club of Gijon (Dance Swing) Guys and Gals (Spanish, Welsh, English, Australian, even American) all dancing to the swing music of the Big Band sounds of the 1940s or so inside the bar sitting area.After driving into and around the city of Gijon, topped off the night by eating at the Carling Goal sports club bar complete with TV screens loud volume on everything and a cute but pierced and tattooed waitress running her tail off but willing to help out the foreign travelers who needed a table to eat and partake of the festivities (Barcelona playing Sevilla in soccer).