The next stop on my trip across the north of Spain, took me to two nights in Gijon. Not planned as two to start but the spontaneity of travelling like this is part of the fun.
My first day, after checking in to my hotel was spent walking and in the transport museum (yes more trains!).
The museum was based around what I presume was an old terminus station with the engines and rolling stock all on tracks. Spain still operates trains on four different gauges, broad, standard, metre and narrow. The aim is to convert as much to standard with some dual gauging of broad gauge. The “commuter” trains are mainly still on metre or narrow gauge and there is therefore a clear distinction in terms of where you board local and mainline trains certainly around here.
The museum therefore had dual tracks so that engines and carriages could be displayed together and that made the experience that much better.
After spending an enjoyable hour there - it’s not that large a collection - I then ventured along the beach front which was, as ever, glorious. I’m blessed with hot sunny weather so far, which is not normal in November and at great variance to the Valencia area which is experiencing horrendous flooding which fills all the TV channels here.
The beach front led me to the “old town” part of the city which was at it’s loveliest as the sun was lower in the sky and brought out the best in the colours of the buildings.
Then it was time for “Mark finds food” which having looked up the best places near me took me to a small bar that did “award winning” burgers. They did not lie, although a kind waiter stopped me ordering what apparently was a burger that is meant to be shared!! Beer, cheesecake (small) and coffee (thimble size again) completed the experience and I turned in a happy and full man.
Day two started with breakfast in the hotel, another first as I’ve ventured out thus far. My order was taken by the waitress holding up food and drinks and my nodding for what I wanted. That’s how I ended up with orange juice, a banana, a croissant, a chocolate chip muffin and a small coffee!
After a check in with my driver to make sure all was good with her, I ventured off to explore the area around the oldest football stadium in Spain, El Molinón - Enrique Castro Quini Stadium, where Sporting Gijon play their home games. The stadium has been modernised but glimpses of the stands from outside, showed a ground that would still be seen as needing up grading in the UK.
Like my team Southampton, Sporting wear red and white stripes, have an away kit in yellow, a third kit in pink and both are made by Puma. Sporting play in the second division, so that’s where the similarities end, well at least until the end of this season!!
I decided to change hotel’s for the second night as I fancied a change so for my second night I found a 4* hotel at a decent price and boy it was good!
After checking in I took a late lunch break at Rick’s cafe along another water front, which preluded a further walk to see a bronze statue called “La Madre del Emigrante” which movingly depicts a mother waving off her children to unknown futures. The statue is 4 metres high and is very effecting in her expression as she loses those she loves to better life.
I’d seen a viewpoint on the other side of the bay earlier that had another set of statues on it so embarked on another long walk all back the way that I’d come to see this, stopping off en route to buy the Bluetooth keyboard now being used to write this blog. (It’s in Spanish and not all the keys do what they say they will, but it’s better than typing on a screen!)
After that walk and a few photos in fading light of the statues, it was dinner time and this wasn’t my finest moment. I thought that I’d embrace tapas so ordered some ham croquettes and some fries with salsa. 8 croquettes arrived and then a plate of fries with bacon that was ample for 2! Three salsa portions too. One was red hot, one was garlic and one was, I think, mustard?
Far far too much food for one!
Day two ended with me feeling very very full, but as I had walked nearly 25k steps it was well earned!! (That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!)
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