Off to Oviedo...

A Monday excursion? Sure, why not?

There´s no better way to start off the week than with morning visit to the capital of Asturias (the region just north of us), Oviedo, and an afternoon spent on one of the Costa Verde´s beaches. Even the normally temperamental Asturian climate was in our favor for the day, giving us plenty of sunshine and just the slightest breeze.

Our day started with a walking tour of the city, allowing us to visit the bustling local market, cathedral and some of the city´s best-known statues before students were given a bit of free time to get to know Oviedo on their own. In the market, students were in awe of both the variety of foods offered and their presentation, as some of them hadn´t yet seen a fish in it´s entirety or dared to get close enough to one famed Iberian hams. 

Next, we made a brief stop in a small plaza where Ron taught the students (and an additional instructor or two) how to escancear, or properly pour cidra, the traditional beverage of Asturias. While onlookers commented on technique, our students tried to figure out why pouring wasn´t as easy as it looked. Needless to say,  there were a lot of laughs to be had and a few pairs of wet shoes by the the time we had to move on. Good thing it was just water!

Following our quick lesson in cidra, we made our way toward the cathedral and La Regenta, a true character in the history of Oviedo.

The Catedral de San Salvador was completed in the 16th century but the original church dates back to the 8th century.