... this is the region of Asturias.
WHERE IS ASTURIAS ?
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The area is in the North West of Spain, with the port of Santander just beyond its Eastern boundaries.
It borders Galicia on the West, and is a bit north of Leon and Cantabrica.
HOW DO YOU GET THERE ?
Santander is the obvious ... Read review
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WHERE IS ASTURIAS ?
===================
The area is in the North West of Spain, with the port of Santander just beyond its Eastern boundaries.
It borders Galicia on the West, and is a bit north of Leon and Cantabrica.
HOW DO YOU GET THERE ?
=======================
Santander is the obvious starting point if you are taking your car, but the ferry is not cheap, and you have ... ...this year from Stansted to Asturias airport. I was a bit puzzled as this airport also gets called Ranon and Oviedo.!
The nearest vilage is Ranon; the capital city, about 40kms away is Oviedo, and the region is Asturias.!
The flight is 2 hours from London and subject to the usual Easyjet procedures ! Of particular concern for our return flight, was the pernickety behaviour of the check-in staff in Spain who were ready ... more
Stelios has just opened up the peaks of Northern Spain to the Brits, and all I can say, is a big 'well done'. He has given us a holiday in which we peeked at amazing mountain peaks, and swam on beautiful beaches... this is the region of Asturias.
WHERE IS ASTURIAS ? ===================
The area is in the North West of Spain, with the port of Santander just beyond its Eastern boundaries. It borders Galicia on the West, and is a bit north of Leon and Cantabrica.
HOW DO YOU GET THERE ? =======================
Santander is the obvious starting point if you are taking your car, but the ferry is not cheap, and you have a lot of driving ahead.
Easyjet have just started flights this year from Stansted to Asturias airport. I was a bit puzzled as this airport also gets called Ranon and Oviedo.!
The nearest vilage is Ranon; the capital city, about 40kms away is Oviedo, and the region is Asturias.!
The flight is 2 hours from London and subject to the usual Easyjet procedures ! Of particular concern for our return flight, was the pernickety behaviour of the check-in staff in Spain who were ready to charge us excess baggage costs for having a case that weighed 23.5 Kgs instead of the regulation 20Kgs.!
We had pre-arranged a hire car through Europcar, and it was ready and waiting for us when we arrived.
WHERE CAN YOU STAY ? ====================
There are all kinds of accomodation. Holiday villas to rent, hostels, paradors, and every grade of hotel. We were very happy with the 4* Trypp Hotel in Oviedo at 50 euros per room per night. I'll review it separately.
You can stay close to the beaches, in the mountains and national parks, in the towns or villages, or like us, in the city. Although we had booked 'in the dark', knowing very little of what lay ahead, we have no regrets, and would not do it differently.
WHAT CAN YOU DO ? ==================
We dispensed with the kids long ago - not literally, but in terms of holidays, so what I am going to describe, was what a couple in the fifties did. However, we reckoned that if we had been there 20 years ago with kids, there was plenty that they would have enjoyed too - just a different balance.
BEACHES : I lost count of the number of beaches we visited in the fortnight. There are vast numbers of them, and many of them of the highest quality. The water in July was not the Med ! - but still warm enough for a good swim. The blue flag beach at Playa de Rodiles came out top for us. The weather in the area was pretty warm and mostly dry during our stay, but has a reputation for being cloudy and showery.
MOUNTAINS : Just a few miles from the beaches is a series of mountain areas. The 'Picos De Europa' is a national park, has peaks up to 2500 metres, lakes, forests, alpine flowers and butterflies by the thousand. We preferred the 'Natural Park' of Somiedo, which is not just as grand, but is less populated in July. These parks give plenty of opportunity for walking on well signed walks, climbing, canoes, quad bike trails etc.
SITES : There are a number of historic sites around the area, scores of ancient churches and places of interest like caves, museums, and cider factories!
SHOPPING : The cities and towns have plenty of Spanish shops and department stores, and on the fringes of the cities, hypermarkets and shopping malls to rival our American cousins. I have a new collection of smart and casual shirts, of good quality, Spanish design and great value. ( My congregation has been warned to wear sunglasses for the next few Sundays!!)
WHAT CAN YOU EAT ? : =================
Earleir this year, I criticised the Canary Islands for the lack of authentic Spanish meals available as compared with more bland tourist meals of steak and chips. Asturias was a delight. It will require another review to detail our excitement at various 'Menu Del Dia' treats we enjoyed, but a sample will do.! In the city of Gijon, I had the lunchtime menu. First course : Rice salad - freshly made, full of aroma and taste. Second Course : Fish - whiting? with mussles, clams, potatoes and some gorgeous gravy. Third course : Escalope of veal with chips. Desert : Creme Caramel. Bread and drinks( water or wine )- included. Total cost : 7.50 euros - about a fiver!
Only slight moan about the eating system, was the question of eating in the evening. Often cafes and restaurants closed or else stopped serving hot food, from 4.30 in the afternoon until after 9.00 pm. And then some did continue their menu of the day, and others did not.
Cider is the regional drink, and being served non-fizzy cider in the local siderias, is itself an experience worth having or at least, seeing.
CONCLUSION ============
We covered 2000 kms in our fortnight, never getting really lost. We received great welcomes everywhere we went, and had a fantastic meal made for us in one restaurant, by the owner, when no-one else was eating and there was no menu.! We did not meet a single UK or Irish tourist, and very few folk who spoke English to us - that's how we like it. We saw scenery that matched Swiss mountains and French beaches. We felt we got to understand a distinctive culture that is a great Spanish - Gallic mixture, and simply experienced a new flavour of life itself.
...the rute london stansted- asturias by plane with easyjet!!!! I'm going to london next month!!! I hope you come here XD We'll waiting for you with open arms!!!
And this week, it's raining in South of Spain, but here we've got sun!!!!! Wonderful, isn't it?
Good bye!! Adios!! ...
raul_sariegu 30.07.2004 (23.03.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Asturias (Spain)
Value for Money
Sightseeing
Shopping
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Advantages: Fast food. Disadvantages: Unhealthly Food.
Hi...
It was 1991 when i visited a Burguer King for the first time.
I was 14... a new and a greatful experience...
I never imagined, then, other alternative that Mac, and, in the place i live, Asturias, in the north of Spain, we have one king since 2000. Now we have two (the power of civilization).
Then ill beguin an objetive opinion. I enjoy every bite of the hamburguer and lick every drop of keptchup. I need to eat three of them to be full at lunch time.
The drinks have many pieces of ice (more than the iceberg that it had destroyed the titanic) and i need a big size.
In the zone that its placed a king have lesser number of cats and pigeons.
I always prefer a traditional restaurant or "sidreria" (call here) because im lossing my war against the fattness.
In the worse case i eat in one of this restarant chain (it ...
Advantages: Clean, cheap, uncrowded, scenery, friendliness of the people Disadvantages: Cost for ferries to Spain. Otherwise very little.
I recently had cause to visit the Picos de Europa in the north of Spain - in a principality called Asturias. The whole area is stunningly beautiful - Austria at half the cost.
Potes is the hiker's "capital" of the area - a quaint medieval village complete with gift shops and places selling hiking supplies. Although the most "touristy" village in the Picos it is still very picturesque.
Meals are incredibly cheap... at the Bar Genesis, a starter, main course, sweet, bread roll, glass of wine and a coffee all cost 900ppesetas (or about £3.60 at today's rate of exchange).
Don't miss walking in the area. The weather is much milder than the UK but it is not as hot as most of Spain.
Highlights include a cable car ride to Fuenta De - from where walks along the Picos ridges start. La Hermida Gorge is stunning. Tapas bars abound as do ...
Advantages: location, comfort, relaxed atmosphere Disadvantages: no hotel car park
offered, again in the restaurant. Although these menus were extremely tempting, we chose to dine in one of the many local eateries, largely because the hotel dinner wasn't served until 9p.m. and our 5 year was flagging! (Dinner is, to us, served late in Spain: they set the tables at 8 but don't expect you to sit at them until at least 8:30!)
All the staff at the Hotel Asturias were friendly and very patient with our disjointed Spanish! Take note: English is not widely spoken in this region of Spain so it's a good idea to take some lessons before you go and have a phrasebook as a backup!
The hotel does not have its own car park but there is a lay-by just to one side to pull into for unloading and loading . We were advised to park in the underground car park next to the main beach and walk to the Asturias, which we did. The parking bit was ...
cep19 28.01.2008 (27.01.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Asturias, Gijón
