Dear God I'm old (part 2)

Following on from that epic picture of Mum and Dad at lunch, the rest of my birthday was spent buying a very expensive pair of boots (as a present to myself) and going for dinner at a really lovely restaurant. After that it was time for the Oviedo lot to "meet the parents" so off we went to "That Robin Hood bar" as Alwyn so eloquently put it, for some more drinking. I was presented with a copy of Pride and Prejudice in Spanish - hours of entertainment to be had! The family withdrew at about midnight and we journeyed on for our classic night out in Oviedo which as always, featured a trip to BATCAVE!

Those tiny little shot glasses could be my favourite thing about Spain...

The next day (hangover in check with a healthy dose of paracetamol and caffeine) we took the train to Aviles. Our first stop was the Oscar Niemeyer centre, which is the first thing you see when arriving at the train station in Aviles, because its HUUUUGE! 

Rachael's pictures are much better obviously. But you get the idea. It's huge. It's white and yellow. It's a crazy shape. And it's built out of concrete (eh?) The idea was to make something really amazing to sit in the middle of the industrial part of Aviles -and it definitely does.

The English Lit geek inside of me was also quite impressed by the exhibition celebrating the 400 year anniversary of Don Quijote, even though I've still never read it...

I don't know if they selected certain parts of the novel to use in these sculptures but I like the idea that "amigos" just ended up on the edge like that by accident!

The rainbow coloured bridge which led into Aviles itself also gave ample opportunity for posing...

See, cause we're all wearing green. Cool innit?

And cause Dad was wearing purple. Coooooool? 

So even though we had a great time at the Nieymeyer Centre, I'm pretty sure that the one thing that my family will be able to tell you about Aviles whilst reflecting on their trip is "There was nothing to eat." This is true. For some reason Aviles was empty. Now I know what a Spanish Town during siesta looks like, but this was no siesta! We couldn't find food for love nor money. Eventually we managed to locate a little cafe who made us bocadillos (which were inhaled more than eaten) but there was obviously something going on in Aviles on Saturday that nobody told us about...

On Sunday we went to Mass at the Cathedral - it turns out that there is no "Big Mass" in Oviedo, as 11.00 was just as quiet as all the others. Afterwards we took a little walk into Old Town to watch the bagpipers play in Plaza de Espana. I was going to upload a video of the pipers but for some reason it's not working properly so I can't. I wanted to get some Scottish opinions on what exactly it is that's different between their bagpipe music and ours. We thought that maybe it was the beat, or the rhythm; I don't think anyone would march into battle against the English to the sound of Asturian pipes!

And kilts are obviously much more manly...

We're still getting along.... promise!

We then took a trip to Gijon and had a walk around the town and along the sea front. For some reason the weather was unbelievable on Sunday so we got to have a wander around in the sunshine!

On Monday morning Rachael came to school with me and was interrogated by my two first year classes, who didn't really know what to say to her, although one boy: was a legend.

George: "Rachael, do you disco in Falkirk?"

Rachael: "No, I don't."

George: "Okay, I have another question. This question is for Rebecca only, do you disco in Edinburgh?"

Me: Yes George I do.

Leg-end!

For the rest of Monday we walked around Oviedo again and had a look at the Cathedral Museums and Cloisters, which were worth a look. And kind of creepy because it was getting dark! After that we went for a drink in "the sparkly bar" as I have dubbed it, which is the cutest bar ever with lots of fairy lights and bottles hanging on the walls. And then finally it was time to say goodbye....

And although this didn't happen over my birthday weekend, I want to tell you about it anyway.

So my first years found out that I speak Spanish today, and proceeded to interrogate me in Spanish - which let me tell you, is just stressful. They also asked me to sing to one of them who's birthday it was. 

Not to mention, last night I got a note from two of the girls (via Holly who tutors them) regarding the state of their love lives. 

I LOVE THIS CLASS!!

And, I might make them some scones soon, but only if they keep being this awesome!