Now the most important piece of news is, of course, that I braved the hairdressers. I was expecting a horrifically stressful experience, something akin to my final Spanish speaking exam, or perhaps my third failed driving test, and yet it couldn't have been easier. I used more hand actions than a French miming troupe and managed to convey that I wanted a minuscule cut and something done to the colour. The hairdresser used the word "honey" and I nodded with such ferocity that I think I scared her. It's nice to know that even in Spain my hair can generate quite a few, "wow, you've got a lot of hair, don't you?" Why, yes I do. Thankfully it all went well.
Anyway, in other, less cosmetic news. Last weekend I went back to Gijon, where I have visited many times before (see excited post relating to pinchos and a weary post relating to gin). The weather looked promising at the outset and with bus station pinchos and the tiniest coffee cup in the entire world, we headed off. Not before spotting the Real Oviedo bus at the station. I can neither confirm nor deny if this was the actual team bus - cause I have no idea. But I took a picture anyway!
Unfortunately the sun seemed to stay in Oviedo. But no matter because, realistically, how bad can things be if at 1pm on a Friday this is what I'm doing?
Gijon was lovely as always, even if the weather wasn't as beautiful as it could have been. We took a walk through the old town, along by the front, up to the peninsula and back again.
No one believed me that it was like standing inside a giant seashell until they tried it for themselves!
It has just occurred to me that I have absolutely no idea what this monument is called. Notaclue. I've always thought it's a bit of a shame that it is where it is. Looking at it from the angle of these photos it looks really spectacular, but if you look a little to the left there's miles of industrial buildings; nothing but cranes and steam. Whereas if you look to the right, there's a clear view into Playa de San Lorenzo, straight into Gijon and further along the coast. I suppose it's nice in a way; that it sits somewhere that shows the two sides of the city.
Now it's always nice to find out that things have changed in my absence as so many things haven't. For example: obviously photos were taken in front of the Gijon sign - but just not on my camera. But one change I was not expecting was a gigantic tree-like tower of cider bottles.
It would be all to easy to file this under "weird things Asturians do with their cider" but it seems that this construction was actually built to make a point. It's made of over 3,000 cider bottles and had something to do with the tradition of recycling bottles for cider. It's quite normal in Asturias for bottles to be reused over and over again. Gijon just decided to make some Art out of them too.
On Thursday my least favourite Spanish word ever made a delightful return "HUELGA." However, as this was a huelga for all public school teachers, it didn't effect me much - thank God. However everyone here seemed right in the mood for protesting and so last night before the Principe de Asturias Awards at Teatro Campoamor there was a (surprisingly organised) protest in the square opposite the theatre. God the Spanish are loud when they're angry. Due to the sheer number of people, some protesting and some waiting to catch a glimpse of the Queen, Prince or Princess, it was impossible to see anything.
The weather in Asturias right now is just bizarre. I don't remember it being this warm when I was here last time. Although I do remember that it was definitely colder after Christmas than before. But this is just weird. And annoying - I want winter clothes! At this rate I'm going to have the warmest birthday of my entire life! Hopefully the weather says nice enough for Liv's visit this weekend. Plans have been made to return to the Tierra Astur espicha and so I'm planning on not eating all week in preparation!
