SPANISH ROAD TRIP Part One: MIRAZ • LUGO • GIJÓN • CANGAS DE ONÍS, 2nd to 4th October 2024

On the 2nd October we left Miraz, formally handing over to Suzy, Netty & Annie, having cooked them a handover lunch of lentil bolognese (as Suzy is vegetarian) followed by a tarta de Santiago bought from Parga market.
José Manuel drove us both to Friol, where we sat at Bar Friol nursing a café con leche each (grande for me, pequeño for Jane), catching the 5pm Arriva Galicia bus to Lugo.
I have never been to Lugo, and it was a revelation, an enchanting walled old town, in which was situated the apartment we had booked, the 'Boutique Catedral', a fourth floor corner apartment with glorious views of the cathedral.
On the 3rd, having checked out at 11am, we walked to Europcar, to collect our hire care, a Kia Stonic, and we were off, first visiting 'Terra de Luz' in Montán, which I discovered back in August while walking the Francés with Stuie. An organic meditation retreat, it is closely aligned with Jane's plans to set up something similar in northern Spain. Jane loved it, walking the labyrinth they had constructed in a field below the main house.
We then drove into Asturias, driving through thick fog, descending into Gijón where the sun shone brilliantly. Gijón was another wonderful find, the front reminding me of A Coruña. We stopped at an old bar - principally as I was busting for the loo - and I had a Radler, Jane, an Aperol spritz. Having explored the Church of San Pedro on the headland, and the old fishermen's quarter, we were soon off again, to the Parador de Cangas de Onís - described as being 'The gateway to the Picos de Europa' - housed in the former Benedictine Monastery de San Pedro de Villanueva.
The Monastery was originally built in the mid-8th century, the complex of which also includes a 13th century Romanesque church. Jane commented that both Paradors she has stayed in have been destinations in themselves, and this one was particularly beautiful.
Music: an instrumental version of Kate Bush's 'Sunset' (2005), about the beauty of the passing of time. It encourages us to cherish the moment and to embrace the memory of those moments. And the last third ends with an irresistible flamenco/rumba stomp!