The next morning we came down to a wonderful breakfast which consisted of toast and home-made jams, eggs from the chickens that followed us around and milk from the cows we could only hear. After breakfast we went for a walk around the farm that took us down the hill to part of the farm we had not toured the night before. One thing I enjoyed and photographed were the spider webs with dew on them. In the sun they glissened and I think that made for a wonderful picture, hopefully. Truly a wonderful spot that we would recommend to anyone.

From the hotel, we headed to the Picos de Europa National Park. We talked to the people at the Posada and they recommended a hike from La Molina. It was about 35 K from the hotel to La Molina where the hike began. The hike went through the little town and up the hill along a small but wild stream. It was in a steep canyon with lush follage everywhere. The hike was only a couple of miles long with a very cold and short and refreshing swim at the end.

                We then headed down the valley to find a place for lunch. It took us awhile as we still have not solved the “no Euro” problem but finally we found a very locals place. I think we were the only non-locals in the place. The food was great and the people were nice especially the waitress who took particularly good care of us.  This was Jim’s first experience of a typical Spanish noon day meal.  G was glad that he got to see it, taste it, love it!

                After lunch we made it back to the freeway and onto Gijon. We would be saying in a NH hotel which is just a hotel as opposed to the others we have been staying in which were all their very own unique experience. It was located on the waterfront with a bigillion people there for the Cider festival. We were also really lucky in finding the place. We went right to it with no major or even minor mishaps. We also went right to bed and didn’t get up for 14 hours.

We drove right into Gijon and right up to our hotel.  It was amazing! A first! And that alone was something to celebrate- but even though we saved ourselves hours of circling the city, and eventhough it was Saturday night during the height of the Cider festival and eventhough this is the biggest event of the year for the Gijonians, G and I were both so tired that we drove in through the crowds, saw the beach, and went to bed.  In Gijon, we slept, ate breakfast, left our cooler and departed!

                We didn’t see much or any of the Cider festival and somehow that seemed OK.

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