Northern Spain Trip

Monforte de Lemos to Gijón via Lugo and Ribadeo

Monforte de Lemos sits in a bowl and is prone to mists due to temperature inversion.
This was the view from our window early morning as the mist rolled in. Within minutes it was a total white-out

Lugo has the most complete Roman fortified walls in Europe (See next page)

The bridge carrying the road over the River Ribadeo towards Gijón

Stopping along the coast to admire the view

We struggled to find the Parador in Gijón, and by following the signs we ended up right outside the football stadium "Estadiu d'El Molinón". It was by now approaching 5 p.m., and unknown to us Sporting Gijón were due to play Málaga in a grudge match at 6 p.m.! The crowds of people chanting in the street and letting off fire crackers stood between us and the Parador, which is directly opposite the stadium at the end of the street. With the help and assistance of a friendly policeman we were able to make our way into the Parador car park. El Molinón is the oldest professional football field in Spain. It has been in use since at least 1908, and is located on the site of an old watermill, hence the stadium's name, the Asturian word for "big mill"...... and that "big mill" is now the "Parador de Gijón Molino Viejo".

The crowd was 21,500 strong, and Sporting Gijón won 1-0

"Come On Sporting Gijón !!!" ..... well there was no way I was going to shout for Málaga
with 20,000 " Sporting Gijón" fans in the street!

Best you wear red-and-white tonight!

Not much demand for the blue-and-white of Málaga

Gijón is built around a large curving bay (San Lorenzo), rather like Marine Drive in Bombay. We were at the eastern end, and the Hotel manager recommended that we walk to the old town at the western end for dinner..... a 30 minute walk. It was Sunday evening and the promenade was heaving with Gijónese taking the air.

Parador de Gijón Molino Viejo