Saturday, May 26 - Driving around Asturias

Another day that we had scheduled for birding and hiking in the mountains, but we awoke again to Rain! Great breakfast buffet with several local specialty sausages hams and cheeses. We drove off to explore the north side of the Picos de Europa, and as we drove higher, the weather got rainier and foggier. We got to the Mirador de la Reina at about 4000’ and couldn’t see more than 50’. As it was Saturday lots of people were there stubbornly setting off on trails, but we drove down and continued east through tiny villages along a river gorge. The weather improved and we stopped and looked down over a flower-laden bridge into bright blue water flowing over light limestone. We occasionally could see striking and strange shaped peaks. It must be an incredibly scenic area when it’s clear!

Eventually the road turned north and joined a coast highway and we turned westward. One would have no idea the ocean was there until a view of it suddenly appears. We took a turnoff when we spotted surf and drove a very short distance to a sign indicating a park featuring a “internal” beach. We walked a ways through soggy farmland to a large limestone headland and came upon a sinkhole about 300’ from the coast with an established beach in it. Totally bizarre! We climbed up onto the headland and found several small holes dropping precipitously down into the sea. The headland consists of steep jagged limestone cliffs that are undercut and obviously riddled with tunnels. Some locals were there fishing with surfcasting rods.

We returned to the Parador at 3 and went to the bar for beer and chicken and ham bocadillos that required two waiters from the kitchen bearing large dome-covered plates! We were hoping for a small snack to hold us until dinner, but no such luck! Fortunately we have a minibar in our room so we stored the leftovers and are ensured of lunch tomorrow!

We took a hike along the river towards town and were amazed to see how high the river has risen and how cloudy it was from all the rain. Returned to the hotel to find a crowd of people dressed to the nines and a very fancy wedding in progress in the old chapel.

While we were at dinner, about 9:30, very impressive fireworks started exploding as part of the wedding celebration right outside from where we sat. For once I was glad everything was so wet as it didn’t look as if there were many safety precautions being taken!