After all of the traveling I have been doing throughout Spain and Europe (stay tuned) I like to think that I have picked up some tricks of the trade.
- I have become a pro-packer. One backpack, a jacket, a purse and I am good for at least 3-4 days.
- There are plenty of options for cheap transportation in Spain. Train, plane, bus, car, my own two feet… whichever way is most affordable (I’m still a poor college kid) I will be on it.
- AirBnbs are surprisingly cheaper and more comfortable than most hostels. Thank you modern innovation.
However, my recent weekend trip taught me that there are a few things I still have to learn…
Friday night two friends from the University and I caught a Bla Bla Car* to La Coruña, a cute beach town on the west coast of Spain. La Coruña was just adorable. It reminded me a lot of Oviedo, but had its own character. We spent the night wandering the streets and getting a feel of the night life.
The next morning, we got up at the crack of dawn to try and see the sunrise on the beach. Well.. we probably should have checked the weather because when we got to the beach, the sky was so dense and cloudy that you could hardly see anything. The beach was nice and calm though and we were able to follow it up to the Torre de Hércules, the oldest lighthouse in the world.
Within the hour it started pouring and out of my own stubbornness, I had yet to buy an umbrella (Arden: 0 Weather: 2) so after a quick snack we caught the train to Santiago de Compostela.
Santiago de Compostela is a town with a lot of historical significance. Manly, it is known as the final destination for the Camino de Santiago, a religious route through Europe that was taken by the pilgrims. Now, it serves as a tourist activity. I actually see quite a few backpackers in Oviedo who are making their way to Santiago de Compostela. Unfortunately the rain followed us there and didn’t let up, so by the end of the day my toes had turned pruney and my jacket was a shade darker. The cathedral was under construction, but it was still nice to experience what so many before us had traveled far and wide to see.
After a delicious Menu del Día**, we caught our ride back home to Oviedo in time for me to have dinner with the “family”. The next day our program director, Ana, took us to el Museo de Minerías and el Museo de Sidra. Both important parts of Asturian culture and interesting to learn about. I still haven’t mastered the sidra pour, but I’m working on it 😉
*An awesome European form of transportation. People can post their trips and offer up spots in their car, generally for the price of gas.
**You will never go hungry in Spain. For 8-10 euros you get 2 plates, a dessert, bread, and your choice of wine, water, beer. I have finally mastered the Menu del Día, I can eat almost everything now.