Asturias

Hello Again!
Last weekend I went on a trip to Asturias in Northern Spain. I had never been to the area and had always wanted to see it. One of the English teachers in the department is from the area and offered to take us, myself and 2 other assistants, to Asturias.
It was amazing! It was unlike anything I have ever seen in Spain. It rains a lot there and so its really green. It's very mountainous so the landscape was just beautiful! They compare the area to Ireland. It was much more Celtic and European than the rest of Spain. The architecture looked more German or Swiss than Spanish, they use a lot of Celtic symbols, the language is different they even have a form of traditional wooden clogs. We stayed at Danny's (English teacher) parents apartment. They were so great to us. His Mom had breakfast all set up in the morning with fresh squeezed OJ and hot coco and his Dad kept reminding us that his house was our house. We traveled through out the province a bit. We went to Oviedo, Gijon, Llanes and Cangas and stopped elsewhere along the way. I have my pics posted online so if you get the chance check them out!
The food was absolutely amazing! I ate so much! Asturias is known for their cider. Its not like an English cider, its dryer and more acidic. Its served by someone who walks around table to table to pour. They hold the bottle high above their head and the glass in the other hand as low as it will go and pour like this. It's bottled without gas, so the pour allows oxygen to mix with the cider. The only pour you about 3 sips in each pour. The drink then has about a 3 second life, so you have to immediately drink what they give you and whats left in the glass gets tossed on the ground. It was very light and refreshing, but you have to be careful because when you're drinking sips at a time it can catch up to you!
The region is also known for its seafood. For dinner the first night we ate in a sidraria (cider restaurant). For our first course we ordered chiparones (baby squid), monk fish, and morcilla (blood sausage). Our second course was bull, brought out partially cooked and then they bring out a hot stone with a flame under it to allow you to finish cooking it. Everything was delicious. I couldn't even believe that I loved it all! It was my first time eating morcilla, and I really enjoyed it, I went back for seconds and thirds! The squid was served just lightly sauteed with out a breading or anything and the monkfish was fried. I loved it all! The beef was wonderful, keep in mind this is coming from someone who hasn't had beef in ages!
The last day we were there we went to Danny's parents cottage out in the country. His Dad built the place and did all the woodwork by hand! It was adorable! His Dad got out the cider as soon as we got there, he even let me have a hand at pouring, which was really difficult! His Mom made a huge lunch for us. Our first plate was Fabada, a typical Asturian dish made of large white beans, pork shoulder, morcilla, chorizo and saffron. The second plate was like a stewed lamb. I cleaned up everything on my plate! His Dad said that I had behaved myself very well! Dessert was fresh wild strawberries picked from their garden with sugar and red wine over top and then shots of Orujo and coffee. After lunch we headed back to Soria, its about a 4 hour drive.
I loved it in Asturias! It is just so different from anything else in Spain and it has a much more Celtic tradition in the typical dress and customs. It was a great trip and one of my favorite places here in Spain.