Cafra Thru the Centuries: Coastal Camino and dinosaurs

We started the next day with a short tour of Llanes to look at some of the medieval architecture. We also saw a unique way of delivering bread.

Then we continued on the northern or coastal camino along the Bay of Biscay. Our first stop was at a beach side restaurant for coffee with is very helpful in providing the energy for a walk. While sipping coffee we were joined by a German walker and his dog. They were covering the entire route over a month. We saw the Spain way for holding grain. A square 'house' high off the ground to prevent rats from getting to it.

We continued further along the coast and then into a eucalyptus forest. Eucalyptus is planted because it grows quickly and can be harvested. The smell in the forest is delightful as it smells as you would expect, like fresh eucalyptus. We climbed in the forest in a step climb. Once at the top, we needed to come down and we jumped back 150,000,000 years as at the bottom of the hill was a surprise treat. We found dinosaur footprints from a brontosaurus and a smaller version of a t-Rex. They were on the rocks along the beach and although well labeled, they were completely exposed to the elements.

We finished our walk at a beach restaurant with octopus, squid, ham and potatoes coquettes and shrimp salad. After lunch we drove to Oviedo, all sleepy from wine and cider.

We finished the day with a walking tour of Oviedo. Oviedo is the capital of the principality of Asturias. Alphonso the Chaste is considered the founder of the Camino de Santiago when he heard that St James was buried at Santiago. As the Moors controlled most of Spain in the 600-700s, Asturias and Oviedo was one of very few cities they did not occupy. Among the first sites we saw was a monument to 'the travelers'. You find these throughout northern Spain to honor those who left Spain to go to the New World - north and south america, and who were successful and came back to show off their success. We learned about the shroud of Oviedo - very similar to that in Turin. The cathedral has amazing gold leaf artwork and was filled with pilgrims who had just been to Fatima where the pope created some new saints. Original pilgrims left the Camino to visit Oviedo and it's shroud. We saw a 9th century church and learned that the first fight against Moors was won in this city. We also saw our first Celtic art.