Gijon and the Picos de Europa

We have had 5 fabulous days in Gijon - it's a real place not just a tourist town and we feel that we have had a slice of real Spain here.

The town was completely rebuilt after it was destroyed in the civil war so it is fairly modern but has its own unique charm.

Gijon is in the Asturias region which is fairly rural and is famous for cider which is poured by the waiter from above the head to airate it. The famous local dish is Fabada - it has butter beans, black pudding, chorizo and ham and is delicious. 

We hired a car for a day and went to explore the Picos de Europa mountain range; about an hour away. Sadly the dog came down and we only got a few glimpses of the mountains.