The beginning of October, Monday 2nd was a lovely warm sunny day, so afer working most of the day, we headed out for a meal. Successfully finding the original local restaurant reccommended by our host at around 4.30pm, we sat outside in the sun & wondered why no-one came out to serve us. After ten minutes or-so, thinking perhaps we’d not been seen, Rob went inside to order, only to return disappointed that they were closed.
No matter, we went to Villivisiosa, but found the same thing:
“too late for lunch, but too early for dinner“
we were told, so unable to treat ourselves to a meal!
Used to eating around 5pm-7pm, we struggled with the Spanish siesta & late hours of eating throughout our stay. One restaurant closed for food at 2pm then didn’t open again until 9pm! The Spanish eat late then start work relatively late at around 10am the following day. Small businesses generally opened 10am-2pm then 4pm-8pm with restaurants serving up-to 2pm then opening again for the workers to eat from 7.30pm or later. It was strange to drive around town in the evening in rush hour traffic, but pleasant to be able to stroll around a town full of activity well into the evening.
Following this bright day, it was a miserable wet week so I stayed-in & worked. As our experience with this accommodation proved, it was best to initially book a new place for a short while, just in case it wasn’t suitable. This meant using holiday accommodation websites which wasn’t the cheapest method, however, most holiday lets provided all facilities all inclusive. Therefore, we budgeted by adding up the cost of all monthly bills we’d paid in the UK (rent, council tax, water rates, telecoms, insurance, heat & power etc) to give a more realistic figure. After accommodation, our basic living costs were for food & fuel.
As we had no set schedule or destination in mind, our temporary homes were always dependent upon hosts who accepted pets, had internet & a garden. This limited our choice & being unable to find anywhere suitable in Asturias (it would have been nice to spend more time near the sea), we found a place around three hours drive inland in Galicia.
As mentioned, we’d struggled to find a decent size supermarket so shopped at small local stores (actully happy to put some
income into the local economy), but wondered on more than one occasion where the locals buy food! On the very last evening before departing, we drove back a different way into Villaviciosa & found a large square with a central park & restaurants, grocers & supermarkets all the way around! All the times we’d been into town, walked the streets & completely missed this area. We were later to prove again that you need more than a few days in a place to find all facilities & become familiar with everything a community has to offer.
During the week we fetched Rob’s PC back & he happily set this back up in the lounge in the main house. However, in the middle of the week a Dutch WOOFA girl arrived in her camper van & was installed into rooms adjascent. All of a sudden the dynamics changed as our hosts who had been missing for most of the time were suddenly there & attentive, cooking & ensuring Twink was settled.
We felt in the way. We were paying guests, forced to use the main house to access the internet & cook for ourselves, whilst Twink was provided with food & lodgings in exchange for helping on the farm. It was great to spend time with everyone, but frustrating fighting for time in the kitchen & having our stuff moved out of the way in the lounge. Twink was also wary of dogs & noisy Roxy barked everytime she came close.
Fortunately, we’d soon be on our way!
Saturday dawned bright & sunny so as we packed-up the car & cleaned the apartment, I was disappointed to be busy rather than back on the beach eanjoying the good weather. Once again, the car was full to the brim & with all of us cramped as we setoff for Lugo in Galicia.