Bar El Valle

My little town of Veguin may be tiny, but it has some of the most charming bars in Spain. El Valle for example is unique. I love the terrace in the back of this enormous bar. Smokers can enjoy a cigarette and I can savor my sidra and soak in the views of the Asturian mountains and Rio Nalon in the background. You will want to stop by El Valle and say hola to Monica (pictured above) and most definitely order 'una botella de sidra'

Soto de Ribera

I love foreign movies and especially those made in Spain. One particular movie Ashes From The Sky, was filmed in Asturias just miles from my husband's home. My good friend Goyo took us to find the bar that was the focal point of the movie but I don't think we ever actually found it. We did however find lots and lots of other bars! * The photos above show an apparatus used to pour a bottle of cider at your table whenever you want a drink instead of waiting for the barkeep.

Me encantan las películas extranjeras y especialmente aquellas filmadas en Espana. Una película en particular "Cenizas del cielo" se filmó en Asturias, a unos kilómetros de la casa de mi esposo. Mi buen amigo Goyo nos llevó a encontrar un bar que era el principal lugar donde se rodó la película pero ya no se encontraba allí ya que lo construyeron para la película. De todos modos encontramos muchos otros bares. Las fotos muestran un aparato que se usa para escanciar las botellas de sidra en tu mesa cuando te apetezca beber en lugar de esperar por el camarero.

bueno pinchos, malo camareru

The first time I visited this so called sideria I liked it. I ate grilled sardines fresh from the sea and my waiter , after discovering I was American wasted no time in proclaiming "Bush fucked you good, yes?" I felt an immediate fondness for this waiter as he talked. And Talked. And Talked....I did notice however that he refused to pour my sidra opting instead for a mechanical device saved for tourists. OK that irked me a little .... I don't pay taxes but I don't consider myself a tourist.
On my second visit here I noticed again that the locals were all drinking glasses of wine, but as I loooove sidra so much I ordered a bottle. Yet again I was given the stupid mechanical device shaped like a plastic apple and powered by a battery to squirt sidra into my glass. Unlike my last visit I now found him full of hot air, shit and himself. On a positive note..... this place has awesome pinchos and tapas! Unusual morsels like dates stuffed with almonds and wrapped in bacon. Mussels cooked a variety of ways, hot and cold seafood tidbits....This summer I do plan to patronize this bar again. I hope that the waiter in question has moved on to another vocation in life. No matter I guess there is an excellent chance I too will be drinking wine like the regulars.

My friends of Veguin

Please meet some of my friends that I spend time with every summer. I can tell you that I am always so happy to see these people and it is always sad to have to say good-bye.

Starting from the left is Almodovar. He is an auto body painter, loves all foods and plays cards almost every evening in Bar Corea with the same partners.

Berto is in the middle. Berto and I have 2 things in common , food and drink. We have long conversations about Spanish and American wines. Berto loves seafood but does not care much for meat and hates cheese!

Yoli is a co owner of Bar Corea. Kids adore her and vie for her attention. Yolie is one of my most curious friends about life in the United States and endlessly asks questions about my life here. She is usually Almodovar's card partner and Berto and he wait patiently while she pours cider and draught beer for the bar patrons in between hands. Unlike me Yolie hates Sidra.

Somebody drink a sidra for me because I miss it sooo much!

Puxa Asturias, Puxa Veguin!

Asturian Comida

I cant remember the street name of this part of Oviedo, and my husband isn't here to ask. Its a block or two from the Cathedral..... Anyway there are two very good restaurant's in this square. Its nice to enjoy a bottle of sidra, people watch and listen to some wonderful Asturian bagpipes. Here there is a restaurant that serves Patatas rellenas (filled potatoes) , I live for the one time a year that I get to eat this dish! Patatas rellenas are a lot of work to prepare. Its a whole potato cored and then filled with a mixture of meat, pimento, onion, white wine and spices. Lightly fried and then slowly stewed until soft and flavorful. OMG its so good! As a matter of fact that just might be the first thing I eat when I step off the train this summer!

This is Asturias

Isn't this postcard fantastic! When I was a little girl growing up on the great plains of Kansas, I would hear the word Spain and automatically think of flamenco, bull fights , mantillas (the high headpiece) and the word OLE! I never dreamed that a place like Asturias existed. When I am in Asturias I have at times to remind myself that I am in Spain. Asturias probably shares more traditions with Ireland and Scotland than with the rest of Spain. For instance the bagpipe is the national instrument, cider is the "official " drink, red heads and blonds with green eyes are as common as they are here in the U.S. If you like Celtic music you will feel right at home here! Puxa Asturias!

The Real Deal

I have a hard time walking by post cards and not stopping to browse. It drives my husband crazy, as he is one of those men that's always in a hurry! I liked this particular card for several reasons. 1. The men are enjoying cider, 2. the men are wearing madreñes. 3. The horreos are authentic. 4. This is real life in Asturias. Puxa Asturias!

Mis Amigos de Veguin

Spending the past 5 summers in Asturias, España has allowed me to make some very good friends. Two however standout. Here are my 2 best friends from Veguin, Asturias. Jose Calvillo Gomez is 93 years old. He was an officer in the Spanish Civil War. He was injured badly in a grenade attack and 2 soldiers put him on a stretcher to carry him to safety, one of the soldiers was shot and killed dead while saving my friend. Jose has had both heels on his feet badly damaged as a result of the grenade, but still walks all over town with the help of his cane. His favorite food is garlic soup and I love him. We try to meet as often as we can in one of the bars in town while he enjoys a glass of wine and I usually enjoy several bottles of sidra. My other friend is the beautiful Minerva named after a Greek goddess. Minerva owned Bar Corea for several years and that is the place where my Spanish excelled to new levels! I go there in the morning before lunch to read the newspapers visit with everyone ...and drink sidra. Minerva lives across the street from our house and will hang a flag out her kitchen window to say hello. I enjoy Sunday nights when we can get together in Bar Corea , her cousin Ovi now owns it. They have a huge family of women and its so much fun to get together and laugh and eat and drink sidra. If anybody in Veguin reads this post , please buy Jose a drink and give him a kiss from me. Traducción: Si alguien de Veguín lee esto, por favor que le den un beso de mi parte.