After we arrived in Gijón at noon by bus, we decided to eat some pinchos in a small restaurant at first bevor we wanted to visit our hotel, because we were all a little bit hungry after travelling so long. Then we walked to the "Hotel Castilla" and checked in. We got our keys for our rooms and got a few minutes to get ready for our first walk in Gjón. We met in front of the hotel and started exploring the city. Our first target place was the first beach of Gijón, there are two, one natural beach and a fake one, so it was told to us. We visited the natural, whereby the tides are playing a big role. When the flow comes a huge part of the beach suddenly disappears. The flow damaged some parts of the beach as well. Our second target place was the historic district of Gijón, which is located on a hill and was separated from the continent by flow in the past. Excepting the old city wall of the romans there are no older buildings obtained. A few buildings were rebuilt and there are also some new buildings in a new style prefered by the younger generation. Last but not least we got to our third target place the "Praise of the horizon" also called "King Kongs toilet" by the Spanish, which is located on the highest point of Gijón. If you stand in the middle of this huge monument you can hear the sound of the sea because of the echo effect. At last we went back to our hotel and got ready for dinner in a restaurant near "Hotel Castilla".
Our second day in Gijón started at 09:00 o'clock with breakfast in the hotel. After that, we went on a tour through the city, guided by Felix Hipp, a german teacher in Oviedo, who is born in Gijón and whose family has also roots in Germany. He showed us the old fish market which is set at Gijóns harbor, where now also exists a man-made beach, the old town with its most important buildings, such as the old nun-cloister and told us about their history and Gijóns history in general. Parts of the city are actually kept from the 16th century: a few buildings from that time still exist. When we went through the city, we found the workshop of a traditional bag-pipe maker and visited it. The bag-pipe maker told us about his work, the general history of bag-pipes and also alot about the way Asturians swear. Finally, we went to the “Museo casa natal de Jovellanos“ what is a museum named after one of the most important persons in the history of the city, set in the house where he were born. Jovellanos is so important for Gijón because he built the first public school there. The school is now used for many institutions, for example are Gijóns Community College and youth office set in there. After the city tour, we had a few hours of freetime that we used to go shopping or to the beach, for example. In the evening we ate all together in a restaurant that was booked for the whole time we spent in spain.
On Wednesday, the 30th of april, we went to Oviedo, capital of Asturia, the second biggest city in the district. At first, we went to San Julián, a really old church from the 9th century,built by King Alfons II. The unique characteristic of this, prepared to other buildings out of this age, is definitely the size. Its style is really typical, on the one hand for the Roman, on the other hand for the Muslim way of wall painting. After this we went into the historical part of the city, including the monastries, parts of the university, and a big cathedral, which is very extraordinary because of its different historical parts still existing next to each other. After having a drink in the picturesque lanes with the old-noble houses we went through a fish market, a very typical feature for Spain, what was rather foreign to us, to a dainty rice-specialized restaurant for having lunch. In the afternoon, we went to the Escuela Oficial de Idiomas in order to take part in Mister Hipp's German course, in which about ten other students learn German; most of them take also part in an English course. We introduced us and, for instance, helped each other in describing pictures. Finally, a vivid day ended in our favourite pub back in Gijón.
On the fourth day of our comenius-course-trip we decided to visit the mountains in Castillia-León which are located on the southernmost area of Asturias, but first we wanted to visit the smallest pre-romam church in Europe (Santa Cristina de Lena) which is located near Pola de Lena, upset on a hill, in which is only space for at least 10 people. Before we could entry the church we had to climb up an arduous path. The church has been used as a guard post in the past, because you got a great overview about the valleys in both sides. There were no mural paintings remaining inside the church and it was really dark and small inside. After we visited the smallest pre-roman church in Europe we arrived at the mountains by bus. We had to climb up a rocky and snowy path to reach the top of the mountain, which was a little bit difficult and claiming, but finally we made it to the top. At the highest point of the mountain there was a lake, which was iced up on several parts and was really nice to watch on. After our "hard" climbing-trip in the mountains we rested a while and had a little picnic with sandwhiches and water. Our last target goal on our fourth day was the cliff coast, located on the northernmost area of Asturias. We took a closer look on it and got such a really great overview about the ocean so that we were able to view Gijón on the other side of the coast. After our third and last target we headed back to our hotel in Gijón and prepared us for dinner in our favourite local restaurant.
On the fifth day of our comenius-course trip we decided to visit the shopping mall "Parque Principado" near to Oviedo. We went there with the train from the trainstation here in Gijón and it took us around 45 minutes to get there. In the mall, we decided to split us up and walked around from shop to shop. The whole shopping mall was as big as the shopping center "Ruhr Park" in Bochum. There were well-known shops like in Germany like "Media Markt", "H&M", "C&A", "G-Star" and "Jack & Jones". After a while we met us again and decided to get something to eat. There were a lot of different restaurants and it was very hectic. Everyone wanted to get a seat and something good to eat from one of these restaurants. The queue went up to the entries of these restaurants. Around six o´clock, we took the train back to Gijón, went to our hotel and prepared us for dinner in our local restaurant.
On Saturday we went to the Universidad Laboral, in which we took the elevator to the top of the tower of the university. It is 203 feet high and you could see the whole campus. The view is very impressive and you should see it. The university is very big and there is some kind of an own city in it. It has a theater and a headquater. The whole university is built in the style of Barock which means that it is very big and it was built in the 20th century when Franco had the power in Spain. It had the function to educate the children of the lower class people and to raise them to the ambitions of the dictator. In the cafeteria there is a paiting which shows the dictator´s idea of society. Nowadays it is again a place for studying, the university of Oviedo has some departments there and the local radio and tv broadcasting company is also there. In the evening we finally met the Portugese group and had dinner together in our local restaurant.
On Sunday we went together with the Portugese to a Valley called Valdedios, which means God’s valley. When we arrived, a local funny guide guided us through a pre Romanic church, which was built in the 9th century. He also showed us an old cloister which was built in the 11th century. We then drove to a beach, special about it was, that it was located next to a forest of eucalyptus trees. The smell of them was really intensive and extraordinary. After we had Lunch there, we got some time to discover the beach by ourselves. On our way back to the hotel, we stopped to enjoy a great view on the Atlantic Ocean, but most people were really tired after this day full of great impressions, so they couldn’t make their way out of the bus. Back in Gijon we got some free time, which most people used for a typical Spanish activity: Siesta (Which actually means taking a nap). In the evening we all had dinner together in the restaurant. This is what we experienced on our 7th day in Gijon.
On our last day in Gijón we decided to visit Avilés, but first we visited a fishing village, called Cudillero, 27 kilometers far from Avilés. When we arrived in the fishing village we had a look around. The village was very narrow, the streets small and the sidewalks were really narrow, little shops beside the streets like a bakery, a little supermarket and a kiosk such as in a real little fishing village. After we walked a few minutes down the streets we arrived at the center of the village with a few cafés and restaurants. We also took a few photos from the great overview of the ocean. After visiting the fishing village we moved forward to Avilés, where we went to the "Niemeyer center", which is built in a modern style and shines very bright if the sun comes out, because the biggest parts of it is painted in white. It is located on a really unprofitable position near the port and it seems like it will be closed soon, because of the sparse visitors. After our little visiting trip we arrived in Gijón at 7 pm. We just had 1 hour to get ready for the welcome ceremony at the school in Gijón where we all came together, the Portuguese, the Spanisch, the Czechs, the French and us. It was very nice, we met new friends, had fun and ate together. All in all it was a great evening. And with the end of this ceremony, our time in Gijón came to its end too. We said good bye to each other and went back to our hotel.
Herzlich Willkommen in der deutschen Sektion des Blogs!
ResponderEliminarGijón-Arrival/First Day
ResponderEliminarAfter we arrived in Gijón at noon by bus, we decided to eat some pinchos in a small restaurant at first bevor we wanted to visit our hotel, because we were all a little bit hungry after travelling so long. Then we walked to the "Hotel Castilla" and checked in. We got our keys for our rooms and got a few minutes to get ready for our first walk in Gjón. We met in front of the hotel and started exploring the city. Our first target place was the first beach of Gijón, there are two, one natural beach and a fake one, so it was told to us. We visited the natural, whereby the tides are playing a big role. When the flow comes a huge part of the beach suddenly disappears. The flow damaged some parts of the beach as well. Our second target place was the historic district of Gijón, which is located on a hill and was separated from the continent by flow in the past. Excepting the old city wall of the romans there are no older buildings obtained. A few buildings were rebuilt and there are also some new buildings in a new style prefered by the younger generation. Last but not least we got to our third target place the "Praise of the horizon" also called "King Kongs toilet" by the Spanish, which is located on the highest point of Gijón. If you stand in the middle of this huge monument you can hear the sound of the sea because of the echo effect. At last we went back to our hotel and got ready for dinner in a restaurant near "Hotel Castilla".
First Tuesday
ResponderEliminarOur second day in Gijón started at 09:00 o'clock with breakfast in the hotel.
After that, we went on a tour through the city, guided by Felix Hipp, a german teacher in Oviedo, who is born in Gijón and whose family has also roots in Germany.
He showed us the old fish market which is set at Gijóns harbor, where now also exists a man-made beach, the old town with its most important buildings, such as the old nun-cloister and told us about their history and Gijóns history in general.
Parts of the city are actually kept from the 16th century: a few buildings from that time still exist.
When we went through the city, we found the workshop of a traditional bag-pipe maker and visited it. The bag-pipe maker told us about his work, the general history of bag-pipes and also alot about the way Asturians swear.
Finally, we went to the “Museo casa natal de Jovellanos“ what is a museum named after one of the most important persons in the history of the city, set in the house where he were born.
Jovellanos is so important for Gijón because he built the first public school there.
The school is now used for many institutions, for example are Gijóns Community College and youth office set in there.
After the city tour, we had a few hours of freetime that we used to go shopping or to the beach, for example.
In the evening we ate all together in a restaurant that was booked for the whole time we spent in spain.
Gijón-Day 3
ResponderEliminarOn Wednesday, the 30th of april, we went to Oviedo, capital of Asturia, the second biggest city in the district.
At first, we went to San Julián, a really old church from the 9th century,built by King Alfons II.
The unique characteristic of this, prepared to other buildings out of this age, is definitely the size.
Its style is really typical, on the one hand for the Roman, on the other hand for the Muslim way of wall painting.
After this we went into the historical part of the city, including the monastries, parts of the university, and a big cathedral, which is very extraordinary because of its different historical parts still existing next to each other.
After having a drink in the picturesque lanes with the old-noble houses we went through a fish market, a very typical feature for Spain, what was rather foreign to us, to a dainty rice-specialized restaurant for having lunch.
In the afternoon, we went to the Escuela Oficial de Idiomas in order to take part in Mister Hipp's German course, in which about ten other students learn German; most of them take also part in an English course. We introduced us and, for instance, helped each other in describing pictures.
Finally, a vivid day ended in our favourite pub back in Gijón.
Gijón-Day 4
ResponderEliminarOn the fourth day of our comenius-course-trip we decided to visit the mountains in Castillia-León which are located on the southernmost area of Asturias, but first we wanted to visit the smallest pre-romam church in Europe (Santa Cristina de Lena) which is located near Pola de Lena, upset on a hill, in which is only space for at least 10 people. Before we could entry the church we had to climb up an arduous path. The church has been used as a guard post in the past, because you got a great overview about the valleys in both sides. There were no mural paintings remaining inside the church and it was really dark and small inside. After we visited the smallest pre-roman church in Europe we arrived at the mountains by bus. We had to climb up a rocky and snowy path to reach the top of the mountain, which was a little bit difficult and claiming, but finally we made it to the top. At the highest point of the mountain there was a lake, which was iced up on several parts and was really nice to watch on. After our "hard" climbing-trip in the mountains we rested a while and had a little picnic with sandwhiches and water. Our last target goal on our fourth day was the cliff coast, located on the northernmost area of Asturias. We took a closer look on it and got such a really great overview about the ocean so that we were able to view Gijón on the other side of the coast. After our third and last target we headed back to our hotel in Gijón and prepared us for dinner in our favourite local restaurant.
Gijón – Day 5
ResponderEliminarOn the fifth day of our comenius-course trip we decided to visit the shopping mall "Parque Principado" near to Oviedo. We went there with the train from the trainstation here in Gijón and it took us around 45 minutes to get there.
In the mall, we decided to split us up and walked around from shop to shop.
The whole shopping mall was as big as the shopping center "Ruhr Park" in Bochum.
There were well-known shops like in Germany like "Media Markt", "H&M", "C&A", "G-Star" and "Jack & Jones".
After a while we met us again and decided to get something to eat.
There were a lot of different restaurants and it was very hectic. Everyone wanted to get a seat and something good to eat from one of these restaurants.
The queue went up to the entries of these restaurants.
Around six o´clock, we took the train back to Gijón, went to our hotel and prepared us for dinner in our local restaurant.
Day 6:
ResponderEliminarOn Saturday we went to the Universidad Laboral, in which we took the elevator to the top of the tower of the university.
It is 203 feet high and you could see the whole campus. The view is very impressive and you should see it. The university is very big and there is some kind of an own city in it. It has a theater and a headquater. The whole university is built in the style of Barock which means that it is very big and it was built in the 20th century when Franco had the power in Spain. It had the function to educate the children of the lower class people and to raise them to the ambitions of the dictator. In the cafeteria there is a paiting which shows the dictator´s idea of society. Nowadays it is again a place for studying, the university of Oviedo has some departments there and the local radio and tv broadcasting company is also there.
In the evening we finally met the Portugese group and had dinner together in our local restaurant.
Blog Gijon Day 7:
ResponderEliminarOn Sunday we went together with the Portugese to a Valley called Valdedios, which means God’s valley. When we arrived, a local funny guide guided us through a pre Romanic church, which was built in the 9th century. He also showed us an old cloister which was built in the 11th century. We then drove to a beach, special about it was, that it was located next to a forest of eucalyptus trees. The smell of them was really intensive and extraordinary. After we had Lunch there, we got some time to discover the beach by ourselves. On our way back to the hotel, we stopped to enjoy a great view on the Atlantic Ocean, but most people were really tired after this day full of great impressions, so they couldn’t make their way out of the bus. Back in Gijon we got some free time, which most people used for a typical Spanish activity: Siesta (Which actually means taking a nap). In the evening we all had dinner together in the restaurant. This is what we experienced on our 7th day in Gijon.
Gijón-Day 8
ResponderEliminarOn our last day in Gijón we decided to visit Avilés, but first we visited a fishing village, called Cudillero, 27 kilometers far from Avilés. When we arrived in the fishing village we had a look around. The village was very narrow, the streets small and the sidewalks were really narrow, little shops beside the streets like a bakery, a little supermarket and a kiosk such as in a real little fishing village. After we walked a few minutes down the streets we arrived at the center of the village with a few cafés and restaurants. We also took a few photos from the great overview of the ocean. After visiting the fishing village we moved forward to Avilés, where we went to the "Niemeyer center", which is built in a modern style and shines very bright if the sun comes out, because the biggest parts of it is painted in white. It is located on a really unprofitable position near the port and it seems like it will be closed soon, because of the sparse visitors. After our little visiting trip we arrived in Gijón at 7 pm. We just had 1 hour to get ready for the welcome ceremony at the school in Gijón where we all came together, the Portuguese, the Spanisch, the Czechs, the French and us. It was very nice, we met new friends, had fun and ate together. All in all it was a great evening. And with the end of this ceremony, our time in Gijón came to its end too. We said good bye to each other and went back to our hotel.