D minus 1 Day - Rest and exploring Oviedo

Planned distance +- 8km (ended up over 15km today)

I planned to explore Oviedo and give the legs a much needed kick start after 2 days of traveling without much walking or exercise.

I wanted to visit the Cathedral to get my first “sello” and then set off up to the Cruz de la Victoria (Victory Cross) and perhaps visit the Cámara Santa, the only remaining room of the Pre-Romanesque cathedral built by Alfonso II.

Well that was the plan, but plans always change, I visited the cathedral and found no visitors allowed on Sundays or during mass, as mass was on I opted to walk around snapping a few pics. Popped into the towns tourist information center and got my second official “sello” (the first is always the CSJ of SA’s stamp). More roaming, it seems that there is a church around every corner, sometime more beautifully than the last. I made my way back to the cathedral and found another mass was underway.

So I took the plunge of getting the legs exercised, I proceeded through town and up the hill to find Santa Mariá del Naranco and San Miguel do Lillo. 

I cannot believe the beauty here. I met a donkey, got taken on a little detour, thanks to GPS and a slow phone, that did not stop me. Found the two structures, next I wanted to go up to Sagrado Corázon de Jesus, Maps.me wanted to take me on a few overgrown paths, so I decided to give it a miss (too much loose sand and stone). The last thing I need is to fall and hurt myself. Besides it will be here the next time I visit.

So from tomorrow I am going to have to keep a keen eye on the route and way-marks. If I do a little detour I am sure that there will be a reward attached, even if it seeing a cow, butterfly, bee, flower or something else (you get my drift). It’s all part of the experience.

After coming back down the cathedral was shut, so no sello from them. 

Now its time to relax and prepare my bag for tomorrow.

Note to self, next time you want to start a Camino, make sure you don’t arrive at your starting point on a Sunday, as most sights and shops are shut.

Here are some pictures from today

Cathedral of San Salvador

Statue of Alfonso II

Santa Mariá del Naranco

San Miguel do Lillo

Some of the paths up to Santa Mariá del Naranco and San Miguel do Lillo

The little stream I passed making my way up the hill (loved the sounds, very peaceful and calming)

Sure these are wild blackberry bushes, with bees hard at work pollinating

And the last one

More to follow, when time and WiFi permits.