We didn’t wake until 7:45 am and took our time because today was to be a short day. We
stopped at a cafe in Pola de Lena for breakfast with our friends Francisco and Damian. We
ate breaded chicken sandwiches. And to drink, cafe con leche for Mark and Cola Cao for me.
We walked 14 km, mostly beside the main highway and river, on service roads and walking
paths. The sound of traffic overpowered our usual soundtrack of birds and livestock bells. We
have left the quiet mountains and pastures and have reached the more populated places of
Asturias, also beautiful and welcoming, but loud.
We are staying in university dorms tonight in Mieres. I have a single room with a private bath.
My room looks over a dog park and… a mountain.
Mieres is another long and narrow city with a lovely centre square full of shade, playgrounds,
and ringed by restaurants and cafes. Mark and I ate at La Brujala Cafe outside in a covered
patio. Mark ordered a burger and fries but I wanted some salad. I opted for a combo plate
which also gave the same healthy portion of fries, a slice of pan fried chèvre, two fried eggs, a
small salad of greens, red onions and tomatoes, a cheese burger without a bun, a charred red
pepper, and a bun. Go figure, my meal was cheaper at 12euros. Sometimes not Google
Translating the menu pays off.
We are only 20 km from the end of Camino San Salvador. Tomorrow we will walk into Oviedo,
the Capital of the region, Asturias, and visit the cathedral to get our completion certificates. A
quick exploration of the city and we will be off again the next day, walking the Camino
Primitivo. Resting a day in Oviedo is a possibility but because it is Easter Week, any
accommodation other than an albergue is either full or overpriced. Albergues usually only
allow one night stays. Two shorter days in a row may be all the rest we need.