Oviedo, capital of Asturias

 Welcome to Oviedo, the elegant and charming capital of the region of Asturias.  We arrived yesterday afternoon and, after two days of exploring, feel like we already know the city.   We are staying in a hotel located in the heart of the city and close to the festivities for the Fiestas de San Mateo.  The streets are strung with lights in celebration of the festival and there are several drinking kiosks set up throughout the city with music playing until late into the evening.  The festival lasts for a full week and features concerts, children's activities (organized by a group known as Chiqi Tin) a parade and fireworks.  Enjoy below our first photos of Oviedo - they speak for themselves.

 

 Seen above in lights is the flag of Asturias.

 The street above - Gascona, el bulevar de la sidra - is 1/2 block from our hotel and lined with Sidrerias:  restaurants that specialize in serving the official beverage of the region, sidra.

 Oviedo's casco antiguo (older part of town) is full of crooked, narrow streets that lead to beautiful plazas.  The architecture is so beautiful, whether old and weathered or impeccably maintained and freshly painted.  Everywhere you go there is a mix of old and new, with many building currently being restored and renovated.