Thursday, January 9, 2025
I had a much needed night of sleep that was interrupted only by my concerns for Michael and Susan D'Antuono who are now without a home after the latest round of wildfires in Southern California.
I wish that there were something magical that I could do or say to help them but there just isn't.
I opted to start my day by exploring a little bit more of my new neighborhood.
OK, Gijón, let's see what you've
got for me today
One thing was apparent instantly
It is Winter and we are quite a bit north of the Equator. This was the view at 8:00 a.m. when I exited my apartment.
The skies began to light up finally about twenty minutes later.
I headed to the Café Luzmar Poniente around the corner for breakfast.
The Café was quiet as they had just
opened and I was their first customer
My first café con leche and tortilla
Española were both solid choices
At only 3.40 Euros, it was a bargain to boot.
I was ready to set off on what would become a 2.2 mile morning constitutional.
Lots of graffiti and lots of eating
spots not yet open at this hour
I stumbled upon a nearby butcher shop
Sheldon Cooper opened up a school?
May Day Parade poster
Work Less
Produce What Is Necessary
Distribute
Another dining spot offering
traditional Asturian food
Remember, Gijón is located in the Province of Asturias.
This music school deserved
a closer look
Most interesting
Gorgeous architecture as
the Sun rose, nice crane too
One Cool Dude!
More eye pleasing architecture
I need to find out this building's function
Good sign, good harbor
Impressive
Ode to Asturian Green Sidra Bottles
King Pelayo
Founder of Asturias in 718 A.D.
King Pelayo is credited with the start of the Reconquista, the Christian reconquest of the Iberian peninsula from the Moors.
By establishing the Asturian monarchy, King Pelayo became the forefather of all of the future Iberian monarchies including the Kings of Castile, Kings of León and Kings of Portugal.
I just liked it
A government building perhaps
Goofy Gijón based shirts for sale
City Hall, I believe
Nothing says "Northern Spain"
more than a Chinese dragon head
Lovely
Just a random church
The Cantabrian Sea was calm
but not for long
Built in 1928, the Municipal Fish Market
is now full of city government offices
Iglesia de San Pedro in the distance
Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus
The Iberian Peninsula was part of the Roman Empire two millenia ago.
Remember, in the movie Gladiator, Russell Crowe's character was called "The Spaniard."
I would find out why his statue was here a bit later in my walk.
Iglesia de San Pedro looked
great this morning . . .
. . . it was solid looking all the way around
It is a relatively new church built between 1945 and 1955 on the same site as a 15th-century church which functioned as the city's only parish church up until the late 19th-century.
The Royal Yacht Club
I've always liked this color which
is quite common in Europe
Behind these ancient walls is
an elementary school playground
A lone surfer paddling out on
Playa San Lorenzo
AHA!
The reason for the statue of Caesar Augustus nearby was these Roman Thermal Baths built between the 1st and 4th-centuries.
They were rediscovered in 1903 and are now a museum which allows visitors to see the baths and several archeological objects on the site.
It warrants a full visit in the next few weeks.
Our surfer caught a wave
Playa San Lorenzo was spectacular
at this early hour
"Remember, it is possible to live
without drinking our cocktails but
you would be living worse."
One big star
Great architecture . . .
. . . lots of great architecture!
Jesus overlooking the city
Aqua ceramic tiles are a nice touch
Basílica del Sagrado Corazón
I opted to step inside.
WOW!
The Public Library
I need to return with my passport to get a library card next week.
Iglesia de San José catching
some early morning sunshine
In 1946, this church replaced a 19th-century one that was reduced to ruins during the Spanish Civil War.
Asturias is famed for its worker
friendly, rebellious attitude
A Mexican restaurant close
to my apartment
A politically active city
"If the capitalists want war,
let them kill each other."
spot for a meeting with the Press
Pura Vida is a consortium of seven bars that have been long time sponsors of the Mariners.
Sea was getting rough as it drizzled
One of my Guadalajara Stings friends who loves Asturias told me that in this northern province you can get all four seasons in one day.
He may be correct from what I've seen so far today.
oner used by the team years ago
co-founders of the Mariners
Here he is gifting the old helmet to one of the owners of the Pura Vida.
Tony met fellow Mariners co-founder Daniel Casteñon a quarter of a century ago and found that they both had a passion for American football.
After buying a football, they started playing catch on the beach in front of my apartment during the Summer.
First there were the two them, then gradually other beach goers joined them playing catch and eventually pick-up games of touch football erupted.
This friendship and the interest for the game that others showed in playing it, led to the founding of the Gijón Mariners in 2001.
The rest, as they say, is history.
At 8:00 p.m. tonight, I finally got the chance to step onto the practice field with the Mariners team for the first time.
Warmups on a good synthetic
grass playing surface
We use this facility for practice only, our games are played in a nearby stadium that has a natural grass field.
Head Coach Nacho Valdés setting
the night's tone
The early part of practice was
devoted to Special Teams
Here we are about to Kickoff with players looking good in their new, used jerseys donated by Terry Terrazone and the St. Francis H.S. Golden Knights.
We had a sharp, spirited practice and I was quite impressed by our Defensive players techniques, aggressiveness, knowledge and quickness tonight.
We now move on to a one hour walk through practice at 9:00 p.m. on Friday followed by Game 1 of the 2025 season opener on Saturday at home against the Coslada Camioneros.
The complete LNFA Week 1 Schedule
The Eastern Conference bye this week goes to the Mallorca Voltors.
In our Western Conference, the Zaragoza Hurricanes are off this week.
A solid first day of exercise in Gijón
