Acuario.

Acuario.

Aquarium. 

I finally visited the aquarium! It was definetly worth waiting for. There were green turtles, sand tiger sharks, jelly fish, so much coral and penguins. I think the otters were sleeping when I was there, I didn't see any.  

Here are some hypnotizing jellies (turn the sound off as there's children running, and be soothed).

  

And here is a fake tropical beach to brighten your Monday.

León.

León.

Lion.

It is also the name of a city, which sounds similar to Lyon in France, which is also confusing.  

It is also very cold. 

I spent the morning there, after getting the 7am bus, on Saturday. The highlight is the old quarter which is half encircled by an original Roman wall. It also contains the famous Gothic cathedral, and its 125 stained glass windows; suffice to say I felt very small and insignificant. 

Another highlight I accidentally found was the Real Colegiata Basílica de San Isidoro. I didn't enter the actual church (see Santander for confirmed fears on this) but I did visit the Royal Pantheon which contains 12th century murals, which were stunning. I wasn't allowed to take photos for obvious reasons so peep the link: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=real+colegiata+bas%C3%ADlica+de+san+isidoro+murals&espv=210&es_sm=122&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=YkkLU-imC8Wi0QXBzYDIDw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1304&bih=646 

They also have a library with medieval texts on display and a small museum with treasures such as a jeweled chalice, a silver plate, an ivory box and bits of oriental tapestries. A personal highlight was outside the church, upon a tall pillar on the other side of the square, were 2 storks were nesting. 

Other impressive buildings included the MUSAC, the art museum which consists of a building covered in rectangles of colour, I admit I preferred the outside to the inside content. Nearby is the impressive Hostal San Marcos that used to be a convent and now operates as a luxury hotel. 

The best view of the trip however goes to the bus journey which took us through the mountains: 

 

Bocata.

Bocata.

Sandwich. 

It occurs to me that I haven't written much about what I actually do here, i.e. my job. I am still powering through every week and this week I even did overtime (or make-up time if you consider the classes missed for the pointless auxiliares meeting in Oviedo). 

The primary school and the secondary school both have now held a Día del Bocata, which literally translates as Sandwich Day. This is a charity day where one pays 5 euros to have a sandwich, the profits of which go to charity. The secondary school went all out to raise funds for the creation of a woman's centre in Zimbabwe with a bake sale and every student doing sponsored laps around the patio. The sandwich was pretty awesome as well. The primary school's, however, was more fun; I also got a proper invite and to choose my bocata in advance (chorizo). They were raising money for Manos Unidas, a Spanish charity which aims to combat world hunger. I previously, although unknowingly at the time, stumbled upon one of their pop-up shops and bought a T-shirt before Christmas.

Thus, I had lunch with the year 1s and then spent the whole afternoon supervising a rotation of activities with them. I even skipped, which reminded me of how God awful my fitness is, how probable my asthma is and not to attempt it again... 

¿Cuántas?

¿Cuántas?

How many? 

Well, how many did you get?! 

I got 10. 

And 9 were from people who aren't related to me! I must be extra charming this year... 

Yes, I also did do a Valentine's Day card making session with the year 2s. One of the cards was addressed to me and the teacher inside, but had 'I love you Mummy and Daddy' on the front in Spanish. There was also a near fight when I was cornered in the classroom while announcing who had won a paper flower I 'd made for best card. The receptionist has also done well this year, she's had a paper flower and a pop-up heart Valentine's Day card from me (well, when you're making 2/3 per week for demonstrations you can't keep them all, I have 3 flowers in a cup in my room as it is).  One boy drew a giant Christmas tree for the Valentine's Day presents drawing exercise. While another boy in year 5 suggested, in all innocence, for our present spider diagram 'a night in the bedroom', to which the teacher said to me 'he's only 10' and then to him 'what would you do in the bedroom Pelayo?!'

On that note, Happy Valentine's Day!

Temprano.

Temprano.

Early. 

My intercambio has changed both day and time. 

Therefore, I showed up an hour early today. Had to sit in the living room with her Mum (the French teacher), her brother (who I teach) and Spike the guinea pig on my lap watching an over dramatic Spanish period drama. 

Still running very much on British time...

Banco.

Banco.

Bank. 

The weekend just gone I managed to organize myself to the extent of planning my own weekend mini-break (like Bridget Jones said, but it was just me without Darcy...). I decided to visit Santander, home of the bank and, until Gijón starts its ferry route, the only ferry service to the UK from Northern Spain. I was also lucky to have sun and wind, as opposed to RAIN and wind.  

Friday was spent walking along the port, the many beaches and up to the Peninsula de Magdalena where there is a kind a palace-come-stately home and fantastic views along the coast. There is also a mini-zoo, which basically consisted of penguins and seals in rocky pools where the waves could enter. But still penguins and seals!!! I toured the art gallery, which was one of the best I have ever visited; their grouping of paintings was brilliant and the building was cosy and always had another room waiting for you when you thought you'd reached the end. I also ventured into the cathedral when the moment I have been dreading since I arrived in Spain occurred. I'm afraid of viewing churches for being offensive to those actually doing religious things (not tourist things). The cathedral had a sign allowing visits (NO flash y NO videos!) so I entered. A few more people filtered in after about 3 minutes and then the priest began 'en el nombre del Padre, del Hijo...'. I panicked and shuffled out to find in the minutes I was inside the sign had been replaced with a big red X.  

Playa de los Peligros enroute to the peninsula.

Saturday was spent touring 2 Cantanbrian pueblos recommended by my flatmate. Comillas is home to El Capricho, a building covered in sunflower tiles. Other spectacular brick piles there included the giant red brick Universidad de Pontificia, the neo-Gothic Palacio de Sobrellano and a Gothic graveyard. 

The white chairs are lined around a huge grass horse shoe behind the building.

Santillana del Mar is tiny, consisting of a single main cobbled street, all the buildings are made from golden stone. It is, despite its name, not near the sea. The jewel in its crown is the Colegiata de Santa Juliana, which includes a cloister with intricately carved pillars. 

There are bible scenes, animals and angels on some others!

Sunday involved a trip to the Maritime museum to see the small aquarium and the giant whale skeleton they display, before posting my postcards and heading home. 

Feeding time for los tiburones (sharks)!

But the only thing you really need to know is this video of a seal sneezing: 

Olas.

Olas.

Waves. 

I've been informed that South West England is having flooding trouble. Northern Spain is having wave trouble. The weekend before last I woke up to find half the muro (wall) had disappeared. 

One man has died in Ondarroa and buildings have been ripped up. The bar pictured in number 10 was where a group of us visited in Luanco, a small town along the coast, just a few hours before the waves hit: 

http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2014/02/06/album/1391707186_226392.html#1391707186_226392_1391781840