Colunga: I just really like the place

I am rather attached to Colunga.  It sits along a ridge which opens out into a wider plain. At the west end is a hilltop, on which, sits the cemetery.  At the centre of it is roundabout which requires the services of the local cops at busy times.  It really has what you want of a town of under 4000. It has several bars, a bakery where the somewhat dour server was prepared to put up with my poor Spanish.  She also could be found working at the football ground on the memorable day we saw Colunga beat Llanes in the Asturan Cup.  There are several butchers, supermarkets and a market hall.  Look,  just go there. It is everything you could want in a small town and I have bought fabes beans here.


I have looked about for some reviews.  Alas, my favourite shop is not there. It probably kept going selling bread and some fresh products.  Beyond its front was a cavern of useful items for holiday makers, horticulturalists and people keen on alcohol which was still labelled in pesetas.  We bought several bottles of gin or a strange and local sort. We also have a bottle of purest green.  The bottle is nice.




My favoured panaderia gets a mere 2.8 stars.  Two days ago Natalia said ‘Very cold and distant shop assistant. I'm not saying that I serve people by singing, but not with a face as if you were bothering them when shopping. The empanada, quite average, I have eaten better ones from the supermarket. The bread, very good looking but bad in texture and flavor. I give it 2 stars for the pastries, which are not excellent but are the only thing saved from burning.’   You know the reviews of the staff are so poor I really urge you to go and enjoy this unique feature.  Maybe I would feel the same if I had any idea what was being said. I pointed  I mumbled a few words.  They gave me food.  It is more or less what I look for in a transaction.




Colunga has no great ancient faded heritage. With places like Lastres growing it just pootled along. The 16th century saw a town council form, maybe it benefited from the destruction of Lastres port by a storm.  Mind you, this growth did not go unchecked. The French sacked the place twice during the Napoelonic Wars.  The Civil War has left its mark.  An air raid shelter, just to our left as we go into town has been preserved.



We haven’t been to a supermarket recently so lets go to Alimerka. It is marked as LGBTQ+ friendly.  It appears to be at its busiest after 12 and 7. It opens from 9 till 9,30.   It averages 4 stars.  Gill Walmsley gave it such three years ago.  She said ‘vIt's always very quiet and peaceful in this shop even on a market day. The staff are helpful and pleasant too.’   Four months ago Daniel went in search of something and Google Translate says ‘Good products and very nice forgiveness’  Who knew the church was branching out.





We will push east and on to Isla.




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