Thursday, July 21, 2011

Oviedo, Spain

so so so so excited!

I'm getting my visa turned in this coming weeeeeek. But here is a bit of what Oviedo is like and what I will be doing besides studying :]

"Oviedo, considered one of Spain’s cleanest and most elegant cities, is located in the center of the mountainous terrain of Asturias. From the 35,000-year old Paleolithic Cave Art to the university walls scarred by the 1934 Revolution of Asturias, vestiges of human history are evident everywhere. Just to the north you will find the cliffs and beautiful beaches of the Asturian coast reaching into the Cantabrian Sea, and in all other directions you will see the peaks of the Cantabrian mountain range, home of Spain’s oldest and most beautiful national park. This is the natural setting surrounding Oviedo, one of Spain’s historic university towns and an ideal place for you to meet Spaniards of all ages and to deepen your understanding of the Spanish language and culture."

Oviedo

Location: The northern coast of Spain; 16 miles from the Atlantic coast and 270 miles northwest of Madrid.

Population: 225,000, with more than 860,000 in the metropolitan area.

Things to do:
-walk around the beautiful pedestrian zone
-attend a pro soccer or basketball game
-take public transit to one of the many beaches on the coast, mountain hiking trails, or ski stations during the winter
-golf at one of 4 local courses
-soak in a concert at one of Oviedo's two music auditoria, or visit one of the many museums in town

Climate:
Oviedo's climate is moderate and is generally described as oceanic (similar to the Pacific Northwest). Temperatures range from an average high in the mid-70s in the summer to an average low in the mid-40s in the winter.

Excursions:
-One-day trips to regional destinations like León, Santiago de Compostela, Bilbao, and Burgos
-Extended trip at the beginning of the semester to Barcelona, Granada, Córdoba, and Madrid