A la Playa

My friend Montse has an albergue on the Camino del Norte. I took the bus from Pola to Tineo to Oviedo to Vsllaviciosa (a two day trip) and she picked me up on her scooter in Villaviciosa.

Montse lives ten minutes from the beach, so my second day with her I took the bus there. There was a little excitement because I forgot I needed a mask, and had to run back to get one.

I also flagged down the wrong bus. But I eventually made it here.

I’ve heard beaches in Spain are topless. I am here to tell you it’s true. Here’s a picture for proof.

The first topless woman I saw was lying face down on her towel. Well, women in the states do that. But then as I walked around, scoping things out, a woman walked by with everything up top swinging free. All righty, then. The vast majority cover though. Out of the hundreds of women here, I counted twelve who were going topless. I briefly, very briefly, considered making it thirteen, but decided against it.

For one thing, black leggings and hiking boots don’t really go with nothing on from the waist up. (Is it awful that the first thing offended was my fashion sense?) Two, women my age usually cover. I guess it’s because no one wants to see boobs rub a belly button. Three, I didn’t have any sunscreen, and sunburned breasts did not appeal. And four, I’m an American. A southern American at that. No matter what impulses flit across our minds, going topless is just not something we do. I wanted a nice relaxing time at the beach. Exposing myself would not have contributed to my relaxation.

So instead I walked around, then got a bocadillo (sandwich) and relaxed in the shade. For the first time, I feel on vacation.

Montse was telling me that the Camino Primitivo is popular in the fall because of the leaves. And I suddenly realized, I’m going to see the fall colors! For the first time in 58 years. I don’t have to go to New England. I’m on the same parallel. I’m excited!

Montse has each guest put a pin in the map for where they are from.

The sea was very beautiful, as the sea always is.

Now I am back in Pola, and once again “Drama buscando Juanita.” But that’s a post for another time.