Lost in Lugo

Well, I knew where I was, or thought I did, but couldn't find the museum if Roman ruins for which I was looking. Once I gave up and asked someone, found I wasn't where I thought I was, and finally found the museum, it closed end of July ! Damn ... and this place has no straight lines, no simple crossroads, everywhere there's little plazas and tiny streets, oh and the odd Roman ruin covered by glass so you can enjoy without damaging.

It's an amazing place. I'm lucky to be here after peak tourist season, and once the morning fog burns off it's pleasantly warm. I think this beautifully preserved, vibrant, quirky city is what I'd hoped for, and expected, in Oviedo. 

The food and wine here is great as well, the wine by the glass rivals anything I'd drink in Perth, and although it coats a little more than elsewhere in Spain, you get tiny little tapas served with the wine as long  as you are in the bar. Even breakfast this morning was two tapas ( bread & ham, and frittata) with a good coffee.

Maybe this is a lesson not to build somewhere up in my mind, as I had done with Oviedo, but let the place/city/country speak for itself. I would come back to Lugo in an instant. 

The Roman walls, used as a walking & jogging track every evening. I walked around them last night, as obviously I hadn't walked far enough that day ( only 20km) ! The view from my bedroom window, captures some of this view of the Roman walls. Not bad for 25 euro, with private bathroom, and luxury after days of albergues. Also this pension is 5 minutes walk from the centre of the old town, which I love. 

One view of the crazy cathedral, which is a mixture of many eras

The cathedral spires, above the city

The remains of a Roman house, and Mithrean temple, which has been turned into an in-situ museum. This photograph really doesn't do justice to how clearly the outlines of the room can be seen, and how well the Spanish have blended the Roman ruins, with walkways and glass, to allow you to see without touching or disturbing the ruins. The carved post at the end was commissioned by the centurion who owned the home, to designate the Mithrean temple as part of his domus ( home). 

Original Roman mosaic

Statue of the Roman founders of the city, and the square where I seem to spend a lot of time, eating the best frozen yoghourt I have ever found, and drinking coffee. It's a lovely active public space, kids playing football, old guys playing chess, dogs sniffing around,cafés along two sides. 

The walls of the city, from outside.