Avilés had always been the great unknown of Asturias for me. The region’s two main cities, Gijón and Oviedo, tended to take all the spotlight, while Avilés remained a place I merely passed through, never actually stopping to visit. But this year, for the first time, I made a point of visiting, and since then I’ve returned many times. I’ve fallen in love with the city, its architecture, its streets, the Niemeyer Center, its compact and accessible layout, its industrial zone, its estuary, the surrounding areas, and its proximity to so many of Asturias’ breathtaking landscapes. Without meaning to offend anyone, I have to admit it’s my favorite city in Asturias.
On one of my recent visits, I wanted to explore the other side of the estuary, where the industrial zone and the San Juan Lighthouse are located. But once I crossed over, my plans were quickly disrupted by a cycling competition. I tried every possible way to get around it and reach the lighthouse, but it was impossible. Each time I thought I’d found an alternative route, I ran into another checkpoint blocking the way. A bit frustrated, I gave up on seeing the lighthouse and decided to keep exploring the coastline instead.
In the end, the afternoon turned out to be very productive, I discovered some truly picturesque spots. Still, I felt a little disappointed about not reaching the lighthouse, so before heading home, I decided to give it one last try. This time I got lucky, the road was clear. But the sun was already setting, and I only had a few minutes of light left, so I was a bit anxious. I reached the lighthouse just in time, quickly grabbed my camera, and searched for a good composition. In the end, I managed to take the photo, with the added bonus of capturing the lighthouse shining out toward the horizon. Perseverance doesn’t always pay off, but sometimes it does.
