So it was my cumpleaños..

I haven't blogged in time because all the things ever happened and I've been busy turning 21. But here you are, the long awaited (I'm just guessing you've been anticipating it) blog of my birthday shenanigans. 

So side note, in the centre of Oviedo there is a big, let's for want of a better word call it a flower bed, in which the date is written in sliced up turf and stones, and it changes every day, nobody knows at what time or by who, well one would presume someone does but let's keep the air of mystery about it. So, the plan for my birthday eve was to go and sit and await the grand changing of the date. However this plan failed for two reasons, it was raining and I drunk a lot of 1 euro wine and fell asleep. 

Then it was officially my birthday I opened all my lovely cards and presents and ate a fried egg, bacon and baguette combo. I then spent the day watching a lot of films and exclaiming every now and then that it was my birthday before going out to a phenomenal Italian for tea and eating all the food in the world, followed by cake. Following the previous nights fail, we decided to walk to the centre so I could take my photo with my birthday date. It was pouring with rain and I got very wet but I think it was worth it. 

Me and my birthday.

Warning the next few paragraphs feature Olivia Mitchell. If you were hoping that you'd got rid of her when I left Paris I'm sorry to inform you all she's back.

So we spent Friday buying decorations and a garden gnome and decorating the flat before I went to collect the aforementioned Olivia Mitchell from the bus station. Many squeals of excitement later we were back at the flat in time to prepare for the grand soirée of my party. Whilst we were getting ready we heard a band playing and a kerfuffle on the street, so we went onto the balcony to investigate. It wasn't what I had first thought that Oviedo had put on a parade for my birthday, it was in fact the slightly more celebrated festival of Semana Santa, or Holy week/Easter.

Many people came, much alcohol was drunk, many games were played, much vodka jelly was smeared everywhere, more alcohol was drunk and then apparently we went out, so I'm told. I had a brilliant night with wonderful people and I'm sure I'll remember it for a long time to come, well apart from the parts that I have no recollection of, sadly they're gone forever. 

The next day was spent 99.9% in bed hungover eating and 0.01% moving (but only really to get more food).

View of Oviedo from el Cristo

On Sunday we went for Brunch (at 2pm) at 26 grados, which does the most wonderful of brunches consisting of a bagel as big as your head, 2 pastries of choice, fresh orange, coffee and then because it's Spain a random glass of Peach Bellini, just because why not? We then climbed up to the Cristo, which is the statue of Jesus on top of the mountain that overlooks Oviedo. When I say 'climbed' I really do mean it, one part is literally vertical. The views at the top are pretty amazing and it's well worth the sweaty climb up and it was such a sunny day!

And that was my birthday weekend. Mucho alcohol, mucho friends and mucho fun*.

*all 100% grammatically correct Spanish.

El Cristo himself