It's 7:15 a.m. and I'm trying my hardest to get out of bed. I have only gotten around five hours of sleep and have no idea what we are going to do for the day. All I know is that we are going to an area that is known to be very beautiful and is full of history. Once I hear my roommates up and running around the apartment, I get up and start getting my stuff ready for the day.
Our destination is Covadonga, a historical site that I have been dreaming about since I first learned about it in my Spanish history class. This is the site where the King of Asturias, Pelayo (pronounced: pel-ai-yo) fought off the Moors who had taken over almost all of Spain and Portugal in 722. That's a long time ago! This battle marked the beginning of the Spanish quest to re-take the land the Moors had taken from them.
Our journey began with a long bus ride to the town of Cangas de Onís. Here there is a famous bridge that was built sometime in the 1300 to 1400s! It’s beautiful to look at, and it enhances the view of the town, mountains and river. In the middle of the bridge hangs a large cross that a replica of the cross that Pelayo carried with him during the battle of Covadonga.
