I took this snap on my phone yesterday as I wandered back from my neighbours’ house at twilight. It’s a bench that sits on the side of the road a few metres from our house. The Asturian countryside has a high bench to people ratio. In our tiny hamlet there is a total of 4 benches and a permanent adult population of 18. Benches are, of course, for sitting on. This one, as you can probably make out from the photo, is under a large fig tree and is the perfect spot to rest out of the heat of the midday sun and to while away half an hour or so, watching the world go (slowly) by or chatting to a friend. A few metres away around the corner in the plazuela (not quite so big or grand as a village square) is another, shadeless, bench; better suited to cooler winter days when there is nothing more nourishing to soul and body than to sit for a while with face upturned to the sun. But back to this bench. Alongside the fig leaf you see poking through the back slats is a well-ripened pepper and underneath the seat is a pair of discarded clogs, both indicators of its location next to the entrance of my neighbour’s huerta (veggie plot). This is the spot where she kicks off her ‘madrenas’ as she exits the field. These Asturian clogs, with their stilts for traction and to keep them out of the mud and their ample size to accommodate the wearing of slippers within, may be funky looking but they are eminently practical. (Before you ask, no, I haven’t got a pair. I haven’t *quite* worked up the courage yet. For now I’m sticking to wellies.) I’ll often see Rosi’s impressive harvest haul piled high here before she stores it in the barn or leaves it to dry under the eaves of the horreo. Often she’ll leave some fresh pickings on the bench for me to take for our tea. It sure beats the supermarket. If you fancy some bench-sitting in Asturias yourself why not take a look at some of the lovely country houses we have for sale in Asturias. With some land to work you’ll have a great excuse to buy yourself some clogs!
Asturian Still Life
Rustic Cabañas
For many, the dream of a new life in Asturias is best characterized by the traditional stone built cabaña. Typically located in out of the way places of outstanding natural beauty these charming rustic buildings are mostly set in their own large fincas – perfect for those looking to both get away from it all and to live a more self-sufficient life.
And, perhaps best of all, these traditional cabañas are often on sale at unbelievably low prices!
An idyllic, picture book cabin, ready to move into, with 7,000m2 of land and uninterrupted views to the Redes Natural Park and Picos de Europa mountains for just €30,000 anyone?
Or a cabaña in need of renovating that comes with a lean-to and 18,000m2 of land all for only €20,000?
![If it´s absolute tranquility and surrounding yourself with nature that you´re after, then a cabaña may be just the thing for you.](https://i0.wp.com/oregon.footholds.net/~spanishp/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/IMG_8560-300x200.jpg?resize=300%2C200)
If it´s absolute tranquility and surrounding yourself with nature that you´re after, then a cabaña may be just the thing for you.