Bagpipes and Books

We had a very busy day in Oviedo. Herewith, a few highlights.

We began the day with a lecture from our leader, Rick Binzel, on “Undaunted Exploration”. He told us about the various space missions he (and his students) had been involved with, including Osiris-REX (sample retrieval from an asteroid) which has turned into Osiris-APEX, which will reach the asteroid Apophis a few days after its very close approach to Earth on Friday, April 13, 2029 (don’t worry – it won’t hit us!).

Then we walked over to the University of Oviedo with a little sightseeing on the way.

Peahen roaming Oviedo
Motherhood statue, otherwise known as the fat lady
Small horse sculpture

We were greeted by bagpipers as we entered the University!

Bagpipe welcome (the Celts were here before they were in Scotland)

There were a few very short speeches by dignitaries, then we were given a very special tour of the University’s Historic Building, including the library.

Dignitaries (L to R: Javier de Cos (director of Institute of Space Sciences and Technologies fo Asturias), Borja Sanchez (Asturian Minister of Science, Innovation, and University), Irene Díaz (vice-rector for Reseaerch), Richard P. Binzel (our fearless expedition leader), and Noemí Pinilla-Alonso (was one of Rick’s students, now a researcher here)
Our guide Beatriz; you can see bullet holes from the Spanish Civll War on the arches behind her
Paraninfo
Sepharad (showing Jews were in this area befor the expulsion in 1492)
Javier de Cos in full regalia
Old (and VERY old) books in the University Library
Finally – books I could read!
Library Director’s Office
Pre-1500 interactive astronomy book
The University of Oviedo’s guide to the 1905 total eclipse
High school students produced this report on the 1905 eclipse

We left the university to walk to lunch at Sidereia La Pumarada – with more sightseeing on the way.

Headquarters of the Tailors’ Guild
A surviving fragment of city wall

I couldn’t resist trying the cider; it was good, but I wouldn’t cross the Atlantic for it.

Cider is to be chugged
Six seconds later

We had free time for the rest of the day, and took “rest” literally. We did walk to a local gastrobar, Nuevo Ayala, for a light dinner at a normal hour (6:30pm, not 8:30pm) – pizza and beer!

A short walk back to the Hotel de la Reconquista, and the best night’s sleep I’ve had for days.

Hotel de la Reconquista (our home in Oviedo)

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