TE19 Iberian Adventure

Manuel Astur

become the prince of depravity and madness. It is also known for the eternal silence and the eternal bad weather, although these are not exclusive to the municipality. It has been inhabited since pre-Roman times, as evidenced by the many small settlements unearthed by faineant archaeologists. Beyond this, no figure worthy of mention has emerged from here throughout the course of human history. Indeed, merely to keep up with its neighbors and also to be able to boast a bust in front of the town hall, they placed one of a rural teacher from the early 20th century whose only claim to greatness was to teach the alphabet to a few children without hitting them. Although San Antolínwas a Frenchmartyr from the fifth century, the illustrious patron saint of hunters, the parish church is dedicated to San Antonio, who is the patron saint of animals. This contradiction has never bothered anyone. San Antolín can be reached from the south by descending some forty kilometers of curves and cliffs through the La Grada mountain pass at Leon. Alternatively, it can be reached from the north, from Villar, after leaving the comfortable high-speed motorway that crosses the whole of Asturias, overlooking the Cantabrian Sea, and continuing for twelve kilometers along a regional road that runs alongside the river Neva. This road is usually taken by younger inhabitants wishing to escape and by rural tourists wishing to arrive. The latter usually wear hiking clothes, as if they were going to brave the Himalayas rather than eat a San Antonio’s arrow - a popular local dessert made of eggs and sugar, drink some cider, and buy some handicrafts. Admittedly, the feelingof leaving themodernworld behindcanbe 202