Architectural Models in Stone

Source: ElComercio, Luis Caso, July 9, 2007
The former farmer Benigno Runza in Villaviciosa relaxes by building miniature stone models of famous early Romanesque buildings in Asturias such as the church Santa María del Naranco. He started with an hórreo (an Asturian grainary), then went on to a house, followed by churches. He is currently working on the church Santa María de la Oliva in Villaviciosa.

Two children looking at a photo on a digital camera in Colunga,
Asturias, Spain during the festival for Nuestra Señora de Loreto

Portuguese Vessel Fined €50,000 for Fishing off Ribadesella

Source: El Comercio, July 9, 2007
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fishing, and Food (MAPA) has opened up a legal case against a Portuguese ship after Asturian ship owners handed in denunciations claiming that vessels from that country were fishing within the twelve mile territorial limit of the principality.

The ship that has been sanctioned was the Foz de Nazare, a vessel which was surprised while illegally fishing in the Resueste fishing grounds north of Ribadesella. The ministers responsible for protecting Asturian waters agreed that this was a grave infraction. According to first estimates the Portuguese shipowner will be obliged to make a deposit of €50,000 to get back the ship while the case is pursued in the courts. This is the first Portuguese ship that has been sanctioned by the Spanish administration among all those who legally fish with in the Cantabrian Sea since an accord was reached between both countries regarding maritime activities in January 2004. The ship had been fishing on days when the fishing fleet was required to stay in port and it was using equipment that is forbidden by law. After the case is settled the ship will face a fine of up to €60,000.

Potato in the Shape of a Dog Eaten by Local Man

Source: Spanish language article in El Comercio, July 10, 2007

The curious 1.7 kg potato that looked like a dog and has been on display at Francisco Javier Alonso's tavern Londres in La Calzada, Asturias was used to make a tortilla last night at 7 p.m. Alonso invited his customers to taste the tortilla, and they commented that it was very good, with no discernible dog like taste. The potato came from the Cantabrian village of Valderredible, and was the type called Baraca. The Baraca potato is the only type of Spanish potato with a Protected Denomination of Origin license issued by the European Union.

50 Year Old Fisherman Falls to Death Off Oceanside Cliff

Source: El Comercio, E.Sanromán Pimiango, June 25, 2007

The coast of Ribadedeva at Pimiango claimed the life of a local man yesterday. Roberto García left his home at six in the morning to fish at his usual spot near where the Tinamayor river enters the ocean. And this was the spot where he lost his life. His body was found half-submerged in one of the three caves at the base of the cliffs, at 5:40 p.m. the same day after his car was seen on a nearby path. He had last spoken to his family by mobile telephone at eleven that morning. Emergency services were called by his family at four in the afternoon and began the hour and a half long search for him.

Easter Island Sculpture in Gijon

A large 150 kg. Easter Island like monolith has been installed on San Lorenzo Beach in Gijon Asturias near ramp 15 as part of the Semana Negra art festival.

Ribadesella Adds Jet Skis to Its Lifeguard
Equipment and Llanes Adds Defibrillators

The principality has provided new equipment to make the beaches safer this summer. In concrete terms, this season visitors to the Santa Maria beach in Ribadesella will benefit from the acquisition of a Yamaha jet ski, which cost €16,924. Palombina beach in Llanes received six defibrillators. This year the principality will be spending €538,574 for lifeguards on Asturian beaches. And this year Ribadesella has been chosen as the location for many training courses for the principality's lifeguards.

Newly Renovated Outdoor Pools Open in Oviedo

Source: El Comercio, Aida Collado, June 23, 2007

Two newly renovated pools have opened for the summer in Oviedo at the athletic fields called El Cristo. The main pool for adults measures 4,600 ft.² and is 1.6 m deep, the smaller pool for children measures 400 ft.² and berries in depth from 0.3 to 0.4 m. The renovation of the pools cost €580,500, and was part of the renovation of the entire sport complex, which including the soccer field, cost €1,200,000. Last year the sports complex was used by 320,000 visitors of which 24,000 used the old pools.

More of the Ana Mine Pipe Now Visible at Vega Beach

Source: El Comercio, Juan Garcia, July 6, 2007

Users of Vega Beach and neighborhood residents of the small Ribadesella community request urgent action to solve the sand situation before August. They believe that only a light intervention is necessary to bring everything back to normal. "Just a simple bulldozer would solve things," said the beachgoers.
This beach has experienced significant changes after the storms of the last winter and the growth of the Acebu River this past spring. The riverbed has moved its mouth, generating new and dangerous currents along the beach. At this time, the loss of sand on the beach has revealed many stony areas and what is worse, you can now see the water pipe from the Ana mine, which somewhat prejudices the viewer against this beach which is cataloged as a Natural Monument.

Renting an Apartment in Llanes This Summer Will Cost Approximately €1200 for Two Weeks

-- Renting a House in Ribadesella May Cost €3000 a Month and up to €6,000 Next to the Beach

-- To Rent a House in the Principal Communities of the Oriente Region in Asturias for the Entire Year Costs between €300 to €500 per Month
Source: Article in El Comercio, by Guillermo Buergo

Nearly a thousand people in Llanes and Ribadesella need apartments, and the question is to buy them or rent them. A great factor that inhibits a purchase is the price: it is impossible to find an apartment of 600 ft.² for sale for less than €180,000. And yet renting is also difficult because not many apartments are on the market.

Purchasing

For the last couple of years the town government in Llanes has maintained a list of people employed in the town who are looking for an apartment. Right now that lists contains 399 names. Some need apartments quite urgently. This situation is similar in Ribadesella.
The typical profile of someone looking for an apartment is: less than 35 years in age, single, no plans of marriage and with an income between €600 to €800. Such numbers have led to the situation in Llanes where at the moment 3,309 apartments are being built and there are short-term plans full 1,640 more. Yet among all these new apartments only 3% of the buyers come from Llanes. There are entire blocks of apartments without a single local owning an apartment in the building.

Renting

Real estate agents in Llanes admit that there are not many apartments to rent and explain that there are two ways of renting apartments: renting by season or renting for the entire year.
It is difficult to find an apartment of 600 ft.² that rents for less than €500 a month and single room apartments are difficult to find at €300 per month. For the summer season, the price is approximately €1,200 for two weeks during the months of July and August.
In Ribadesella the numbers are somewhat lower. An apartment of 600 ft.² rented out for the entire year generally costs €400 a month and for an efficiency of one room €200 to €300 per month. Not Ribadesella is the jewel in the crown by national standards, and to rent a small mansion for the summer such as those in Tezangos or Ardines can cost €3000 a month. To rent a small house in the beach area and cost between €4,200 and €6,000 per month.
And if these of the problems that face those who want to rent an apartment, there are no fewer problems for the owners of an apartment who would like to rent them out. Sometimes the memories cause them to grimace. One owner recalls very bad experiences, with the apartment destroyed and unable to collect the rent, after the renters had abandoned property.
Rental agencies charge owners a commission of between 10 and 20% depending on the volume of business. These agencies generally require the renters to pre-pay their rent.
The great number of apartments that are being built right now also means that there are many contractors in the community. In Llanes and Ribadesella legions of skilled craftsmen have arrived. They are Spanish, Portuguese, Moroccan, Polish, Chinese, and Nigerian. But no matter what their mother tongue, every day they face the problem of putting a roof over their heads. Sometimes they have to sleep on construction sites or drive many kilometers two distant communities.