Being discharged from physiotherapy and sent back to work meant I was, once again, free to travel. Since the accident, I hadn’t been allowed to leave the Community of Madrid, so I immediately looked to visit somewhere —anywhere— for a change of scenery. This, naturally, took me to Asturias.

Asturias is a place that I will always return to. Since my Asturian friend, Kevin, showed me its wonders, I have felt a strong draw to this slice of northern Spain. Its people, its landscapes, its food: something about this Celtic region makes it feel like home to me.

So, when Sara told me she’d be visiting her hometown of Gijón (Xixón in the Asturian language), I knew where I’d to go. It might not be the most interesting or beautiful city on this Iberian peninsula, but it is a place that I hold dear.

I splashed out on a hotel and didn’t hold back when ordering food. The sudden hunger to do everything I hadn’t been able to before brought me back to the post-pandemic period, when we were all scrambling to travel, celebrate, and live a little after so much time stuck indoors. I spent time with Sara and friends, drank cider even though I shouldn’t, and watched the sunset from my overpriced hotel room. I felt defiant, I felt good. I’d had my first taste of normality, but this was my first taste of freedom — and my first taste of a decent cachopo in a while…