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Spain- a beautiful country that has a completely different culture as soon as you cross what I call the “tourist” border and travel out of the main cities like Seville, Barcelona, and Madrid to the hidden local cities of the north. When I read about the Asturias region in the New York Times article “ 50 places to travel in 2020,” I expected to walk into a natural wonderland where all I would see are cows, farms, and eat and drink too many dairy products to count. However, as I took the bus from Bilbao to Avilés, a hidden city surround by the aforementioned rolling hills, I was surprised. Just upon entering the city you see a sculpture park along the Ria de Avilés and these incredibly beautiful modern buildings designed by Oscar Niemeyer. The industrial modernism of the area on the north bank of the river contrast heavily with the historical architecture on the south bank- it’ll leave you deeply entranced. Although Avilés isn’t as big or modern as Oviedo or Gijón, the city has this rustic charm and all the locals embrace you as if you grew up right there alongside them. The cobblestone streets of Calle Palacio Valdes, the medieval architecture of the Palacio de Avilés, and the quaint cafes like the Lord Byron bring you back through time. Whilst walking you can practically imagine how people in the 1700s used to walk the same pathways and how they would stop at the local café for Tortilla de Patatas (a local favorite) and Café con leche before taking a break during siesta. Although Avilés doesn’t have a lot of tourist attractions like Gijón, the beauty of this city is felt through the conversations with the locals. Fair warning, not many people speak English and as a very very basic Spanish speaker, I was often worried about how I’ll communicate with others. However, when I went to El Atrio, the local mall, there was a woman there, let’s call her Maria, who managed a bakery and didn’t speak any English; yet we managed to communicate our stories in a matter of minutes. She was managing this bakery, which her mother had been managing before her and every morning her mother still wakes up to bake the bread and desserts. It’s Maria’s passion and she does it because sweets brought her family together every night and she enjoys bringing that smile to others as well. Maria and I discussed our stories and while we knew we wouldn’t see each other again, we had found a kindred spirit in one another. Over the course of my four days in Avilés, I never felt like I had to leave the city to experience more. My mind had become accustomed to the melody of the local energy and my body just moved on its own- waving to the local shop owners, capturing photos at every turn, and wandering down the side streets to see what treasures were hidden behind the old city walls. A little fun tidbit is that Asturias region is known as the dairy capital of Spain so you can do what I did and buy a liter of fresh milk and drink that in lieu of water for the next few days, which is delicious but you might not want milk for a while after. Or you can do what most normal people do and eat some fresh yogurt, get some coffee with whole milk, or get some delicious homemade ice cream while walking around. Regardless you’ll really be able to taste the difference and will grow to savor the flavor so much that when you come back, you’ll be craving the taste for days after. So take that trip, take a chance to visit a small city in the mountains, walk off that beaten pathway, and discover yourself and the beauty of Asturias along the way. Trust me you’ll want to go now before it becomes hoarded with others thinking the same thing.