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Saturday august 17'th
Galicia - where is that? - was the standardquestion - is that
where Asterix is from?
No - Galicia is in the northwestern corner of Spain - above Portugal. Later
on this trip I will go to Asturia and Cantabria. These regions are next to Galicia - to
the right - on the way to the Basque country.
The trip to this far-out place starts at another far-out
place, the new terminal at Billund Airport. Maersk
Air to Paris - and Air France
to Madrid. Nice trip, except for the frence fool on the way to Madrid sitting next to me,
spending the whole trip complaining there was no free champagne for the dinner!
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And of course - it's not at all fun when you right after the
landing hear your name called in the loudspeaker. "Please report to the person at the
exit" - shit no - I bet my luggage is at the bottom of the Bay of Biscay. But the
woman with my name on the board just wants to see my ticket, because Paris couldn't find
the left-part. They got it allrigt, so she wonders whats wrong in Paris.
At 1 pm its on the Madrid metro to my "favourite" hotel in Madrid Hotel Plaza Mayor (been there
twice before). Check in - and spends the rest of the day looking around the area of Santa
Ana and Plaza Mayor. It's hot hot - a sign says 42 degrees celsius - but I think it's an
overestimation. Most of the bars, cafes, restaurants and shops are closed. People has left
Madrid. Maybe to go to Galicia - looking for Asterix?
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Sunday august 18'th
Taking the Talgo-train at 1 pm to Santiago de Compostela.
Nothing much to say about that trip - just plain boring. Some kid screaming all the way.
Parents and grandparents sends fascinated eyes to the little terrorist all the way -
the rest of the wagon eyes that could kill
It's 9.30 pm as the train arrives in Santiago.
Takes about 15 minuttes to find my place to sleep here at the Monesterio De
San Martín Pinario. That is a benedictin monestary, transformed into a hotel in the
summer. What they do to the monks I dont know.
An exiting place to stay. Lang halls and nice
cloisters with plenty of fountains. But not much luxery in the room - a chair, a small
table, a bed and a neon lamp, doesn't really make of for a lot of cozyness. But it's quiet
- and it's easy to fall asleep |
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Monday august 19'th
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Breakfastroom in the monestery is something special. Almost
as long as a football field - with long tables at both sides. You sit in a long row eating
your croissant and drinking your cafe con leche. In the middle of the room there is a
balcony, the kind where you would expect Professor Dumbledore to turn up any minute.
I use the day to take a closer look at the old sights in this
city. That is of course the old cathedral, which they started to build back in 1075, but
first completed in 1750. Really impressive, and the goal for all those people taking the pilgrimige-walk to Santiago. You
can always tell who they are by looking at them. A long stick in one hand - and they all
look so tired....
And yes - here are lots of tourists - but mainly from Spain.
Very few from the rest of the world.
Dinner at the hotel. A 3-course dinner for 8 Euro - thats not
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| Tuesday august 20'th I walk to Estacíon Autobuses. From here
there is a bus every hour to Pontevedra, about 70 km
south of Santiago
Pontevedra is another old historic city. Not as many
monuments - not as many tourists - but very cozy indeed. They deliver you with a map at
the tourist-office, with all the sights numbered from 1 to 23. So you just get started. In
the middle of the afternoon I am at no 23 (Xardins de Eduardo Vincenti) - and its time to
turn back to the bus-terminal and take a bus back to Santiago. |
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Wednesday august 21'th
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Another walk to Estacion Autobuses. This time for the bus to La Coruna, 70 km
north of Santiago.
Where Pontevedra is historic, then La Coruna is a modern
city, and very famous for its great football-club.
Also here they've got at map at the
tourist-office, but there are no numbers, so you have to find your own way around. I start
by the harbour and take a look at the beautiful houses along the quay. Many of them have
special made glass-balconys build on to them. They look great.From there to the town hall - and suddenly - there he is - Asterix!!. In full
figure. Is there anything with Asterix and Galicia anyway?? - hmmm - no I don't think so.
Superman and Spiderman are here as well - and they have got nothing to do with Galicia.
It's just comix-week in La Coruna I'm afraid.
I take a long walk along the bay at La Coruna. A part of the
city is placed on a long tongue of land into the sea, and you can make the whole walk
along it. There is also a tram thet follows the bay, but I decided to take the 5 km long
walk. It's hot at the end. It's hard to find shadow when you walk along the coast. But I
do get the chance to see Castillo De San Anton and El Torre De Hércules. Later it's back on the bus and back to Santiago. |
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Thursday august 22'nd
I start this day with a discussion with myself. Should I take
the bus to the most western point in Spain called Cabo Finisterre - with the risk that
it's a tourist-trap - or should I stay in Santiago. The lazy me wins the discussion. I
stay in Santiago for a relaxing day.
But I do see a nice little museum about the history of the
pilgrimage called Museo Das Peregrinacións; I do take a look at Convento De Santo
Domingo De Boneval (they like long names for their sights....); and I do take a closer
look at the church of my monestary. I also visit the Collegio De Fonseca back from 1532
and finally I visit the church of San Fiz De Solovio.
Back in the monestary I finish my Poul Auster novel "The
book of illusions"
To Gijon |
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