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Thursday, January 24, 2013

Our Galician Top 10

This past summer, I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Spain, the country where my in-laws were born, and the place to which my husband and I will relocate, probably within ten years; a place where we are blessed to have a second home and a wonderful extended family.

Our home is in Galicia, in the northwest corner of Spain. Called "Green Spain", Galicia is rich and verdant with farmland. It is the outdoor lover's paradise, known for its fresh seafood and Santiago de Compostela, a college town with a grand cathedral, which also serves as the destination for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago.

Here's 10 images that capture our trip to Spain this summer:

 
1. The Cathedrals Beach. We took scores of pictures here. This is just one rock formation. On low tide, you can explore the beach below, but as the tide rolls in, the rocks become submerged. This is a truly spectacular beach in the Rias Altas . . .a definite must-see.

Another shot of hubs and me at the Cathedrals.

 
2. In the Rias Baixas, we stopped for a view of the spectacular panorama in Pontevedra.
 
 
3. Here I am at a church covered in shells on the island of La Toja, also in the Rias Baixas. Every morning, women gather here on the island at low tide to harvest clams.
 
 
 
 


4. Next, is the city of A Coruña,  the provincial capital and home to the Tower of Hercules, a 1900 year old Roman lighthouse. A Coruña is also the home of the clothing giant, Zara.

 
 
5. Perpaps the most loved dish of Galicia is pulpo Gallego, or boiled octopus.
 
 
This dish is everywhere. Cooked in giant copper pots with red wine, the octopus is then cut up with scissors and served with olive oil, sea salt and paprika on a wooden plate. Paired with rustic bread and red wine or Galician beer, like Estrella Galicia, this delicacy thrills Galicians of all ages. Me? Not so much.
 
 
6. Finisterre . . .the end of the world. Yup . . .looks that way.
 
 
7. And absolutely gorgeous amid incoming clouds.
 
 
8. Santiago de Compestela is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the final destination for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago, the Way of Saint James. The cathedral of this college town is said to contain the remains of St. James himself and also boasts a giant Botafumeiro incense burner, which swings the length of the cathedral during special Masses.
 
 
 
 
9. The horreo is found everywhere in Galicia. Once a place to store grain and crops away from animals, they are now mostly ornamental and considered good luck.
 
 
10. And finally, a sunset shot from one of the upstairs bedrooms of our home. It just never gets old. We are truly blessed.
 
 
Salud!


4 comments:

  1. dear Kelly,
    thanks for sharing beautiful photos.
    Photos from Cantabric sea made me think of my beloved friend Maria, from Asturias:
    http://thenext15000days.blogspot.com/2012/04/maria.html

    I love the north of Spain, it is just beautiful.
    I have never been to Galicia, it looks lovely.

    So - in 10 years you will live only 2300 kilometers / 1400 miles away from me :)

    lots of love,

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  2. Good morning, Klara,
    If you ever have the chance, please consider Galicia. It is so beautiful. My husband and I have a goal to walk the entire Camino once we are there full time. Having a home in Europe is such a blessing. Since we love to travel, it will provide a wonderful opportunity for us to see the world in a much more financially reasonable way than we would ever be able to do based here in the States. I look forward to staying in touch. :-) Still praying for your beloved Wolf. <3

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  3. Thank you for sharing the pictures. What a beautiful place to have a family home.

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  4. Salud! Wow, how absolutely gorgeous. We've never been to Spain but it is definitely on our short list of places to visit around the world. We've been to so many countries and now we long to go to Spain.

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