Rias Baixas Excursion
“Sometimes, you find yourself in the middle of nowhere, and sometimes in the middle of nowhere, you find yourself.” —Author unknown
The quotes beneath the photos are taken from the tour’s promotional materials.
Today’s excursion was quite different than the one to Finisterre and the Costa Da Morte, less to unpack afterward yet worthwhile in its own way. I got up close and personal with a few cruceros in Pontevedra, blown away by the sculptures on the crosses.
Pontevedra: “Visit the old town of Pontevedra and discover one of the best-preserved historic centers in Galicia. Founded in Roman times it was the main engine of the region for centuries. See the ruins of Santo Domingo, the Church of the Peregrina, and other monuments on a tour of the most interesting parts of the monumental area.” (1 hour 30 minutes)
Combarro was a delightful place to stop for a snack and still have time to explore the nooks and crannies. I spent a bit of time with a woman from Australia who questioned me about the cruceros. She’d had a similar reaction as mine to seeing Mary on the cross with or near Jesus. She also felt it was an apt place for the mother of Christianity, an inspiration among women of faith - a witness to the mother-of-all suffering. As Dora would say, her name even appears more in the Koran than in the Bible. For those not so drawn by the faith behind the symbol, they are still a thing of beauty and historical value.
A blustery walk near the Playa de La Lanzada where the wind made it hard for me to keep my camera still.
Playa de La Lanzada and the Hermitage (Ermida de Nosa Señora da Lanzada) “Dating from the 9th century and set in the surroundings of the famous Lanzada beach, it is in a magnificent state of preservation that takes us back to the time of the Viking invasions. It is surrounded by the remains of a fortress precisely designed to prevent Norman attacks.”
That’s me in the bottom corner of the collage above, inside the hermitage, sweeping away sorrows to make room for love and joy - or something like that!
“We will make a catamaran route through the Ría de Arousa. Throughout it, we will be able to discover the ins and outs of scallop, oyster, and mussel farming in the Galician estuaries, as we will stop at one of the innumerable rafts (shellfish farming platforms) where they will show us the process in situ, at the same time that we enjoy the marine fauna of the estuary. During the entire journey, we can eat ALL the mussels we want, freshly taken from the sea, and accompanied by top-quality wine from the area.” (75 minutes)
Surprisingly, there was also music, dancing, and much laughter.
“The last stop will be Cambados, the capital of Albariño. The town has one of the best-preserved historic quarters in Galicia, also declared a Site of Cultural Interest. The Plaza de Fefiñanes or the noble constructions that make up its heritage stand out.” (45 minutes)
It was certainly impressive and the walk gave me the opportunity to get my land legs back though I felt more in need of a nap after the feast on the catamaran.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, my writing prompt today is just to write something, anything this post brings up for you: memories of a holiday past, one you’ve put on your bucket list, even being a tourist in your hometown.
Or maybe about travel dynamics, going solo, or with the wrong person.
Or feeling that you need to escape - get away - run away anywhere.
Ultreia! Forward, together.
