Galicia'10 -- Cies: Lemmings & Paradise

Galicia'10 -- Guided Visits to Santiago

There are plenty of options to visit Santiago on guided tours, but my choice for a very complete set, including historical and artistical highlights, legends, views and curisities, would consist on combining the following three tours:

If you want to have a day of solid sightseeing you should get the audioguide from the Tourist Information Office, which lets you visit the city at your pace and will provide you with the basic facts of the city.

If you can, book already for the Night Guided Tour as well, which lets you complement the previous one with visits to the Hospital de los Reyes Catolicos, some of the oldest pubs in Santiago, meet the ghost of a pilgrim and experience the real magic of the queimada.

Also, as you arrive to the plaza del Obradoiro during your audioguided tour, you can also book the tour to the roof of the Cathedral for some time in the early afternoon. This tour will let you have excellent views to the city and to visit some parts of the Cathedral and the Palace of Xelmirez that you cannot visit otherwise.

Enjoy!!

Galicia'10: Vigo Survival Tips

Travel guides and previous visitors can suply you with ideas about what sights you would enjoy visiting, but at least for me, it is equally important to know where to enjoy a the local gastronomy and of course, where to rest and gather energy for the next stage of the journey. As I did for Santiago, here you have my suggestions for Vigo.

This time let me suggest where to book your accommodation: Hotel Aguila, in Rua Victoria (just at one of the ends of Plaza Compostela). Excellent quality, better price, and spot on the center of Vigo. Not even 5min away from the harbour and old quarter. (there's also a very handy 24h supermarket around the corner).

About some place for tapas and home made meals, do not hesitate to go to the Bar Chavolas, in Rua dos Cesteiros. Or if you feel like having some Jamon, Chorizo, lomo, cheese... then try the Jamoneria Jaqueyvi, in Plaza Princesa.

If what you want is to relax in the early afternoon before resuming the sightseeing, try the coffee shakes (or just coffee) at Cafe Gretttel, in Praza Constitucion, while sitting under the archs observing people pass by.

Finally, and for a real sit down dinner or the best Mariscada (Seafood feast) in town, and at the best price, forget about the touristy restaurants close to the seafront, they would rip you off full time. Your best choice is, without a hint of a doubt, the Rias Baixas, in Rua Republica Argentina.

Enjoy your stay!!

Galicia'10 So much to do in Santiago

After waking up to the always invigorating sound of a concert with the Cathedral's carillon, followed by the harmonious sound of 'gaitas' (windpipes) we look ahead another day full of activities in Santiago.

First, breakfast visiting the main market (Mercado de Abastos), then a visit to the roof of the Cathedral, and after lunch heading to the Center for Contemporary Art and finally a guided tour to the old quarters at night.

Galicia'10 visiting Santiago

After a lively night, with entertainment provided by the bells of the Cathedral (signalling not only the hours but the quarter hours as well), and the "loud fighting cats ensemble", among others, today was the day to explte all the sights of the city of Santiago.

Armed with the audioguide from the tourist information office, we learned all the secrets of the Cathedral and its construction, the old quarters, some monasteries and convents converted into museums and the distinct walks of life and society in the park of la Alameda. Of course it could not have been possible without the nutritious (and the generous portions of) galician meals (just as example... these are two half portions of cheese and meats!!).

Galicia'10 Arrival in Santiago

After a relaxed and uneventful journey, arrival to Santiago de Compostela, destination of pilgrims and travellers alike.

Getting information at the tourist information office, tasting some various types of Tarta d Santiago and other sweets and Orujos, and sitting outside a bar to plan the stay and the visits.

Once everything is under a tight schedule ;-) a quick pop into the Tourist information office and a bit of wandering in the area North of the Cathedral.

Dinner in a nice garden restaurant. Later, there was supposed to be a jazz concert at the Xardins de Fonseca, but unfortunately the info from the concert was wrong and it had already finished. A bit more of wandering, sampling different street concerts, and finally a nice glass of Ribeiro to sum up the first day of the journey.

Galicia'10: Santiago Survival Tips

Travel guides and previous visitors can suply you with ideas about what sights you would enjoy visiting, but at least for me, it is equally important to know where to enjoy a the local gastronomy and of course, where to rest and gather energy for the next stage of the journey. These are my suggestions for Santiago:

An interesting stop as you start your day of exploration of Santiago de Compostela is the Mercado de Abastos, the main marketplace, just outside the old quarter, and also a place where you can stock yourself of food (may be some fruit for a snack), and stop for a coffee and churros. If you want to enjoy some ultrafresh seafood, without being ripped off at some high-up restaurant, you can also consider the possibility of buying some shellfish in the market, and in the same  market cafe they will cook it for you for a small fee.

Once you've spent all the morning sightseeing, there's nowhere better to stop to gather the energy for the afternoon than at a small family run restaurant where to enjoy typical home make local cuisite. My suggestion is the Entre Ruas, in a tiny square at the end of the narrowest alley in Santiago. Try the traditional Galician boiled coffee as well!!

May be after lunch you feel like resting on the grass while discussing what to do in the afternoon. Many people would probably go to the Alameda, but let me suggest a different, quieter park: San Domingos de Bonaval, close to the Museo do Pobo Galego.

Finally, after a whole day of culture and views, you might feel like chilling out while having some tapas and sampling the local wines or some cold beer in a cool tasca, then my choice would be the A Despensa Da Troia (Rua da Troia), but beware, if you order some cheese or cold meats board, half boards are already for the very hungry!!.

On the other hand, if you'd prefer a classic dinner in a luxurious garden, then head for the Casa Felisa, in Porta da Pena, 5.

Finally, just in case you didn't book any accomodation, you can try the Hospedia La Tita, in Rua Nova, 46. May be not the classiest place to stay, but 5min from the Cathedral (just a warning: you will hear the bells all night long), and rather affordable.

Galicia'10 -- Packing

Sopar Vietnamita

Sopar Vietnamita (el 4rt), al Thaithai

It's nice to be back home...

After a week of scientific conference and a stopover in the UK for the weekend, it's great to be finally back home, specially when the trip has included, in about a week: 4 plane rides, 15 train, 2 coach, 4 bus, 2 taxi, and 4 tube, in three different countries!!

No, I didn't ride any elephant this time... but not for lack of oportunity...

International Conference: METAL2010 (Czech Republic)