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Wow Spanish hospitality is wonderful. I will get to that in a minute. Travelled from Porto in Portugal up to Finisterre today via Cambados and Santiago de Compostella. Cambados was a great stop for morning tea. I was busting for a pee and as we could not find a parking spot, Chris dropped me off in front of a building with lots if let's say older folk (Matt) coming out of surmising that there would be a toilet. In I wandered and walked through a number of rooms and waiting areas until I realised that it was a medical centre. I ended up finding a loo in bus station next door. A great little town which is famous for a white wine called "wine of the sea". Toni was instrumental in us stopping there and finding a bottle to have with our tea. They had a wonderful fish market that we wandered through with all sorts of fish, all the types that I am sure you have caught Matt.
The church at Santiago de Compostella did not disappoint. It had a massive presence and was crawling with pilgrims who had completed some if not all of the Camino. It has been the focus of pilgrims for 700 years although there is very much a tourist focus these days.
I did not realise how populated northern Spain and Portugal was. There are many large cities in this part of the Iberian peninsula with virtually no where on the 300 km trip without some form of settlement or town on view. And it is lush and green with stands of pine and eucalyptus forests everywhere. Yes plantations of gum trees are everywhere in this part of the world, initially brought here in the 1800's by a Spanish priest. Apparently the largest trees in Europe are our good old gum trees flowed closely by Bunya pines and Norfolk pines.
Finally the Spanish hospitality at Finisterre. Our hotel overlooks the Atlantic and is about 3 kms from the most western point of mainland Spain. We have beautiful rooms with balconies overlooking the beach, and our accommodation included home made tapas that was large enough for our tea, beer and wine in the garden at 8pm for the sunset, and breakfast for a grand total of $92. No wonder so many Aussies travel overseas for holidays.
Tomorrow off to see the worlds oldest lighthouse at A Coruna, and some of the spectacular Atlantic coastline for a 2 night stay in Foz.
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- comments
Joan Breret6on Thanks for your update, Greg. Sounds and looks, by the photos, that you are having a great holiday. Even though I hate the "Bull Runs" in Pampelona, that is one beautiful statue [especially the runner getting gored!!]. Love to all. A Joan x